BURMA: ASSK REACTS POSITIVELY TO MEETING WITH A/S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000735 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK REACTS POSITIVELY TO MEETING WITH A/S CAMPBELL REF: A. RANGOON 728 ¶B. RANGOON 688 Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win and Aung San Suu Kyi's personal physician Tin Myo Win (aka Douglas),both of whom met with ASSK following her November 4 meeting with A/S Campbell, conveyed her positive reactions to the meeting's format and substance. They confirm she is writing a letter to Senior General Than Shwe to express thanks and seek a direct meeting with him. Nyan Win is scheduled to meet ASSK next on November 11. Douglas expects to meet with her Dec. 3. End summary. ASSK Happy with A/S Campbell Visit -------------- ¶2. (C) Nyan Win confirmed November 10 that he and the other members of ASSK's legal team met with her for over two hours November 9 to finalize the revision (appeal) to the Supreme Court of her conviction. He expects to submit the final revision within one week. Nyan Win said ASSK asked him to pass along to the Charge her personal thanks for arranging the meeting between her and A/S Campbell's delegation (Ref A). In ASSK's view, A/S Campbell is a scholar who displayed goodwill and knowledge of Burma, and the meeting went well. (Note: Nyan Win also conveyed to the media ASSK's satisfaction with A/S Campbell's visit. End note.) ¶3. (C) Nyan Win passed along ASSK's request for a copy of a book A/S Campbell drafted with D (Steinberg): Difficult Transitions: Foreign Policy Troubles at the Outset of Presidential Power. (Note: We have passed a copy of the book to Nyan Win to pass to ASSK. End note.) ¶4. (C) Also on November 10, Dr. Douglas met with the Charge. Douglas had his "first Thursday of the month" medical appointment with ASSK on Nov. 5, during which she asked him to relay her happiness with the arrangements for and substance of the meeting the day before with A/S Campbell. She was very pleased that the U.S. had insisted on a venue not under state control, and she described the meeting itself as "fruitful." When asked, Douglas said ASSK clearly would want future meetings, including with local diplomatic representatives, to take place in a venue where all could be comfortable. ASSK Letter to Than Shwe -------------- ¶5. (C) Both Nyan Win and Douglas confirmed that ASSK has drafted a letter to Senior General Than Shwe to thank him for facilitating the meeting with A/S Campbell, to express her willingness to cooperate on issues that are important for the country, including sanctions, and to request a face-to-face meeting with Than Shwe. Nyan Win said he is scheduled to meet ASSK briefly November 11 to obtain her signature on the final copy of the letter, which he will then dispatch to Nay Pyi Taw. Reaction to MOFA Official's Indication of Possible ASSK Release -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Nyan Win described as surprising the Nov. 9 comment to the media in Manila by MOFA DG for Consular and Legal Affairs Min Lwin that the regime might release ASSK soon and might allow her to help organize her party for elections. Nyan Win suggested it might be a trial balloon and could indicate a "softening" stance by the generals. He speculated RANGOON 00000735 002 OF 002 that no civil servant would dare make such comments without clearance from superiors. DINGER