BURMA: CHARGE MEETS WITH NATIONAL UNITY PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000747 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: CHARGE MEETS WITH NATIONAL UNITY PARTY RANGOON 00000747 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: PolOff Adam Murray for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Charge met November 9 with leaders of the pro-regime National Unity Party (NUP) to discuss EAP A/S Campbell's November 3-4 visit and to give assurance that Campbell would have been happy to meet with the NUP in Nay Pyi Taw, had the GOB arranged that. The NUP complained that the U.S. receives only one "biased" view of the situation in Burma (referring to the National League for Democracy); then the NUP leader basically parroted regime positions. The Charge reiterated the call for more dialogue within Burma, and urged the NUP to enter into conversations with the NLD, other opposition parties, and ethnic groups. End summary. Correcting the Record -------------- ¶2. (C) Prior to A/S Campbell's Nov. 3-4 visit to Burma, the GOB pressed very hard for a meeting with the pro-regime NUP at its headquarters in Rangoon. The U.S. side, which had won GOB acceptance that Embassy Rangoon would determine the Rangoon schedule, declined an NUP meeting in Rangoon, citing a very full schedule, but offered to meet with the NUP and other parties in Nay Pyi Taw (NPT) as part of the government-arranged program there. The GOB never scheduled the meeting in NPT and never informed the NUP of the state of play. The NUP meeting did not take place. The government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar subsequently criticized A/S Campbell for refusing to meet with the NUP and other registered parties in Rangoon. ¶3. (C) The Charge reached out to the NUP leadership to discuss A/S Campbell's visit and correct the false impression created by the GOB's public line. The CDA explained visit arrangements, noting the need for A/S Campbell to hear a range of views, the reality of a packed Rangoon schedule, and the willingness of the delegation to meet the NUP in Nay Pyi Taw. (Note: The NUP travelled to Nay Pyi Taw to meet with other distinguished visitors, including Senator Webb last August and UNSYG Ban Ki-moon in July.) The CDA expressed regret that the NUP leaders waited in vain, but suggested any complaint should go to the GOB which had proposed the NUP meeting and which should have kept the NUP informed of the state of play. Encouraging Dialogue -------------- ¶4. (C) The CDA offered to answer any questions about the outcome of the U.S. policy review, but none were forthcoming. Instead, the NUP members repeated common refrains: the U.S. only carries on discussions with one party (clearly referring to the NLD); the GOB's constitutional convention and 2008 referendum were legitimate so people must "look forward" not backward; and some "ill-motivated" people continually obstruct the democratization process. ¶5. (C) The CDA responded by encouraging the NUP to "plunge into" discussions with Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that she is prepared to talk with all parties about all issues. When the NUP leader complained that ASSK repeatedly refused to cooperate in the past; the CDA noted the "look forward" theme and urged NUP leaders to let go of past prejudices and truly engage with all stakeholders. The CDA made clear the U.S. cannot solve Burma's problems but is happy to help facilitate a process of dialogue. Background on the NUP -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The NUP was formed in 1989 as the pro-government party to contest the 1990 elections. It won over 21 percent of the popular vote, but under the first-past-the post system secured only 10 seats in parliament, placing third behind Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD and the Shan Nationalities League for RANGOON 00000747 002.2 OF 002 Democracy (SNLD). Today the NUP consists primarily of aging politicians from that period. As demonstrated in the meeting with the Charge, the NUP strongly supports the new constitution and has publicly announced it plans to run in the 2010 elections. The NUP claims the regime's National Convention was fully representative of all interested parties and the resulting constitution is the best possible path to democracy for Burma. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) NUP leaders clearly were miffed that they did not have a meeting with A/S Campbell, and they argued it is a "misperception" if the Embassy equates NUP views with those of the GOB. Actually, we can see no significant space between them. Most observers figure the regime plans to sweep the NUP into the dustbin of history shortly and create new political parties, including from the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA),to run in the 2010 elections. DINGER