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

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Classified By: POLOFF Adam Murray for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

Summary
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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
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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
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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
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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

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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
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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