BURMA: AUTHORITIES CHARGE TUESDAY PRAYER GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000788 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: AUTHORITIES CHARGE TUESDAY PRAYER GROUP LEADER REF: RANGOON 686 Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) An Embassy source confirmed press reports that authorities have charged four women activists, including Tuesday Prayer Group leader Naw Ohn Hla, with violating section 505(b) of the Penal Code -- "disturbing public tranquility." Authorities arrested the activists on October 3 (reftel) for offering alms to monks at Magwe monastery in Rangoon, alleging they acted with the intent to incite public unrest. We believe the four activists are being held at Rangoon's Insein Prison. They are scheduled to go on trial December 7. ¶2. (C) Naw Ohn Hla is a prominent National League for Democracy member and the organizer of the Tuesday Prayer Group, a collection of pro-democracy activists who visit Rangoon's Shwedagon Pagoda every Tuesday to pray for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. Authorities detained and questioned Naw Ohn Hla for several hours August 11, the day Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted and sentenced. We understand the other women arrested and now charged with her are also members of the group. VAJDA