Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON93
2009-02-13 05:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: DOCTOR SAYS ASSK IS WELL; OPEN TO DIALOGUE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000093
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: DOCTOR SAYS ASSK IS WELL; OPEN TO DIALOGUE
REF: A. RANGOON 068
B. 08 RANGOON 945
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000093
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: DOCTOR SAYS ASSK IS WELL; OPEN TO DIALOGUE
REF: A. RANGOON 068
B. 08 RANGOON 945
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) In a February 13 meeting with Poloff, Aung San Suu
Kyi's (ASSK) personal physician Dr. Tin Myo Win (aka Douglas)
confirmed he visited with his patient at her home on January
1 and February 5. Since October, the regime has honored its
agreement to grant him access to ASSK on the first Thursday
of each month. Douglas told us he spent approximately four
hours at ASSK's home on each visit and said the NLD leader
remains in excellent health and good spirits. Douglas
informed us that he was able to pass her a jar of blueberry
jam on behalf of one of our former P/E Chiefs, and that she
was grateful for the gift. She reportedly said she greatly
appreciates USG continued support for the cause of democracy
in Burma, and she hopes to convey such thanks directly to the
Charge one day.
2. (C) Douglas believes that regime scrutiny on him has
lessened in the past few weeks, and he said he hopes to be
able to meet with us again soon. (Note: Douglas cancelled a
similar appointment with POLOFF in January, and failed to
return our numerous calls until February 11, presumably due
to government scrutiny.)
3. (C) Douglas said ASSK lamented recent reports in state
media which claim she rejected offers to meet with Liaison
Minister Aung Kyi last fall (Ref A). Douglas told us that
ASSK explained she never refused to meet with Aung Kyi, but
demurred due to her poor health at the time. ASSK said UN
envoy Ibrahim Gambari in a meeting on Feb. 2 relayed a new
GOB offer for her to meet with Aung Kyi and Gambari at an
unspecified future date. She told Douglas she made clear
she is open to such a meeting.
4. (C) Douglas told us that on his February 5 visit, he
passed ASSK a number of personal letters and parcels from
both of her sons, Alexander and Kim. Douglas said all of the
letters were pre-screened by the Ministry of Home Affairs,
which consented to their delivery. On December 16, Douglas
had informed us the British Embassy had given him letters
from Kim - who lives in the UK - but not from Alexander - who
lives in the US (Ref B). During our February 13 meeting,
Douglas was not specific about how the letters from Alexander
were subsequently delivered to him, except to say that he
thinks Alexander is presently in the UK. Note: another
source has told us both sons have instructions to convey
their letters to ASSK via the British Embassy in Rangoon.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) UN SYG Ban's public plea after the most recent
Gambari visit for both sides in Burma to engage in dialogue
without preconditions has seemingly struck a nerve in the
democratic opposition. The conversation with Douglas
suggests ASSK wants to clarify that she, at least, is ready
for dialogue. Per septel, we have heard a similar message in
our recent conversations with NLD Uncles.
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: DOCTOR SAYS ASSK IS WELL; OPEN TO DIALOGUE
REF: A. RANGOON 068
B. 08 RANGOON 945
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) In a February 13 meeting with Poloff, Aung San Suu
Kyi's (ASSK) personal physician Dr. Tin Myo Win (aka Douglas)
confirmed he visited with his patient at her home on January
1 and February 5. Since October, the regime has honored its
agreement to grant him access to ASSK on the first Thursday
of each month. Douglas told us he spent approximately four
hours at ASSK's home on each visit and said the NLD leader
remains in excellent health and good spirits. Douglas
informed us that he was able to pass her a jar of blueberry
jam on behalf of one of our former P/E Chiefs, and that she
was grateful for the gift. She reportedly said she greatly
appreciates USG continued support for the cause of democracy
in Burma, and she hopes to convey such thanks directly to the
Charge one day.
2. (C) Douglas believes that regime scrutiny on him has
lessened in the past few weeks, and he said he hopes to be
able to meet with us again soon. (Note: Douglas cancelled a
similar appointment with POLOFF in January, and failed to
return our numerous calls until February 11, presumably due
to government scrutiny.)
3. (C) Douglas said ASSK lamented recent reports in state
media which claim she rejected offers to meet with Liaison
Minister Aung Kyi last fall (Ref A). Douglas told us that
ASSK explained she never refused to meet with Aung Kyi, but
demurred due to her poor health at the time. ASSK said UN
envoy Ibrahim Gambari in a meeting on Feb. 2 relayed a new
GOB offer for her to meet with Aung Kyi and Gambari at an
unspecified future date. She told Douglas she made clear
she is open to such a meeting.
4. (C) Douglas told us that on his February 5 visit, he
passed ASSK a number of personal letters and parcels from
both of her sons, Alexander and Kim. Douglas said all of the
letters were pre-screened by the Ministry of Home Affairs,
which consented to their delivery. On December 16, Douglas
had informed us the British Embassy had given him letters
from Kim - who lives in the UK - but not from Alexander - who
lives in the US (Ref B). During our February 13 meeting,
Douglas was not specific about how the letters from Alexander
were subsequently delivered to him, except to say that he
thinks Alexander is presently in the UK. Note: another
source has told us both sons have instructions to convey
their letters to ASSK via the British Embassy in Rangoon.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) UN SYG Ban's public plea after the most recent
Gambari visit for both sides in Burma to engage in dialogue
without preconditions has seemingly struck a nerve in the
democratic opposition. The conversation with Douglas
suggests ASSK wants to clarify that she, at least, is ready
for dialogue. Per septel, we have heard a similar message in
our recent conversations with NLD Uncles.
DINGER