Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL792
2009-05-18 23:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
how-toVZCZCXRO7382 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #0792 1382303 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 182303Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4375 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8565 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5977 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9733 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5885 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0702 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4399 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3378 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6573 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0978 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2316 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1390 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1999
UNCLAS SEOUL 000792
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: BURMA
--------------
"Immediate Release of Aung San Suu Kyi"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (05/18): "Behind the
military government's desire to keep Suu Kyi imprisoned is the
general election that is scheduled to take place next year. In
1990, the National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, won an
overwhelming victory in the parliamentary election. The military
government, however, overturned the results and seized power, and
ever since has mobilized every means within its power, including the
imprisonment of Suu Kyi, to nip any nascent democratization efforts
in the bud. However, in the face of increasing pressure from within
and outside the country, including protests led by Buddhist monks
two years ago, the military government was obliged to make a promise
to hold elections in 2010. For the military leadership, who needs
to ensure their legitimacy through an election, Suu Kyi, who is to
be freed soon, could be their biggest obstacle. There is no
guarantee, however, that next year's election will not be a repeat
of the nightmare from 20 years ago. ... If Burma's military
government wants real legitimacy, it needs to hand over power to the
people and accept their democratically made choice. The first step
toward that end would be to call a halt to their farce of a trial
against Suu Kyi and to release her from house arrest."
STANTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: BURMA
--------------
"Immediate Release of Aung San Suu Kyi"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (05/18): "Behind the
military government's desire to keep Suu Kyi imprisoned is the
general election that is scheduled to take place next year. In
1990, the National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, won an
overwhelming victory in the parliamentary election. The military
government, however, overturned the results and seized power, and
ever since has mobilized every means within its power, including the
imprisonment of Suu Kyi, to nip any nascent democratization efforts
in the bud. However, in the face of increasing pressure from within
and outside the country, including protests led by Buddhist monks
two years ago, the military government was obliged to make a promise
to hold elections in 2010. For the military leadership, who needs
to ensure their legitimacy through an election, Suu Kyi, who is to
be freed soon, could be their biggest obstacle. There is no
guarantee, however, that next year's election will not be a repeat
of the nightmare from 20 years ago. ... If Burma's military
government wants real legitimacy, it needs to hand over power to the
people and accept their democratically made choice. The first step
toward that end would be to call a halt to their farce of a trial
against Suu Kyi and to release her from house arrest."
STANTON