BURMA: AUNG SAN SUU KYI ON DIALOGUE, HOUSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000020 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: AUNG SAN SUU KYI ON DIALOGUE, HOUSE RENOVATION PROBLEMS REF: A. RANGOON 13 ¶B. 09 RANGOON 806 Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) National League for Democracy (NLD) party spokesman and Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) attorney Nyan Win, who met with ASSK January 12 to finalize her Supreme Court appeal, told us January 13 that ASSK does not sense any opportunities arising from continued meetings with Liaison Minister Aung Kyi, though she does not intend to reject such meetings. Meanwhile, ASSK is concerned by the Yangon City Development Committee's order to halt renovations on her residence as investigation continues about complaints filed by her brother Aung San Oo. ASSK expressed appreciation for Secretary Clinton's recent remarks on Burma. End summary. ¶2. (C) ASSK held a 2.5 hour session with her legal team at her residence January 12 to finalize her Supreme Court appeal, which will be presented by her lawyers January 18. ASSK will not attend that appellate session, according to Nyan Win. ASSK Not Optimistic about Dealings with Aung Kyi -------------- --- ¶3. (C) Nyan Win said he relayed to ASSK that during CDA's recent meeting with Liaison Minister Aung Kyi, Aung Kyi expressed some optimism about discussions with ASSK and sensed some opportunity there, but said the government will be "cautious." In response, ASSK told Nyan Win she does not see anything to be gained from future meetings with Aung Kyi. When we sought clarification, Nyan Win said she is not refusing to meet him but she does not see "opportunity" to be gained from that channel. We observed that ASSK has the right to her opinion, but the USG does believe it important for all sides to be attempting dialogue. Without offering any detail, Nyan Win said ASSK is contemplating writing a third letter to Than Shwe to propose discussions "for the benefit of the country." ASSK Concerned As House Renovations Halted -------------- ¶4. (C) Nyan Win said ASSK asked him to convey a message to the U.S. and UK governments that she is concerned for her physical safety following the YCDC-ordered halt to house renovations begun in December. (Note: The work on ASSK's residence includes enclosing two balconies, partly because ASSK is concerned about privacy when she is inside the house. GOB authorities previously allowed an architect access to ASSK to discuss the renovations. Workers have already removed parts of the roof and several iron support bars as part of the renovations. End note.) The YCDC in late December ordered work to be stopped as it investigates a property claim filed by ASSK's estranged U.S. citizen brother Aung San Oo. According to Nyan Win, ASSK perceives the halt to renovations as "harassment" and she is suspicious there may be some collaboration between Burmese authorities and her brother, although she is not sure. ¶5. (C) Nyan Win said he is composing a letter to and seeking a meeting with the YCDC to resolve the issue. He hopes to meet ASSK the week of January 18 to secure her approval of the letter. When asked if ASSK requested the U.S. or UK to take some specific action regarding her security concerns, Nyan Win replied only that ASSK wanted the U.S. and the UK to be aware of the situation. He offered no further detail. ASSK Appreciates Secretary's Remarks on Burma RANGOON 00000020 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) ASSK asked Nyan Win to convey her appreciation for Secretary Clinton's recent remarks on Burma, although he did not know which specific set of remarks ASSK was referring to. Nyan Win was certain it was not the Secretary's January 12 Asia-Pacific policy address in Honolulu, since ASSK would not have had the opportunity to hear that speech before meeting Nyan Win. CEC Expansion -------------- ¶7. (C) We inquired whether Nyan Win will be among the newest members of the NLD's Central Executive Committee (CEC) (Ref A). He admitted that he will, though he added wryly that he does not necessarily want to join the CEC. When we inquired whether ASSK's request to Than Shwe to meet with the CEC should be interpreted to extend to the newest CEC members, Nyan Win said ASSK expects to meet with the original CEC group, minus the three ailing uncles with whom she met in December (Ref B). Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) ASSK's reported comment that she sees no reason to meet again with Aung Kyi is worrying. We hope that, as Nyan Win indicated, she will not close off that channel if the GOB endeavors to keep it open. Aung Kyi does have an ability to convey messages upward to the senior generals and over to ASSK. To us that ability seems important for dialogue prospects. DINGER