Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RANGOON68
2010-02-03 05:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS CHARGED FOR ROLES IN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000068
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS CHARGED FOR ROLES IN
2007 UPRISING
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000068
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS CHARGED FOR ROLES IN
2007 UPRISING
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Maung Maung Lay, a leader of Human Rights Defenders
and Promoters, and opposition lawyer Aung Thein told us
January 22 that seven individuals arrested between August and
October 2009 for their roles in the September 2007 monk-led
uprising were recently charged. They are: democracy
activists Ye Myint, Kyaw Khin, Nyo, and Thanday Htun, and
monks U Yaywata, U Withudi, and U Waryama. According to Aung
Thein, only two of the defendants have obtained legal counsel
-- lawyer Kyaw Hoe, who has represented low-profile activists
in the past.
2. (C) According to Aung Thein, who spoke with Kyaw Hoe,
the seven detainees were charged with violating one or more
of five different laws: the Unlawful Associations Act,
making it a crime to associate with, or receive money from,
an unregistered group; the Immigration Act, making it illegal
to enter the country without an official immigrant permit;
the Electronics Transactions Act, making it illegal to use
electronic media to commit an act deemed detrimental to the
security of the state; the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act,
which prohibits Burmese citizens from holding foreign
currency; and section 505B of the Penal Code, making it a
crime to incite unrest or disturb the public tranquility. It
is not yet clear which specific charges have been levied
against each defendant.
3. (C) According to Maung Maung Lay, authorities waited
over two years to charge the seven in the hopes they could
gain more information on their activities and possible
accomplices. According to a January 21 Democratic Voice of
Burma press report, which quotes Kyaw Hoe, the most serious
charges levied against the group are related to their alleged
association with the All Burma Monks Alliance and Generation
Wave. Aung Thein said Kyaw Hoe is frustrated that
authorities have not permitted him to review the case files.
Press reports noted that the relatives of the seven
defendants have been barred from visiting them in prison
since their arrests.
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS CHARGED FOR ROLES IN
2007 UPRISING
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Maung Maung Lay, a leader of Human Rights Defenders
and Promoters, and opposition lawyer Aung Thein told us
January 22 that seven individuals arrested between August and
October 2009 for their roles in the September 2007 monk-led
uprising were recently charged. They are: democracy
activists Ye Myint, Kyaw Khin, Nyo, and Thanday Htun, and
monks U Yaywata, U Withudi, and U Waryama. According to Aung
Thein, only two of the defendants have obtained legal counsel
-- lawyer Kyaw Hoe, who has represented low-profile activists
in the past.
2. (C) According to Aung Thein, who spoke with Kyaw Hoe,
the seven detainees were charged with violating one or more
of five different laws: the Unlawful Associations Act,
making it a crime to associate with, or receive money from,
an unregistered group; the Immigration Act, making it illegal
to enter the country without an official immigrant permit;
the Electronics Transactions Act, making it illegal to use
electronic media to commit an act deemed detrimental to the
security of the state; the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act,
which prohibits Burmese citizens from holding foreign
currency; and section 505B of the Penal Code, making it a
crime to incite unrest or disturb the public tranquility. It
is not yet clear which specific charges have been levied
against each defendant.
3. (C) According to Maung Maung Lay, authorities waited
over two years to charge the seven in the hopes they could
gain more information on their activities and possible
accomplices. According to a January 21 Democratic Voice of
Burma press report, which quotes Kyaw Hoe, the most serious
charges levied against the group are related to their alleged
association with the All Burma Monks Alliance and Generation
Wave. Aung Thein said Kyaw Hoe is frustrated that
authorities have not permitted him to review the case files.
Press reports noted that the relatives of the seven
defendants have been barred from visiting them in prison
since their arrests.
DINGER