Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RANGOON87
2010-02-16 10:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: NLD VICE-CHAIR U TIN OO RELEASED AFTER
how-toVZCZCXRO4284 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0087/01 0471022 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161022Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9828 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2412 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5907 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9470 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7097 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4748 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2837 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000087
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: NLD VICE-CHAIR U TIN OO RELEASED AFTER
DETENTION EXPIRES
Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000087
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: NLD VICE-CHAIR U TIN OO RELEASED AFTER
DETENTION EXPIRES
Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) National League for Democracy (NLD) Vice-Chair U
Tin Oo is free, following the February 13 expiration of his
sixth year under house arrest. U Tin Oo resumed his
leadership role in the NLD following his release, receiving
party leaders and journalists at his home and attending a
Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on February 15. He
is in good health and is scheduled to meet with the CDA late
in the day February 16. End summary.
U Tin Oo Freed, Resumes NLD Activities
--------------
2. (C) Burmese authorities released Tin Oo from house
arrest at 8:30 p.m. February 13. On February 14, U Tin Oo
visited Rangoon's revered Shwedagon Pagoda and paid his
respects to ailing NLD uncles, including party chair U Aung
Shwe. U Tin Oo subsequently met with NLD leaders and
journalists at his residence. According to NLD sources, U
Tin Oo is in good health and anxious to return to politics.
He attended a CEC meeting at NLD Headquarters February 15 and
was warmly welcomed by party members. He will chair the
selection board for the NLD's "Central Committee" on February
16-17. (Note: The "Central Committee" will comprise the
second tier of NLD leadership. It is unclear what
substantive duties the 80-120 CC members, whom the CEC will
select from different parts of the country, will have. The
CC was an NLD fixture until disbanded in 1997.) The Charge
is scheduled to call on U Tin Oo late in the day on February
16.
3. (C) An Embassy contact told us U Tin Oo said the
authorities required him to pledge not to engage in
activities that would be detrimental to the people or the
country. He agreed to the pledge, reportedly noting
cynically that officials always require such "rubbish" and
that he will immediately resume his political activities that
always were and will be for the good of the Burmese people.
Background
--------------
4. (SBU) U Tin Oo (formerly General Tin Oo) was
Commander-in-Chief and the Defense Minister from 1974 to
1976. He was accused of petty corruption and reportedly was
suspected of fomenting a coup as well. He was dismissed from
the military and imprisoned from 1976 to 1980. Upon his
release, he became a monk for two years and then studied law.
He became Vice-Chairman of the NLD on the party's founding
in September 1988. He was imprisoned from 1989-1995 and was
detained again without charge in May 2003 along with Aung San
Suu Kyi following the Depeyin incident. After serving time
in Kalay Prison (Sagaing Division),he was placed under house
arrest in February 2004. Government officials renewed his
house arrest order annually for the past six years, the
maximum permitted under Burmese law.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) We expect the release of U Tin Oo and the arrival in
Burma this week of UN Special Human Rights Rapporteur Ojea
Quintana are not unrelated. The regime will point to U Tin
Oo as "progress," while continuing to keep over 2,000 other
political prisoners, including ASSK, in confinement.
Suggested Press Guidance
--------------
5. (SBU) We suggest the following points for use with the
RANGOON 00000087 002 OF 002
press:
-- We welcome the February 13 release from house arrest of
National League for Democracy Vice-Chair U Tin Oo, as we call
for the release of all the other political prisoners in
Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi and American prisoner Kyaw
Zaw Lwin.
-- We urge the Burmese government to permit Aung San Suu Kyi
to meet with U Tin Oo and the rest of her party's full
leadership, as she requested in her November letter to Senior
General Than Shwe.
Note: U Tin Oo had been in custody without charge since the
May 2003 Depeyin incident, first in prison and then under
house arrest. February 13 marked the end of his sixth
consecutive year under house arrest, the maximum permitted by
Burmese law.
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: NLD VICE-CHAIR U TIN OO RELEASED AFTER
DETENTION EXPIRES
Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) National League for Democracy (NLD) Vice-Chair U
Tin Oo is free, following the February 13 expiration of his
sixth year under house arrest. U Tin Oo resumed his
leadership role in the NLD following his release, receiving
party leaders and journalists at his home and attending a
Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on February 15. He
is in good health and is scheduled to meet with the CDA late
in the day February 16. End summary.
U Tin Oo Freed, Resumes NLD Activities
--------------
2. (C) Burmese authorities released Tin Oo from house
arrest at 8:30 p.m. February 13. On February 14, U Tin Oo
visited Rangoon's revered Shwedagon Pagoda and paid his
respects to ailing NLD uncles, including party chair U Aung
Shwe. U Tin Oo subsequently met with NLD leaders and
journalists at his residence. According to NLD sources, U
Tin Oo is in good health and anxious to return to politics.
He attended a CEC meeting at NLD Headquarters February 15 and
was warmly welcomed by party members. He will chair the
selection board for the NLD's "Central Committee" on February
16-17. (Note: The "Central Committee" will comprise the
second tier of NLD leadership. It is unclear what
substantive duties the 80-120 CC members, whom the CEC will
select from different parts of the country, will have. The
CC was an NLD fixture until disbanded in 1997.) The Charge
is scheduled to call on U Tin Oo late in the day on February
16.
3. (C) An Embassy contact told us U Tin Oo said the
authorities required him to pledge not to engage in
activities that would be detrimental to the people or the
country. He agreed to the pledge, reportedly noting
cynically that officials always require such "rubbish" and
that he will immediately resume his political activities that
always were and will be for the good of the Burmese people.
Background
--------------
4. (SBU) U Tin Oo (formerly General Tin Oo) was
Commander-in-Chief and the Defense Minister from 1974 to
1976. He was accused of petty corruption and reportedly was
suspected of fomenting a coup as well. He was dismissed from
the military and imprisoned from 1976 to 1980. Upon his
release, he became a monk for two years and then studied law.
He became Vice-Chairman of the NLD on the party's founding
in September 1988. He was imprisoned from 1989-1995 and was
detained again without charge in May 2003 along with Aung San
Suu Kyi following the Depeyin incident. After serving time
in Kalay Prison (Sagaing Division),he was placed under house
arrest in February 2004. Government officials renewed his
house arrest order annually for the past six years, the
maximum permitted under Burmese law.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) We expect the release of U Tin Oo and the arrival in
Burma this week of UN Special Human Rights Rapporteur Ojea
Quintana are not unrelated. The regime will point to U Tin
Oo as "progress," while continuing to keep over 2,000 other
political prisoners, including ASSK, in confinement.
Suggested Press Guidance
--------------
5. (SBU) We suggest the following points for use with the
RANGOON 00000087 002 OF 002
press:
-- We welcome the February 13 release from house arrest of
National League for Democracy Vice-Chair U Tin Oo, as we call
for the release of all the other political prisoners in
Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi and American prisoner Kyaw
Zaw Lwin.
-- We urge the Burmese government to permit Aung San Suu Kyi
to meet with U Tin Oo and the rest of her party's full
leadership, as she requested in her November letter to Senior
General Than Shwe.
Note: U Tin Oo had been in custody without charge since the
May 2003 Depeyin incident, first in prison and then under
house arrest. February 13 marked the end of his sixth
consecutive year under house arrest, the maximum permitted by
Burmese law.
DINGER