Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RANGOON97
2010-02-19 10:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: ABBOT SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS
how-toVZCZCXRO7624 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0097 0501032 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191032Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9861 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2438 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5933 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9496 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7123 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2440 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2863 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000097
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ABBOT SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS
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 000097
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ABBOT SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) member
Maung Maung Lay verified an exile media report that an Insein
Prison court on February 17 sentenced Gaw Thita, an abbot
from Rangoon's Nga Htat Gyi monastery, to seven years in
prison. Authorities charged him with violating the
Immigration Act (making it illegal to re-enter the country
without an official immigrant permit),the Foreign Exchange
Regulation Act (which prohibits Burmese citizens from holding
foreign currency),and the Unlawful Associations Act (making
it a crime to associate with, or receive money from, an
unregistered group).
2. (C) Authorities arrested Gaw Thita at Rangoon's
international airport on August 28, 2009, along with seven
other abbots. Gaw Thita was the only abbot prosecuted, even
though one of the charges, violating the Foreign Exchange
Act, could have applied to the other abbots, all of whom were
reportedly carrying foreign currency. According to the media
report, which quoted a witness, the abbots did not have
sufficient time to change their money before authorities
arrested them. Maung Maung Lay added that Gaw Thita was
probably the only abbot charged because he was politically
active, and authorities are threatened by his connection to
high-profile 88 Generation Students activists, including Min
Ko Naing. We note Gaw Thita was arrested while the GOB was
on high alert shortly before the two-year anniversary of the
2007 monk-led uprising.
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ABBOT SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) member
Maung Maung Lay verified an exile media report that an Insein
Prison court on February 17 sentenced Gaw Thita, an abbot
from Rangoon's Nga Htat Gyi monastery, to seven years in
prison. Authorities charged him with violating the
Immigration Act (making it illegal to re-enter the country
without an official immigrant permit),the Foreign Exchange
Regulation Act (which prohibits Burmese citizens from holding
foreign currency),and the Unlawful Associations Act (making
it a crime to associate with, or receive money from, an
unregistered group).
2. (C) Authorities arrested Gaw Thita at Rangoon's
international airport on August 28, 2009, along with seven
other abbots. Gaw Thita was the only abbot prosecuted, even
though one of the charges, violating the Foreign Exchange
Act, could have applied to the other abbots, all of whom were
reportedly carrying foreign currency. According to the media
report, which quoted a witness, the abbots did not have
sufficient time to change their money before authorities
arrested them. Maung Maung Lay added that Gaw Thita was
probably the only abbot charged because he was politically
active, and authorities are threatened by his connection to
high-profile 88 Generation Students activists, including Min
Ko Naing. We note Gaw Thita was arrested while the GOB was
on high alert shortly before the two-year anniversary of the
2007 monk-led uprising.
DINGER