US embassy cable - 04RANGOON638

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000638 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA 
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2014 
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, BM, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: BURMA UPHOLDS CONVICTIONS FOR CONTACTING ILO 
 
REF: RANGOON 366 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen M. Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C) A special two-judge panel of the Burmese Supreme 
Court on May 12 supported a secret lower court's ruling from 
November 2003 that two men, Naing Min Kyi and Aye Mint, are 
guilty of treason for contacting the International Labor 
Organization (ref).  However, on the basis of a lack of 
evidence the panel changed the specific treason charges 
against them to "aiding and abetting people committing 
treason" and reduced their sentences from death to three 
years in prison. 
 
2.  (C) The special panel also upheld the ruling by the lower 
court for a third defendant, Shwe Man, who was found guilty 
of treason partly for contacting the ILO and partly for 
allegedly plotting to assassinate SPDC leaders.  The panel 
reduced Shwe Man's sentence from death to life in prison. 
 
3.  COMMENT: The special panel's ruling, which we believe was 
ordered by the highest levels of the regime, at first glance 
appears a positive development since it overturns several 
death sentences.  However, three years in jail simply for 
contacting the ILO is still unacceptable and runs counter to 
the regime's previously stated willingness to create a 
permissive environment for the ILO to operate in Burma.  END 
COMMENT. 
Martinez