US embassy cable - 04RANGOON678

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BM, NLD, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: NLD COMMEMORATES 14TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1990 ELECTIONS 
 
REF: RANGOON 637 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The NLD on May 27 marked 14 years since the 
party's stunning victory in the 1990 general elections.  At a 
somber event at party headquarters, attended by several 
hundred members and supporters, the NLD demanded that the 
results of the 1990 elections be implemented without delay. 
Despite the party's remarkable patience and persistence, 
however, the resolve of the military regime to retain full 
power remains undaunted.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The National League for Democracy (NLD) held a somber 
commemorative event on May 27 at party headquarters in 
Rangoon to mark the 14th anniversary of the 1990 general 
elections, won overwhelmingly by the NLD, but the results of 
which have never been recognized by the military regime. 
Several hundred party members and supporters attended the 
function, as did a dozen diplomats including COM, British 
Ambassador, UNDP resident representative, and officers from 
the Embassies of Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and 
Australia.  Absent, of course, were NLD Vice Chairman U Tin 
Oo and General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi who remain under 
house arrest. 
 
3. (U) NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe delivered a statement in 
which the NLD demanded that the results of the 1990 elections 
be implemented without delay, declaring that "the country's 
political, economic, and social crises can only be solved by 
calling the Pyithu Hluttaw (Parliament) composed of members 
elected and mandated by the people." 
 
4. (U) U Aung Shwe and other NLD speakers avoided direct 
reference to the SPDC's ongoing constitutional Convention, 
which the vast majority of Members-elect of Parliament, 
including NLD and other pro-democracy party members, are 
boycotting.  However, the NLD Chairman made several pointed 
swipes at the regime's road map process, quoting sundry SPDC 
leaders, including Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, who 
have over the years made unambiguous promises to allow an 
elected body of delegates draw up a new constitution. 
 
5. (SBU) Several leaders of ethnic parties affiliated with 
the NLD delivered statements of support, calling for the 
release of ASSK and U Tin Oo and a political dialogue (the 
Kaman NLD even boldly declared the National Convention 
"illegitimate.")  However, noticeably absent from the 
function was Hkun Htun Oo, leader of Burma's leading ethnic 
opposition party, the SNLD.  Hkun Htun Oo is also chairman of 
the multi-ethnic, pro-democracy political coalition, the 
United Nationalities Alliance (UNA).  The regime has in 
recent days made veiled threats toward the UNA, emphasizing 
that the coalition is not registered (and is therefore 
illegal) and that most of its member parties are barred from 
political activities. 
 
6. (C) As a backdrop to the NLD's commemorative event, the 
military regime continues to flood state-run media with 
coverage of the National Convention, extolling the "progress" 
achieved by its hand-picked delegates in drafting a new 
constitution.  According to sources who have had clandestine 
contact with sequestered delegates, regime authorities have 
blocked almost all participants from leaving the remote 
Convention site.  Over the weekend of May 22-23, during a 
lull in scheduled events, numerous delegates unsuccessfully 
sought permission to leave in order to attend to personal and 
business matters.  However, the expansive USDA training 
center is heavily guarded and the authorities have 
essentially responded "With karaoke rooms, a golf course, a 
beauty shop, and a hospital, you have all you need right here 
on the premises." 
 
7. (C) Comment:  For some in the NLD it seems impossible that 
14 years have passed since their stunning victory at the 
polls in 1990.  The cruel reality that the SPDC has blocked 
party members from assuming their rightful role as leaders of 
a freely elected Parliament has not, however, undercut the 
party's drive to press for democracy and national 
reconciliation.  Patience and persistence, however, have done 
little to chip away at the resolve of the military regime to 
retain full power.  End Comment. 
 
Martinez