US embassy cable - 04RANGOON815

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000815 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY 
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2014 
TAGS: PINS, PGOV, ELAB, BM 
SUBJECT: GOB BLAMES EXILE GROUPS FOR JUNE 26 BOMBINGS 
 
REF: RANGOON 676 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: On June 26th, three small bombs exploded and 
four were disarmed at the main Rangoon train station.  The 
GOB blamed exile opposition groups for the incident, just as 
it did for a similar event last July.  We think it more 
likely the GOB did this itself to try to besmirch these 
opposition groups and build legal cases against people who 
have contact with them.  End summary. 
 
No Flowers are Safe 
 
2. (SBU) According to a GOB press conference, early in the 
morning hours of June 26th three small "mine bombs" exploded 
in flower pots under a major overpass next to Rangoon's 
central train station.  The GOB spokesman said that four 
similar bombs were found and disarmed before they could 
explode and insisted there had been no casualties.  The 
police closed off access to the station on June 26th while 
army engineers purportedly searched the train station for 
further explosive devices.  Several truck-loads of troops in 
combat gear deployed around Rangoon's City Hall -- not far 
from the station. 
 
3. (C) According to a police source, military intelligence 
(MI) apparently had prior warning of the bombing, which 
allowed them to "uncover" four of the bombs before they 
detonated.  The source also said there may have been minor 
injuries to a couple of bystanders. 
 
Treasonous Minions and External Destructionists to Blame 
 
4. (SBU) The press conference explicitly blamed the 
Bangkok-based Free Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB), and its 
leader U Maung Maung, for the bombing.  Maung Maung is the 
son of NLD Central Executive Committee member U Nyunt Wei. 
The GOB also blasted several well-known exile opposition 
groups -- namely the All Burma Students' Democratic Front 
(ABSDF), the National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas 
(NLD-LA), the National Coalition Government for the Union of 
Burma (NCGUB), the National Council of the Union of Burma 
(NCUB), and the Democratic Party for New Society -- for their 
participation in the alleged plot. 
 
5. (SBU) The GOB made a clear linkage between the alleged 
attack of June 26th and a similar "plot" uncovered in July 
2003.  This latter case led to the arrest and death sentence 
for twelve individuals, including three who it was later 
discovered were convicted largely based on evidence of ties 
to the ILO and the aforementioned FTUB (reftels).  The GOB 
press conference even mentioned two of these people, U Shwe 
Mann and U Min Kyi, and their FTUB ties in the context of the 
recent bombings. 
 
6. (C) The naming of the FTUB, and U Maung Maung, as the 
chief instigator of this latest "terrorist" incident is 
clearly an effort to further stress the "treacherous" aspects 
of the group and those who have contact with it -- such as 
the three arrested in 2003.  (Note: a Supreme Court panel in 
May ruled that the FTUB was a treasonous organization.)  It 
is also part of a recent crackdown on those who've had 
contact with exile opposition groups.  In early June two NLD 
organizers, U Tin Myint and Ma Than Than, were arrested for 
having contact with the NLD-LA (also an outlawed 
organization). 
 
Heading for the Border? 
 
7. (C) It is not exactly clear why the GOB is feeling 
particularly threatened by the exile groups these days.  One 
theory is that many former political prisoners and other 
opposition figures are contacting these groups in preparation 
for fleeing across the border to Thailand.  This theory may 
have credulity.  Opposition sources told us that U Tin Myint 
and Ma Than Than were in touch with the NLD-LA regarding 
their escape from Burma.  Many other NLD youth have 
reportedly done the same.  Our Public Diplomacy section 
reports that many former political prisoners who have been 
taking classes at the American Center have come by recently 
to say "good-bye" before heading for Thailand. 
Comment: For Show 
 
8. (C) We are pretty confident that this latest incident is 
yet another chapter in the GOB's regular, and pathetically 
unsuccessful, effort to discredit insurgent or exile 
opposition groups by linking them to vague attacks on the 
"Union" or, in the most recent case, "the success of the 
National Convention."  Thankfully the bombs planted were not 
large enough to cause any damage or any (serious) injuries. 
More alarming is the fact that the GOB seems to be circling 
its wagons to defend against international criticism of the 
arrest and sentencing of people for contacts with groups 
deemed critical of the regime.  This regressive behavior does 
not bode well for future ILO cooperation or for any 
liberalization of the political situation.  End comment. 
Martinez