US embassy cable - 04RANGOON857

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000857 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA 
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BM, NLD 
SUBJECT: THE MANDALAY NLD: ON THE DEFENSIVE 
 
REF: RANGOON 612 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen M. Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: The regime has recently increased its efforts 
to suppress the actions of the NLD in Mandalay through 
intrusive and intimidating surveillance of senior NLD 
members. Despite the regime's efforts, the NLD maintains a 
positive spirit while it continues to hold out hope for UN 
intervention.  END SUMMARY. 
 
THE REGIME'S HUNGRY EYES: SURVEILLANCE THAT WON'T SUBSIDE 
 
2. (C) In an office adorned with the usual ASSK 
paraphernalia, NLD Mandalay members initially informed Poloff 
that after the NLD decided not to participate in the National 
Convention, there had not been any significant increase of 
"intimidation, interference or disturbance" on the part of 
the regime with respect to the NLD's activities. However, 
senior members then reported that they work under the 
ever-watchful (and increasingly intrusive) eyes of the 
Special Branch of police (SB), whose presence, intentionally 
or unintentionally, is all but discreet. The NLD believes 
that the regime is using the very obvious surveillance 
presence to send a strong message to the public that the 
security apparatus is in full control -- not the people's 
elected representatives and their democracy party. 
 
3. (C) According to our NLD interlocutors, the regime has 
also opened up an economic offensive, targeting NLD members' 
businesses and threatening their workers.  The children of 
the NLD upper tier are often not allowed to attend 
post-secondary school or join the civil service, and every 
year, members are arrested on the anniversary of the NLD's 
founding and the anniversary of the NLD's overwhelming 
victory in the last election in 1990.  Torture and cruelty 
during interrogations are not uncommon for the NLD political 
prisoners, some of whom are MP-elects. Several members showed 
us the serious injuries they suffered at the hands of the 
government while in custody following the May 30, 2003 
attacks at Depayin.  Whenever incarcerated, they are treated 
as "petty criminals," and such treatment "degrades their 
integrity." 
 
4. (C) On another front, according to our NLD contacts, the 
USDA (the regime's mass membership organization) is forcing 
USDA membership on whole village populations across Mandalay 
Division using pre-prepared membership forms, intimidation, 
and deception.  The USDA is now claiming 100% membership in 
some areas. The NLD also reports that the USDA submits 
inaccurate information to the higher echelons of government, 
ridiculously exaggerating the scope of the NLD's "subversive" 
activities, which allows the USDA to use more repressive and 
intrusive tactics in stifling the NLD. 
 
5. (SBU) As has become ritual, the NLD leaders told us they 
seek a UN resolution to enforce the election results 
nullified by the SLORC/SPDC and requests the United States to 
pressure the UN and ASEAN towards this end. 
 
COMMENT: OLD FAITHFUL 
 
6. (C) The NLD delegation in Mandalay demonstrates a high 
level of risk-tolerance and patience, given the viciously 
oppressive nature of the ruling junta. They continue to 
maintain their conviction that U.S. policy will bring about 
the change they seek in the GOB. 
Martinez