US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1080

UNCLAS RANGOON 001080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, BM, NLD, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: FOR BURMA'S REGIME, LOYALTY TRUMPS FAMILY 
 
1. (SBU) MORE OPPRESSION:  At the recent funeral of a famous 
Burmese writer (and NLD MP-elect), the Charge, a.i. met the 
wife of political prisoner Dr. Than Nyein.  Dr. Than Nyein 
was elected on the NLD ticket in 1990 from PM General Khin 
Nyunt's hometown of Kyauktan.  The NLD MP-elect was 
sentenced to prison in 1997 for pro-democracy activities and 
completed his seven-year sentence last month.  His wife, who 
seemed quite distraught, said that the regime has 
indefinitely extended his sentence under provision 10-A of 
the law and has refused to explain his non-release. 
 
2. (SBU) FAMILY TIES:  We understand that Dr. Than Nyein's 
distraught wife is General Khin Nyunt's first cousin. 
Further, this woman reportedly grew up in the same household 
as Khin Nyunt and served as his older sister-type figure and 
caregiver.  Dr. Than Nyein himself is PM Khin Nyunt's 
brother-in-law, as Madam Khin Nyunt (Khin Win Shwe) is Dr. 
Than Nyein's sister. 
 
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Family ties often correlate with political 
positions in Burma, especially as the military regime is 
void of any ideology apart from a cold-blooded desire to 
stay in power through repression and its shadowy network of 
patron-client relationships.  However, loyalty to the regime 
trumps almost every other connection, including, as the case 
of General Khin Nyunt demonstrates, close family ties. 
 
MCMULLEN