US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1085

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001085 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2008 
TAGS: PHUM, EAID, PGOV, KDEM, BM, NLD, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR BURMESE POLITICAL PRISONERS 
 
Classified By: CDA, A.I. RON MCMULLEN FOR REASONS 1.5 (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  The NLD runs a modest but very successful 
program to assist its imprisoned members.  Post is interested 
in exploring ways to bolster this NLD effort and/or find 
parallel means to help political prisoners and their 
families.  See action request para 8.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) NLD HQ ABUZZ:  The NLD national headquarters was a 
hive of activity, as is usually the case, during one of our 
many visits there earlier in August.  The ground floor of the 
decrepit two-story building was jammed with party members 
involved with HIV/AIDS awareness projects, women's self-help 
activities, child nutrition and care workshops, and many 
other civic programs.  At one desk two young women were 
talking to an NLD volunteer, filling out forms and answering 
questions.  We asked if we could join them; they agreed and 
we sat down to observe what was happening. 
 
3.  (C) HIGH SCHOOL REBEL:  One of the women was the sister 
of an NLD Youth League member who had been imprisoned for 
pro-democracy activities just after he graduated from high 
school.  Her brother has served four years of his six-year 
sentence, the woman explained, and had recently been 
transferred from Rangoon's infamous Insein Prison to another 
prison five hours north of the city.  She was at NLD HQ, she 
went on, applying for the monthly monetary support for 
imprisoned NLD members. 
 
4.  (C) AN APPLE A DAY:  The NLD volunteer explained that the 
party's political prisoner support committee provides up to 
2,000 kyat (about $2.50) per month to the families of 
political prisoners.  These meager funds are to enable a 
prisoner to buy "a little cooking oil, some vegetables, or 
perhaps some fresh fruit" from prison authorities.  The NLD 
volunteer said she processes about 60 such requests for 
assistance each week. 
 
5.  (C) ICRC HELP:  When we asked the applicant if her 
brother or her family had received assistance from any other 
source, she said no.  She did say that she was grateful to 
the ICRC, which had given her the equivalent of $15 for bus 
fare and expenses to visit her brother when he was 
transferred upcountry.  We asked the NLD volunteer if she was 
aware of any other group helping political prisoners.  She 
checked with a number of colleagues, and came back to say 
nobody knew of any other source of support for political 
prisoners. 
 
6.  (C) FUNDING TROUBLES:  According to a knowledgeable FSN, 
funding for the NLD's political prisoner support committee is 
a very sensitive issue.  If local Burmese are known to 
contribute to the fund, they often find themselves quickly 
arrested by the police on trumped-up, but unrelated charges. 
The NLD has a very firm policy of not accepting foreign 
assistance.  What frequently happens, the FSN continued, is 
that wealthy expatriate Burmese will send a trusted family 
member some money, with the understanding that the family 
member will quietly contribute it to the NLD fund for 
political prisoners.  We estimate that the NLD distributes a 
total of approximately $7,500 per year to political prisoners 
and/or their families. 
 
7.  (C) COMMENT:  This tiny sum probably does more to keep 
the NLD's flickering flame alive than many other 
pro-democracy programs costing a great deal more.  Post would 
like to discuss with various USG entities potential 
modalities or parallel programs that could support 
pro-democracy political prisoners regardless of party 
affiliation.  We would also be interested in exploring ways 
to help the families of the prisoners, if possible. 
 
8.  (C) REQUEST:  We note that that National Endowment for 
Democracy has provided up to $80,000 per year in Burma 
earmark funds in recent years to a grantee organization 
called "The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners 
(AAPP)," which aims to provide direct assistance to Burmese 
political prisoners and their families.  No one we have 
talked to (including the NLD and ICRC) seems to have any 
knowledge of this organization or of its activities inside 
Burma, if any.  Post would appreciate an assessment from the 
Department, USAID, or the NED of the AAPP's effectiveness as 
we begin to explore ways to be helpful to political prisoners 
and their families. 
McMullen