US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1090

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BM, NLD, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: NLD MP ARRESTS: PETITION DRIVE FALLOUT? 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 1035 
     B. RANGOON 924 
 
Classified By: CDA, a.i. Ron McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  In mid-August the Burmese regime rounded up 
nine members and supporters of the National League for 
Democracy, including two MPs-elect, at several upcountry 
locations.  NLD leaders believe that the arrests are in 
retaliation for the party's ongoing petition drive to release 
NLD leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo and to reopen NLD 
offices.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) O/a August 11, military intelligence (OCMI) agents 
arrested three NLD members and supporters in Lashio (Shan 
State) on trumped up charges of importing unlicensed 
electronic equipment from China for their local retail 
business.  The charges, under Section 51 of the Export and 
Import Control Act, carry a potential sentence of 3 to 5 
years, plus fines. 
 
3. (C) Among those rounded up in Lashio was U Than Htay, an 
NLD Member-elect of Parliament.  U Than Htay is a well-known 
lawyer who has frequently served as the NLD's liaison with 
ethnic minority groups in northeast Burma.  He provided ASSK 
with substantial logistical and political support for her 
ill-fated May 2003 trip through the region, which ended in an 
SPDC-instigated ambush in Sagaing Division. 
 
4. (SBU) O/a August 16, OCMI officials arrested six NLD 
members and supporters in Myaungmya (Irrawaddy Division), 
including NLD Member-elect of Parliament U Aung Kyin.  MI 
charged the group with distributing "illegal videos" from 
their small video rental shops.  Under Burma's "Television 
and Video Law," the six face up to two years in prison. 
(Note: Most video shops in Burma offer bootleg copies of 
popular foreign films, which the regime considers illegal 
unless vetted by SPDC censors--a costly and cumbersome 
undertaking.  Enforcement of the law is rare, and usually a 
pretext for politically motivated harassment.  End note.) 
 
5. (C) Comment: NLD sources told Emboffs on August 24 that 
they believe the arrests are a response by the SPDC to the 
party's ongoing petition drive (refs A and B).  Although the 
regime has turned a blind eye to the modest petition effort 
in Rangoon, OCMI has implemented intimidating surveillance at 
upcountry signing locations and the USDA, the regime's 
mass-member organization, has threatened violence against 
petition organizers.  The two MPs-elect arrested in 
mid-August are both divisional NLD leaders, responsible for 
organizing local petition efforts.  End Comment. 
McMullen