US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1136

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, PRM, DRL; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2014 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PGOV, PINS, ELAB, BM, Human Rights, Ethnics 
SUBJECT: BURMA: "HELL'S ANGELS" IN THE EAST, SLAVE LABORERS 
IN THE WEST 
 
REF: RANGOON 1048 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DCM Ron McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  UNHCR's latest assessment mission along 
Burma's eastern border revealed KNU strength to be 
significantly diminished and, by contrast, an alarming and 
widespread presence of DKBA soldiers "who resemble the Hell's 
Angels" in appearance, swagger, and influence.  Meanwhile, on 
the western front near the border with Bangladesh, UNHCR 
staff have discovered a "massive increase" in the use of 
forced labor to implement PM Khin Nyunt's recent instructions 
to construct a series of six bridges.  UNHCR, normally 
successful in resolving such abuses through dialogue with 
local military commanders, has hit a brick wall with the GOB 
and requests USG assistance in raising concerns with a regime 
that appears indifferent to the potential for renewed heat 
from the ILO.  End Summary. 
 
The East - Born to Be Wild 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (U) On August 30, UNHCR representative Rajiv Kapur called 
on the Charge d'Affaires a.i and P/E chief to update us on 
recent refugee-related developments.  UNHCR staff had just 
completed a fifth assessment trip to former conflict areas 
along the Thai border.  Kapur said that UNHCR had reached a 
very high level of trust with GOB officials and local 
military commanders, to the point that the fifth mission took 
place without official escorts or handlers and UNHCR staff 
moved about without restrictions.  The latest mission took 
place in the Kaykarek and Myawadi areas of east central Karen 
State and a planned sixth mission will visit the Papun area 
of northwest Karen State. 
 
3. (C) Kapur said it has become evident that the Karen 
National Union (KNU) insurgent movement is "extremely 
marginal" inside Burma.  The UNHCR missions, which have 
covered vast territory throughout remote areas of Karen and 
Mon States and Tanintharyi Division, have discovered a very 
minimal KNU presence.  In places where KNU troops are 
present, said Kapur, "they are so stretched and so thin that 
they have no local authority," which, he added, could 
diminish the prospects for eventual repatriation to KNU-held 
areas.  He opined that the SPDC will nonetheless press ahead 
with peace talks as one way to further marginalize the NLD 
and the pro-democracy movement. 
 
4. (C) In contrast to the KNU, Kapur said that the Democratic 
Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA, a pro-regime splinter of the KNU) 
is "very extensive throughout the region."  Kapur said the 
DKBA troops are easily recognized by their rebel appearances: 
long hair, bandannas, and automatic weapons strapped to their 
motorcycles.  They usually travel in "gangs" of six or seven 
and "resemble the Hell's Angels" when they barrel down remote 
roads, demanding that all traffic, including UNHCR vehicles, 
pull over to make way.  "I don't know if the GOB will be 
capable of rolling them back," said Kapur, adding that the 
DKBA appears to be profiting handsomely from border trade 
with Thailand, as evidenced by a steady stream of 
DKBA-licensed trucks transporting consumer goods into Burma. 
 
The West - A Bridge Too Far 
--------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Kapur also briefed us on disturbing events in Rakhine 
State along the western border with Bangladesh, where UNHCR 
provides protection and other support for repatriated 
Rohingya refugees.  UNHCR staff have for the past month 
observed a "massive increase" in the use of forced labor in 
the region.  Rajiv said that PM General Khin Nyunt, following 
an official visit to Bangladesh in April, had toured northern 
Rakhine State and instructed local authorities to build 
bridges to facilitate local trade and development.  Regional 
commanders subsequently implemented the PM's "instructions" 
and, according to Kapur, are building six bridges using 
forced labor "on a major scale," including children. 
6. (C) Kapur said that in the past he has secured the 
cooperation of local military commanders in resolving human 
rights abuses.  However, in this most recent case the 
military is refusing to meet with UNHCR to discuss the 
problem.  Kapur raised the forced labor issue with the DFM 
Khin Maung Win, who was initially dismissive but subsequently 
responded that General Khin Nyunt had issued "cease and 
desist" orders to regional commanders.  However, Kapur said 
this has had no effect on overzealous authorities intent on 
completing the bridges.  Kapur has informed the Rangoon ILO 
office, but he believes that the SPDC is indifferent to the 
ILO and potential action against the regime already in the 
works for the November ILO Governing Board meeting.  Kapur 
added that Leon de Riedmatten, UN Special Envoy Razali's 
local liaison, has also reported that the use of forced labor 
is "again on the rise throughout Burma." 
7. (C) Comment:  Kapur is a respected interlocutor who has 
done a credible job of managing some of the UN's most 
sensitive and critical operations in this highly politicized 
environment.  We don't take his reports of renewed forced 
labor lightly and will pursue further information from NGOs, 
IOs, and other Embassy sources.  Kapur also asked for USG 
assistance, suggesting that it would be helpful if we were to 
make the GOB aware of our concerns over the Rakhine situation 
(without implicating the UNHCR).  We will use forthcoming 
opportunities to address this development with appropriate 
GOB officials.  It has been a year of substantial setbacks 
for overall efforts on forced labor and if these latest 
reports are accurate, the November ILO GB will once again 
face a knotty Burma problem.  End Comment. 
Martinez