US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1409

UNCLAS RANGOON 001409 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, BM, Human Rights, NLD 
SUBJECT: THE ROUND-UP CONTINUES: MORE NLD ACTIVISTS PUT 
BEHIND BARS.....AGAIN 
 
REF: RANGOON 1257 
 
1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  The SPDC's round-up of the NLD's elected 
Members of Parliament continues, with more jail sentences and 
general harassment.  An estimated 150 of the original 392 
elected members remain free, but most of them have left their 
home communities and are living sub-rosa around Rangoon.  End 
Summary 
 
2.  (SBU)  In northern Shan State, local authorities 
succeeded in getting Sai Tun Aung of the Shan NLD to quit his 
post in early August.   However, U Than Htay, an elected MP 
from Lashio, resisted the pressure.  This led local 
authorities to arrest him in mid-August on four trumped-up 
charges involving the "illegal" sales of audio visual 
equipment and a cordless telephone.  Both were purchased from 
a legally registered electronic shop that belonged to Than 
Htay's son, who was detained at the same time.  On October 
25, father and son were both sentenced to five years in jail 
and hard labor plus fines of kyat 20,000 (approximately USD 
20).  Two drivers who worked at the son's shop were also 
arrested and sentenced to three months in jail. 
 
3.  (SBU)  In another recent case, U Thet Wai, chairman of 
the NLD in Sanchaung Township, Rangoon Division, was picked 
up on September 21 and charged with, "inciting the general 
public to cause disorder that can affect government or public 
peace and tranquillity."  In fact, his crime was his 
friendship with U Ohne Thant (see below), the lone protester 
who was arrested in front of the United Nations Development 
Program's office in Rangoon on September 21 (reftel).  On 
October 25, U Thet Wai was sentenced to two years in jail. 
 
4.  (SBU)  As for U Ohne Thant, he too was sentenced on 
October 25 to two years in jail by a Special Tribunal inside 
Insein Prison.  U Ohne Thant is not a member of the NLD, but 
had close personal ties to U Thet Wai.  He has also been very 
active over the years with Burmese students. 
 
5.  (SBU)  Comment:  The Government is clearly targeting the 
NLD's elected Members of Parliament.  Estimates of the 
numbers in this group vary, depending on whether those who 
have "resigned" or been "deregistered" (total of 170) are 
counted.  The NLD, which has expelled 25 of its own elected 
members for disciplinary reasons, does not recognize 
"resignations" or "deregistrations" on the grounds that only 
Parliament has the authority to accept such changes.  A close 
observer of this ever shifting group estimates that 150 of 
the 392 who were elected to Parliament from the NLD in 1990 
are still active.  Most members of the group have left their 
home communities and are thought to be living sub-rosa in or 
around greater Rangoon. End comment. 
Martinez