US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1485

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001485 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DS/IP/EAP, PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PREL, BM 
SUBJECT: SMALL EXPLOSION NEAR RANGOON DISTRICT COURT:  NO 
ONE INJURED 
 
REF: RANGOON 815 
 
Classified By: CDA a.i. Ronald K. McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  A small explosion occurred early November 
18 near the Rangoon district court.  No one was hurt, making 
this incident reminiscent of the June 26 explosion at the 
Rangoon railway station (reftel).  It appears the government 
is  trying to justify tightened security measures as more 
post-Khin Nyunt purges go on behind closed doors.  End 
summary. 
 
2.  (SBU)  A probable small improvised explosive device (IED) 
exploded at 0400 hours, November 18, near the Rangoon Western 
district court.  No one was reported injured, and damages 
were limited to two windows and a small portion of the base 
of a wall.  Authorities repaired the windows by mid-morning. 
Security was beefed up with police and members of the Union 
Solidarity Development Association (USDA) around the court. 
Court cases continued as usual.  However, security checks 
were tightened at the court's entrance, which is located one 
block behind the Embassy. 
 
3.  (SBU)  This is the second small IED that has exploded in 
Rangoon this year with no casualties: four IEDs exploded at 
the Rangoon Central Railway Station on June 26 but no one was 
reported hurt then either.  There was also a small explosion 
reported on October 6 along the Thai-Burma border at 
Myawaddy; and another on November 3 at a village  festival in 
Mon State. 
 
4.  (SBU)  The explosion this morning in Rangoon took place 
two days after the reported removal from office of twelve 
High or Supreme Court judges from Rangoon and Mandalay, 
including the forced retirement of a Supreme Court Justice, U 
Tun Shin.  The latter was charged under the Emergency 
Provision Act and remanded at court.  He was in deposed Prime 
Minister Khin Nyunt's National Intelligence Bureau before he 
was promoted to the bench.  We also understand that Colonel 
San Pwint, previously in the Office of Military Intelligence 
(MI) under Khin Nyunt and one of the officials responsible 
for negotiations with ethnic groups, has been under 
interrogation in the district court. 
 
5.  (C)  Comment:  This appears to be a case of 
self-provocation by the government to justify tightened 
security.  If instigated by someone with more serious intent, 
the bomb would have likely been detonated during the middle 
of the day in a crowded location.  End Comment. 
MCMULLEN