US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1530

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001530 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, BM, ASSK, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: NLD SAYS GOB HAS EXTENDED ASSK HOUSE ARREST 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 1508 (NOTAL) 
     B. VIENTIANE 1312 
     C. RANGOON 724 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Though there has been no official GOB 
announcement, on December 1st the NLD issued a statement 
indicating the SPDC would continue to hold Aung San Suu Kyi 
(ASSK) under house arrest for another year.  We suspect ASSK 
has requested her subordinates issue this statement to 
publicize a GOB action that the regime would prefer to keep 
quiet.  In any event, current press guidance -- noting that 
the SPDC has never specified a date for ASSK's release and 
expressing deep disappointment that the SPDC has ignored 
international calls for her (and others) release -- is the 
appropriate posture given current information. End summary. 
 
2. (U) The National League for Democracy (NLD) Central 
Executive Committee (CEC) issued a statement late on December 
1 that announced, effective November 27, 2004, "(SPDC) 
authorities will hold Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD General 
Secretary, under house arrest for an additional year under 
 
SIPDIS 
Section 10(b) of the Law to Safeguard the State Against the 
Dangers of Subversive Elements." 
 
3. (C) We spoke on December 2 with NLD Secretary U Lwin who 
said, contrary to the public statement, the NLD CEC was being 
"cautious" about what the GOB may have recently communicated 
to ASSK regarding her house arrest status.  According to U 
Lwin, he received a verbal message delivered on Monday 
November 29 by a member of ASSK's personal bodyguard, whom 
authorities allowed to visit NLD headquarters and return to 
the University Avenue compound.  The messenger relayed that 
an unidentified police officer from the Ministry of Home 
Affairs had visited ASSK on November 27 and read her an 
official order, citing the above Section 10(b), that informed 
her about an additional year of detention.  U Lwin said the 
NLD has no idea which SPDC member or GOB official signed the 
order. 
 
4. (S) U Lwin noted that since prior to November 27 the CEC 
has received no written communication from ASSK, a departure 
from recent practice (ref A).  As a result, he re-emphasized, 
"we are being very cautious about reports of what may be 
happening (at the compound)."  He also confirmed a report 
that ASSK's personal physician was questioned and searched at 
the compound on November 28, by GOB security personnel, 
during a routine medical visit.  Authorities told the 
physician that he would henceforth be limited to thrice 
weekly, instead of daily, visits unless a medical emergency 
required an exception. 
 
5. (C) U Lwin said he believed that the SPDC had extended 
ASSK's house arrest for two reasons.  First, the regime will 
reconvene the National Convention in February 2005 and is 
afraid ASSK would "disrupt that process if freed"  Second, 
the SPDC places a high priority on "unfinished business" with 
Burma's cease-fire insurgent groups and does not want to be 
further distracted by the democratic opposition.  He noted 
that he had heard from separate sources that "Auntie (ASSK) 
was furious" when the police official (whom U Lwin described 
as "inexperienced" in dealing with the democracy leader) read 
her the order on November 27, adding that in the past she had 
also become very angry with SPDC envoys, demanding to know 
why, and under what provisions of the law, she was being 
detained. 
 
6. (C) Note: In June, ASSK told UN Envoy Razali that she 
believed she was being held under Section 10(a) of the "Law 
to Safeguard" (ref C), which allows authorities to detain 
individuals for up to five years without trial.  Section 
10(b) allows for detention up to one year, but the period can 
be extended up to an additional year by the Minister of Home 
Affairs or up to five years by the Chairman of the SPDC. 
However, the GOB has consistently denied that ASSK is under 
house arrest (generally describing her situation as "in 
protective custody for her own well-being").  Contrary to 
international reports and speculation (ref B), the SPDC has 
not made a public announcement or otherwise addressed the 
alleged extension on November 27 of her house arrest.  End 
Note. 
 
7. (C) Comment:  On the issue of ASSK's house arrest status, 
the SPDC has said nothing, while the NLD has issued a 
statement "announcing" the regime's action.  We suspect that 
ASSK may have requested that the NLD CEC draw attention to 
the apparent extension, however uncertain that request may 
have been communicated.  However, the NLD, cognizant of 
consistent, and recent, statements from the United States 
calling for the release of ASSK, U Tin Oo, and other 
political detainees, is not asking that we specifically 
address the Section 10(b) extension.  November 29 EAP press 
guidance -- noting that the SPDC has never specified a date 
for ASSK's release and expressing deep disappointment that 
the SPDC has ignored international calls for her (and others) 
release -- is the appropriate posture given current 
information.  End Comment. 
MARTINEZ