US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1591

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001591 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, BM, ASSK, Human Rights, NLD 
SUBJECT: FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON AUNG SAN SUU KYI 
 
REF: RANGOON 1587 
 
Classified By: DCM Ron McMullen for reason 1.4 (B/D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  The SPDC has increased its restrictions on 
Aung San Suu Kyi by reducing the visits of her doctor to one 
time a week, prohibiting the doctor from contacting NLD 
members, and tailing her housekeeper as she leaves the 
compound for grocery shopping.  In short, ASSK is now being 
held incommunicado; the NLD is concerned and feeling the 
heat.  We recommend the Department issue a statement that the 
regime will be held solely responsible for Aung San Suu Kyi's 
well-being.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) NLD Dismayed:  The Chairman and Secretary of the NLD 
met with Emboffs December 16 at NLD HQ in Rangoon.  They 
provided a copy of the party press statement decrying the 
further isolation of and restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi's 
residential compound.  The statement calls the regime to task 
for unilaterally changing the modalities for access and 
security at ASSK'S compound.  (Translated excerpts to be 
e-mailed to EAP/BCLTV.)  While they voiced concerns about the 
tightened access to their leader, they were not fearful that 
the regime would do her physical harm.  Rather, their 
concerns ran to her uncertain health condition, whether she 
had sufficient funds with which to buy food, and, most 
importantly, the lack of communication between her and the 
party. 
 
3.  (C) Doctor Further Restricted:  ASSK's personal 
physician, whose access had recently been cut from daily to 
thrice weekly, has had it further reduced to one visit a 
week.  Moreover, he can no longer drive his personal vehicle 
into the compound and is, as reported reftel, subject to 
random searches by security personnel.  He is not allowed to 
see NLD Chairman Aung Shwe or other senior party leaders. 
(Note: Emboffs have taken the precautionary step of 
voluntarily and temporarily halting our heretofore frequent 
contacts with the physician.  End Note.) 
 
4.  (C) What's In That Bag of Rice?  The only person with 
unimpeded movement into and out of ASSK's house is her 
housekeeper, U Aung Shwe mentioned.  When she goes out 
shopping the police follow her to ensure she is only 
shopping.  NLD Secretary U Lwin said he didn't know if ASSK 
has sufficient funds with which to buy food.  (Note: During 
previous instances of long-term house arrest ASSK sold 
household furnishings to purchase food.  End Note.) 
 
5.  (C) Who Do you Call?  The NLD leaders expressed their 
uncertainty about who is calling the shots concerning ASSK's 
detention.  They previously had quite good communications 
with Military Intelligence officers in charge of ASSK's 
compound, but MI has now been replaced by unknown Special 
Branch policemen.  U Lwin commented that he sometimes 
utilized his own regular MI minder to pass messages to the 
authorities, "but three days ago he disappeared," U Lwin 
concluded with a wry chuckle. 
 
6.  (C) Other NLD Issues:  Chairman Aung Shwe told us that 
about 40 NLD political prisoners had been among those freed 
in the three batches of GOB prisoner releases; approximately 
103 NLD members remain imprisoned, he said, including former 
CEC members U Win Tin and U Khin Maung Swe.  He also 
mentioned the dire financial straits of the NLD's medical, 
infant, educational, and prisoner support social welfare 
programs.  (Septel forthcoming on this issue.)  While neither 
the Chairman nor the Secretary said they felt an increase in 
regime pressure on them personally, they noted that active 
regime prosecution of the NLD is ongoing, particularly in 
Irrawaddy and Sagaing Divisions. 
 
7.  (SBU) Recommended Statement:  Post recommends the 
Department issue a statement to the effect that we will hold 
the Burmese military regime wholly responsible for Aung San 
Suu Kyi's well-being, given the increased isolation and 
restrictions placed on her by the regime.  Aung Shwe said 
such a statement would be helpful and could be issued 
immediately, but asked that the USG hold off other action 
until the NLD gets a clearer picture of the situation. 
 
8.  (C) COMMENT:  During much of ASSK's long periods of house 
arrest she has been in more or less constant communication 
with the rest of the party's leadership.  Her preference was 
to use a bodyguard as a courier or, if that option was not 
available, by means of messages passed via her doctor.  Thus, 
she managed to maintain direct leadership of the 
(superficially moribund) party structure even while under 
house arrest.  That may no longer be the case, and the NLD 
leaders at party HQ are concerned what this portends for the 
party's future.  End Comment. 
 
MARTINEZ