US embassy cable - 05RANGOON66

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Identifier:	05RANGOON66
Wikileaks:	View 05RANGOON66 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Rangoon
Created:	2005-01-18 08:03:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	SNAR KCRM ASEC BM
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000066 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP AND INL; DEA FOR OF, OFF; 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, ASEC, BM 
SUBJECT: BURMA: GOB CANCELS UNODC TRIP TO WA TERRITORY 
 
REF: RANGOON 62 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (SBU) UNODC country representative Jean-Luc Lemahieu 
informed us on January 18 that the Government of Burma had 
canceled an annual counternarcotics visit to Wa territory for 
members of the diplomatic corps.  The trip had been scheduled 
to get underway on January 24, coinciding with the planned 
unsealing of indictments in New York of UWSA leaders 
(reftel).  Police Colonel Hkam Awng, joint secretary of the 
Central Committee for Drugs Abuse Control (CCDAC), explained 
to UNODC that the GOB is preoccupied with issues related to 
the December 26 tsunami and is unable to provide sufficient 
security for the diplomatic mission. 
 
2. (C) Rangoon DEA Country Attache learned on January 16 that 
CCDAC, which has been briefed by DEA on the pending 
indictments, planned to cancel the diplomatic trip because 
the GOB believed it would be "unable to guarantee the safety" 
of the diplomats while in territory controlled by the UWSA. 
Separately, DEA Country Attache indicated to UNODC country 
representative on January 16 that an unspecified, though 
pending, law enforcement action could have some impact on 
UNODC activities in Wa territory.  Lemahieu told us on 
January 18 that he is in close touch with CCDAC and is taking 
appropriate steps to ensure that UNODC and NGO staff in Wa 
territory are reviewing their emergency procedures. 
Martinez