US embassy cable - 05RANGOON88

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP AND INL; DEA FOR OF, OFF; 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2013 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, BM, Ethnics 
SUBJECT: GOB, UNODC TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN ADVANCE 
OF INDICTMENTS 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 66 
     B. RANGOON 62 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The GOB, as well as the UNODC, has 
undertaken efforts to clear Wa territory in northern Shan 
State of all UN and NGO expatriate staff in anticipation of 
an international law enforcement operation o/a January 24 
targeting UWSA leaders.  We continue to have no expectation 
that GOB authorities will respond to the Operation Warlord 
indictments by arresting UWSA leaders.  However, it is clear 
that the GOB is uncertain how the Wa will react to the 
unsealing of the indictments on January 24.  Although the Wa 
leaders could ignore the law enforcement effort, and have no 
history of targeting foreign diplomats or expatriate staff, 
the precautions undertaken by UNODC strike us as sensible. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (C) In anticipation of an international law enforcement 
operation targeting the leadership of the United Wa State 
Army (UWSA), the GOB has taken extraordinary efforts to clear 
Wa territory (Special Region #2) of all foreigners working 
with UN agencies and international NGOs.  Police Colonel Hkam 
Awng, joint secretary of the Central Committee for Drugs 
Abuse Control (CCDAC), informed UNODC that his office had met 
with senior NGO officials in Rangoon and "indicated very 
clearly and precisely that we do not want any expats left 
behind working in Special Region (2) after 23 January." 
 
3. (C) According to UNODC country representative Jean Luc 
Lemahieu, the UNODC and CCDAC are co-sponsoring a week-long 
"Brainstorming Session on Alternative Development" that will 
commence in Rangoon on January 24.  All expatriate staff of 
UNODC's partner organizations who work in Wa territory have 
been invited to attend.  Both Lemahieu and Col. Hkam Awng 
have indicated to us that the session has been organized as a 
pretext for moving expatriate staff out of harm's way should 
the UWSA respond negatively to any imminent law enforcement 
action. 
 
4. (C) Note: As reported in ref A, the DEA informed Lemahieu 
on January 16 that an unspecified, though pending, law 
enforcement action o/a January 24 could have some impact on 
UNODC activities in Wa territory.  Lemahieu has also been in 
close touch with the GOB (CCDAC) on this issue.  Although 
Lemahieu did not reveal to us how much detail he knows about 
Operation Warlord (ref B), he demonstrated a clear 
understanding of the likely scenario and the implications for 
UNODC programs.  He has drafted a UNODC press release, to be 
issued "after the event," which we e-mailed to EAP/BCLTV and 
INL on January 20.  End Note. 
 
5. (SBU) In addition to the brainstorming session for partner 
organizations, UNODC has also taken additional, precautionary 
measures.  Two UNDOC-sponsored missions for diplomats (and 
journalists) to visit Wa territory in late January and early 
February have been canceled (ref A).   Expatriate UNODC staff 
will depart the region by January 23 and all non-essential 
local staff will relocate to towns outside the region (Lashio 
and Kentung).  UNODC operations in the Wa capital of Pang 
Sang and further north have been temporarily suspended. 
Projects in the southern areas of Special Region #2 will 
continue, but with minimal staff.  UNODC operations in areas 
adjacent to Wa territory (including Kokang Special Region #4) 
will continue, but "with utmost caution." 
 
6. (C) Comment: We continue to have no expectation that GOB 
authorities will respond to the indictments by arresting any 
of the UWSA leaders.  However, it is clear that the GOB is 
uncertain how the Wa will react to the unsealing of the 
indictments on January 24.  The Wa capital of Pang Sang has 
been the scene of considerable activity over the past week as 
thousands of Wa (and leaders of other ethnic cease-fire 
groups) gathered for the funeral of UWSA Deputy Commander Li 
Tzu Ru, who died on January 9 (ref B).  Although the Wa 
leaders could ignore the indictments, and have no history of 
targeting foreign diplomats or expatriate staff, the 
precautions undertaken by UNODC strike us as sensible.  End 
Comment. 
Martinez