US embassy cable - 05RANGOON196

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, BM, NLD 
SUBJECT: BURMA: NLD DISTANCES ITSELF FROM TALK OF PARALLEL 
GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: RANGOON 185 
 
Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The NLD hosted a commemoration of Union Day 
on February 12, but deferred to ethnic political parties to 
chair the event and deliver speeches.  Representatives of the 
SNLD, whose leaders were arrested just two days prior to 
Union Day, were absent, although several hundred 
pro-democracy political party members and supporters 
attended, as did a dozen diplomats.  NLD leaders, in a 
private meeting with the COM prior to the commemorative 
event, distanced themselves from reports of exile group(s) 
who plan to form a parallel government inside Burma and 
subsequently issued a statement announcing that such a plan 
is not the policy of the NLD.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The National League for Democracy (NLD) on February 12 
led pro-democracy political parties in a quiet and subdued 
commemoration of Burma's 58th Union Day (marking the 1947 
signing of the Panlong Agreement, which unified the country's 
major ethnic groups and led to independence).  Although the 
NLD hosted the event at its Rangoon headquarters, the party 
deferred to Burma's ethnic minority democracy parties to 
chair the proceedings and deliver several speeches.  COM and 
P/E chief were in attendance, as were several hundred party 
members and supporters; representatives from the Australian, 
French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian (Bangkok), and 
UK missions; and the UN resident coordinator. 
 
3. (SBU) Conspicuously absent from the opposition 
commemoration were representatives of the Shan Nationalities 
League for Democracy (SNLD).  GOB authorities had, just days 
prior, arrested SNLD leaders and prohibited the leading 
pro-democracy ethnic political coalition (the United 
Nationalities Alliance-UNA, dominated by the SNLD) from 
hosting a Union Day event (ref A).  The GOB had a 
considerable security presence at the NLD office, with dozens 
of "undercover" Special Branch officers photographing and 
monitoring the proceedings.  In lieu of a planned keynote 
speech by SNLD chairman Hkun Htun Oo, detained by the GOB 
since February 9, remarks were delivered by leaders of ethnic 
Chin (Zomi), Karen, and Arakan political parties. 
 
4. (U) The Committee Representing the People's Parliament 
(CRPP) issued a five-page statement, distributed by the NLD, 
that chastised the SPDC for broken promises and called for 
negotiations among leaders of the regime, the NLD, and the 
ethnic nationalities.  The CRPP also criticized the SPDC for 
its exclusive National Convention, concluding that "it is 
hard to believe" the process could produce a constitution 
that will guarantee democracy and human rights.  The CRPP 
also advised cease-fire groups "to evaluate seriously" how 
they hope to achieve their own political and national 
objectives through such a flawed process. 
 
5. (C) Prior to the Union Day event, the COM met with NLD 
Chairman U Aung Shwe and Secretary U Lwin to inquire about 
rumors (both local and international) that exile group(s) 
were planning to form a parallel government inside Burma, 
allegedly with the endorsement of Aung San Suu Kyi.  U Aung 
Shwe categorically denied that the NLD supported such a plan 
and said party leaders had not even heard about any related 
discussions.  "The formation of a parallel government runs 
counter to our policy and would be dangerous for those of us 
inside the country," said U Aung Shwe, "we don't even accept 
the NCGUB (government-in-exile)."  U Lwin noted that ASSK had 
opposed former Prime Minister U Nu's ill-fated efforts in 
1988 to claim legitimate control of the government, 26 years 
after losing power to a military coup. 
 
6. (U) Following the Union Day commemoration, the NLD Central 
Executive Committee convened a scheduled meeting of district 
party leaders and subsequently issued a brief statement on 
the evening of February 12 that read: "We have heard reports 
about the formation of a parallel government.  We hereby 
announce that forming such a government is not the policy of 
the National League for Democracy." 
Martinez