US embassy cable - 05RANGOON366

UNCLAS RANGOON 000366 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BM, NLD 
SUBJECT: RELEASED STUDENT LEADERS ADD SPICE TO NLD 
RESISTANCE DAY EVENT 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 351 
     B. RANGOON 345 
     C. RANGOON 224 
     D. 04 RANGOON 1499 
 
1. (U) Summary:  The NLD hosted on March 27 its annual 
commemoration of Resistance Day, attended by several hundred 
party members, supporters, and diplomats.  An otherwise 
routine event was given a significant boost by the dramatic 
arrival and attendance of a group of recently released 
student activists, including two of Burma's most famous 
dissidents, Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, leaders of the 1988 
democracy uprising.  In a public statement, the NLD expressed 
support for "genuine and politically meaningful dialogue;" 
called for the reopening of party offices; and demanded the 
immediate release of ASSK, U Tin Oo, SNLD Chairman U Hkun 
Htun Oo, SNLD Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin, other ethnic leaders, 
and all political prisoners.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The National League for Democracy (NLD) on March 27 
commemorated Burma's 60th Anti-Fascist Resistance Day (which 
the SPDC renamed Armed Forces Day, ref A) at the party's 
Rangoon headquarters.  In contrast to the regime's 
over-the-top, heavily militarized celebrations, which 
included a parade of nearly 8,000 troops (septel Rangoon 
DAO), the NLD commemoration was a low-key event that drew 
about 250 members and supporters.  Party leaders delivered 
several speeches that evoked the historical roots behind the 
holiday and criticized the military for its 1962 coup d'etat 
against an elected government and its subsequent abuses. 
Representatives of the U.S., UK, French, and Japanese 
Embassies attended the event, which fell this year on Easter 
Sunday. 
 
3. (U) In its general statement, the NLD's Central Executive 
Committee (CEC) expressed the party's view that a democratic 
state and economic development can only be achieved through 
negotiations, "meaning genuine and politically meaningful 
dialogue."  For a successful dialogue, the NLD expressed four 
conditions:  a) the immediate and unconditional release of 
NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice Chairman U 
Tin Oo; b) the immediate and unconditional release of SNLD 
Chairman U Hkun Htun Oo, SNLD Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin, and 
other detained ethnic leaders; c) the reopening of NLD state, 
divisional, and township offices; d) the immediate and 
unconditional release of all political prisoners. 
 
4. (SBU) The NLD's otherwise routine commemoration was given 
a significant boost by the dramatic arrival of ten former 
student activist leaders, most of whom the regime has 
released from prison in recent weeks and months.  NLD members 
and supporters were clearly thrilled by attendance of the 
student leaders, giving them a round of applause and special 
seating.  Among the released prisoners who attended were 
1988-1989 student leaders Min Ko Naing (released on November 
19, 2004 after 15 years in prison, ref D) and Ko Ko Gyi 
(released on March 17 after 13 years in prison, ref B). 
Emboffs spoke with each of the activists, who appeared to be 
in very good physical shape and were making their first 
public appearance since release from prison. 
Martinez