US embassy cable - 05RANGOON835

UNCLAS RANGOON 000835 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, BM, NLD 
SUBJECT: BURMA: NLD BASHING - THE BEAT GOES ON 
 
REF: RANGOON 692 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1. SUMMARY: Since the release of over 300 political prisoners 
on July 6, the GOB has detained at least 12 new political 
prisoners.  Details of a few detentions in the first two 
weeks of July follow.  Several were detained under a law 
restricting the movements of criminals.  Discouraging 
political activities on Martyrs' Day (July 19) may be one 
motive for the detentions.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. Although the GOB released over 300 political prisoners on 
July 6, authorities have continued to arrest others for their 
political beliefs and activities.  At least 12 persons have 
been arrested since the beginning of July.  Details of some 
of the cases follow: 
 
-- July 2: Naw Ohn Hla, a suspended NLD member, was arrested. 
 She was later released, but ordered to remain at her home 30 
km north of Rangoon.  She is known for leading groups of NLD 
supporters to Shwedagon Pagoda on Tuesdays to pray for ASSK. 
They often wear T-shirts that bear ASSK's portrait and say 
"Freedom from Fear," the title of one of her books.  The 
authorities confiscated all of her T-shirts and other 
materials and warned her and her colleagues not to engage in 
any political activities on Martyrs' Day on July 19. 
 
-- July 4-5: Eight NLD members from Bago Township were 
arrested for listening to Burmese language radio broadcasts 
on BBC and Radio Free Asia and then having group discussions 
of the news in a teashop.  Five were released on July 6, but 
the group leader Hla Myint Than and the cafe owner U Win 
Myint and his wife remain in custody. 
 
-- July 6: Dr. Win Aung, NLD Chairman of Khin Oo Township, 
Sagaing Division was arrested along with NLD members Soe Win 
Aung and Khin Maung Win.  They were arrested for possessing 
video recordings of speeches made by ASSK while on her 
ill-fated tour in 2003. 
 
-- July 12: U Chit Swe, NLD Vice-Chairman of Thanlyin 
Township was arrested for allegedly holding a meeting of 
party members.  This well-known cartoonist may be charged for 
violating the SPDC order against holding a meeting of more 
than five persons without a permit.  On the same day, U Myint 
Aye, suspended NLD Chairman of Kyimyindaing Township 
(Rangoon), was temporarily detained by authorities and warned 
not to engage in any Martyrs' Day political activities. 
 
3. Several of the recent arrests have been made under Section 
5(1)(F)(G) of the 1961 Restriction of Movements of Criminals 
Act.  This law is intended to curb activities of hardened 
criminals by confining them to a specific location and 
requiring them to report to the authorities at frequent 
intervals. 
 
4. COMMENT: Despite releasing hundreds of political prisoners 
earlier this month, the GOB gives no indication that it will 
let up on arresting new political opponents.  One motive for 
the arrests may be to discourage shows of opposition to the 
GOB on Martyrs' Day, which commemorates the bombing 
assassination of national hero General Aung San and most of 
his cabinet on July 19, 1947.  Given the GOB's habit of 
holding prisoners long beyond their terms of sentence, these 
detainees have no assurance that they will gain their freedom 
anytime soon after July 19.  END COMMENT. 
Martinez