US embassy cable - 05RANGOON996

UNCLAS RANGOON 000996 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINS, BM 
SUBJECT: BURMA: GOB PRESS CONFERENCE "CLARIFIES" OLD NEWS 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 989 
 
     B. RANGOON 979 
 
1. SUMMARY: The SPDC Information Committee, in an August 28 
"press conference" held in Rangoon, declared four opposition 
groups "unlawful associations" and again accused 
"destabilizing Western countries" of being behind recent 
security threats to Burma.  In response to a press query, a 
GOB official dismissed rumors that Burma's de facto leader, 
Senior General Than Shwe had fallen ill and said he is well 
and hard at work, blaming the BBC for intentionally 
broadcasting "fabricated rumors" designed to destabilize the 
SPDC.  The GOB also urged the ILO to mend its ways.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. The GOB held its sixth "press conference" of 2005 on 
August 28.  Present were the Minister of Information, 
Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan; Minister of Home Affairs, Major 
General Maung Oo; and representatives of other ministries, 
including the Myanmar Police Force.  Officials openly blamed 
the BBC for intentionally broadcasting "fabricated rumors" 
about separatist movements in Shan State and the health of 
Senior General Than Shwe in order to destabilize the SPDC. 
The officials reported that Than Shwe is well and is hard at 
work at the War Office, although he has not made any public 
appearances or statements since August 20. 
 
3. The GOB rehashed old news by again raising the names of 
various groups and individuals they believe were behind May 7 
bombings in Rangoon and the April bombing in Mandalay.  They 
announced the recent arrests of several alleged conspirators 
whom they accuse of having contacts with "external 
destructive elements."  The Minister of Home Affairs also 
announced the official designation of four opposition groups 
as "unlawful associations."  These groups are: the National 
Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) under 
"renegade" Sein Win (a cousin of ASSK); the Federation of 
Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) under "terrorist" Maung Maung; 
the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF); and the Shan 
State Army - South (SSA-S) under Colonel Yawd Seuk. 
 
4. The GOB again blamed "Western nations" for financially 
supporting opponents of the State Peace and Development 
Council (SPDC) with the intent to destabilize the regime.  In 
response to a question about the International Labor 
Organization (ILO), an official stressed that the ILO had 
been making trouble for Burma and that government organized 
associations (GONGOs) were correct in recently condemning the 
ILO. 
 
5. (SBU) COMMENT: This "press conference" brought only old 
news and no new details to light, despite recent media 
attention to the rumor mill.  The SPDC's convoluted efforts 
to try to pin blame on the May 7 bombings in Rangoon give the 
impression that the GOB still has no clue who was behind 
them.  Publicly naming four associations "unlawful" is also 
nothing new, since several people have already been sentenced 
to life in prison for associating with them.  The fact they 
have officially become illegal, however, may indicate that 
the regime intends to crack down even harder on anybody who 
has ever had dealings with them.  As for Than Shwe, although 
the official party line on his health may be unchanged, his 
absence from the media will continue to feed the rumor mill. 
END COMMENT. 
Stoltz