US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1293

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001293 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DS/IP/ITA; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, ASEC, CASC, ECON, BM, Economy 
SUBJECT: BURMA'S INFLATION FUELS A RISE IN CRIME 
 
REF: RANGOON 1203 
 
1. (U) Summary: With unusual candor, the Director General of 
the Burma police acknowledged the existence of serious crime 
in Rangoon on October 23 and described a new campaign to 
combat it.  The recent crime wave coincides with a 750% 
increase in petrol prices, which caused further inflation in 
consumer goods and bus fares.  The price increases have made 
traveling to work and feeding families much more difficult 
for Burma's silent majority.  Rangoon residents have begun 
taking greater security precautions to fight increased petty 
crime and robbery.  End Summary. 
 
POLICE ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM 
---------------------------- 
2. (U) In an unusual official acknowledgment of a serious 
problem at a stage-managed "press conference" on October 28, 
Brigadier General Khin Yi, Director General of the Burma 
police force (a branch of the military), responded to 
questions about the perceived increase in serious and petty 
crime in Rangoon.  He stated that there were "eighty-three 
serious crimes" in Rangoon from May through August (before 
the recent increase), compared with ninety-three from January 
through April 2005.  He also claimed the police are pursuing 
the attacker of three women found murdered in their Rangoon 
home in September.  The police are promoting "Crime-Free 
Weeks" in different parts of the city, and will conduct 
surveys in crime-prone areas. 
 
3. (U)  Economic hardship may be the most likely reason for 
the jump in the crime rate.  Food and transportation prices 
have increased significantly over the past two months 
(Reftel).  The cost of the basket of staple goods used by 
typical low-income families rose 5.9% from September to 
October, according to Embassy research.  Rice prices have 
increased 8% since September, and 14% since July.  The prices 
of some essential items, such as fish, beans, onions and 
toothpaste, rose as much as 50% during October.  A sudden 
100-500% hike in bus fares has forced many workers to stay at 
home or work on reduced schedules.  The Planning Department 
of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development 
provides a K.200 (about $.16) transportation subsidy per day 
to its employees, which has helped ameliorate the impact on 
those employees.  Yet they are the only ones we have heard 
getting any increase. 
 
EVERYONE IS AFFECTED 
-------------------- 
4. (U)  Sources in contact with the police report that the 
increased burglaries and robberies have not been accurately 
reflected in official police statistics.  In a city of over 
six million that enjoyed a generally low crime rate, recent 
incidents have made some Rangoon residents take unusual (for 
them) new security precautions, including locking all doors, 
not traveling alone and not staying home alone at night. 
Taxi drivers now refuse to bring passengers to some 
neighborhoods after dark. 
 
5. (SBU) The United Nations (UN) Security Officer reported an 
increase in robberies among UN personnel in Rangoon.  RSO 
police contacts in Mandalay told Emboff that the GOB recently 
added more tourist police in the city in response to a surge 
in crimes reported by Western tourists. 
 
COMMENT: POLICE CANDOR IN A POLICE STATE 
---------------------------------------- 
6. (SBU) Comment: In a "shoot the messenger" police state 
like Burma, few willingly report or confirm bad news.  The 
fact that a senior police official revealed the existence of 
a problem and actions taken in response constitutes official 
confirmation that the public has reason to take precautions. 
At his "press conference", the DG neglected to include 
statistics on Rangoon crime rates for September and October, 
after the fuel price increase and other inflation began to 
hit home.  Other factors contributing to inaccurate reporting 
are inefficient collection methods and the fact that many 
victims avoid contact with the authorities.  The crime 
situation now has reached a level where the police feel 
compelled to respond to public concerns, a very unusual 
display of public accountability in Burma.  End comment. 
VILLAROSA