US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1321

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, BM, Ethnics, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: SHAN LEADERS TRANSFERRED TO NORTHERN PRISONS 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 1264 
     B. RANGOON 332 
     C. RANGOON 185 
 
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
1. (U) Summary: Embassy sources report that GOB authorities 
recently transferred Shan leaders, including ethnic 
pro-democracy leader Hkun Htun Oo, from Insein Prison in 
Rangoon to remote detention facilities in northern Burma. 
This will make it more difficult for family members to offer 
them vital supplies and will complicate their appeals 
process.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Family members and ethnic politicians reported to 
Emboffs on November 21 that in recent days the GOB had 
transferred several political prisoners, all ethnic Shan 
leaders, from Rangoon's Insein Prison to prisons in northern 
Burma.  Among those we understand are relocated are 
pro-democracy leaders Hkun Htun Oo, Chairman of the Shan 
Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), and Sai Nyunt 
Lwin, SNLD Secretary.  Authorities also transferred General 
Hso Ten, Chairman of the Shan State Army-North. 
 
3. (C) Families members only found out about the transfers 
when they went to Insein Prison on a regular food delivery 
and were informed that their relatives were no longer there. 
Prison authorities refused to indicate where the prisoners 
were transferred.  The three Shan leaders were arrested in 
February (ref C) and sentenced in November to multiple life 
sentences (ref A). 
 
4. (C) Embassy sources claim that authorities may have 
transferred the Shan leaders to Mandalay Prison and/or to 
Kalemyo Prison, in remote Sagaing Division near the border 
with India.  Kalemyo Prison is notorious for its difficult 
conditions.  It has housed political prisoners before, often 
in solitary confinement.  U Tin Oo, Vice Chairman of the 
National League for Democracy (NLD), was imprisoned in 
Kalemyo after the May 2003 Depeyin attack and prior to his 
transfer to Rangoon, where he remains under house arrest. 
 
5. (U) Comment: Moving these political prisoners to upcountry 
locations will make their lives much more uncomfortable.  It 
is customary in Burma for families to bring food, medicine, 
and clothing to their incarcerated loved ones to supplement 
the meager prison supplies.  The relocation will make 
intermittent family visits more difficult and will 
significantly encumber communications between the prisoners 
and their lawyers in Rangoon, who are attempting to file 
appeals.  End Comment. 
VILLAROSA