US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1333

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001333 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ECON, BM, NLD 
SUBJECT: BURMA: DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION SHOWS UNITY 
 
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: Burma's democratic opposition groups gathered 
in Rangoon to mark the country's National Day on November 25. 
 Veteran politicians spoke with candor about the lack of 
basic freedoms, the deteriorating economic situation, and the 
continued detention of leading political prisoners.  The 
chair of the Group of Veteran Politicians called for the 
formation of a National Reconciliation Coalition Government 
as the best way forward for Burma.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Pro-democracy parties and groups gathered in Rangoon 
on November 25 for Burma's 85th National Day, commemorating 
independence aspirations that appeared among Burmese students 
in the 1920.  The Group of Veteran Politicians (GVP), an 
independent group of retired government and military 
officials, organized the program.  The event attracted 350 
pro-democracy advocates, including NLD leaders; members of 
the Committee to Represent the People's Parliamentarians (a 
grouping of MPs-elect); officers of ethnic parties; and Min 
Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, leaders of "the Generation of 
Students Since 1988," a new group established by the former 
political prisoners and other colleagues.  Poloff was the 
only foreign diplomat present at the function. 
 
3. (U) The 90-year-old chairman of the GVP, Thakin Thein Pe, 
an original member of the independence movement and a former 
cabinet member in the U Nu government, delivered the keynote 
speech.  He said, "Our people have lost their birthright" of 
basic human freedoms, including the right to free speech and 
to organize.  He also stressed the current difficult economic 
situation, where ordinary people and civil servants alike 
struggle just to get enough to eat.  He blamed the increase 
in consumer prices and deteriorating economic situation for a 
sharp rise in crime and illicit activities.  He decried the 
worsening conditions in Burma reported by the United Nations 
in the area of human rights, trafficking in persons, use of 
child soldiers, and forced labor, and condemned the continued 
detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. 
 
4. (U) Thakin Thein Pe also called again on the GOB to solve 
the country's current problems by accepting the GVP's 
proposal, first made in 1999, for a National Reconciliation 
Coalition Government (NRCG).  He stressed that the NRCG is 
compatible with the GOB's "road map."  Key points of the 
proposal include: 
 
-- A coalition government of the military and representatives 
of the NLD, SNLD, NUP, and various ethnic parties. 
 
-- The military would comprise one-third of the cabinet. 
 
-- Parliament could be convened on the basis of results from 
the 1990 election. 
 
-- A comprehensive, general amnesty and pardon to all members 
of the regime would be granted for past misdeeds. 
 
-- The NRCG would take responsibility for drafting the new 
constitution. 
 
5. (U) The program proceeded smoothly, despite the presence 
of hordes of plainclothes security personnel, who wandered up 
and down the aisles throughout the function in a 
photographing frenzy.  (Note: This is fairly standard GOB 
procedure at opposition-sponsored events.  End Note.)  The 
GOB security officials repeatedly photographed the same 
individuals from different angles in an obvious effort to 
intimidate them.  One photographer rudely bumped poloff aside 
to shoot yet another photo. 
 
6. (U) Later in the day the NLD held its own National Day 
function at its Rangoon headquarters with about 400 
attendees.  The NLD issued statements calling on the SPDC to 
implement its promises of national reconciliation by 
releasing NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo and General Secretary Aung 
San Suu Kyi; releasing SNLD Chairman U Hkun Htun Oo and 
Secretary U Sai Nyunt Lwin; opening immediately closed NLD 
 
SIPDIS 
offices nationwide; and releasing all political prisoners and 
prisoners of conscience.  There were no diplomats present 
because the NLD had intentionally chosen to not invite the 
diplomatic corps this year, instead using the opportunity to 
target NLD party members. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT: The GVP's plucky old politicians showed 
surprising bravery in their words, especially for a society 
that is used to being cowed by the heavy hand of the military 
regime.  While the regime photographers are obviously paying 
attention to the activities of opposition politicians, it is 
doubtful the generals are listening to what they have to say. 
 These National Day events serve to remind party followers 
that a democratic opposition still exists in Burma, although 
it is growing older and receiving less attention with every 
passing year.  End Comment. 
STOLTZ