Cablegate: Nld Leaders Cheered by Secretary's Burma Comments

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS RANGOON 000298

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PGOV BM NLD
SUBJECT: NLD LEADERS CHEERED BY SECRETARY'S BURMA COMMENTS

1. (SBU) The free members of the National League for
Democracy's (NLD) Central Executive Committee (CEC) were very
pleased that Secretary Powell had mentioned Burma's democracy
struggle during his March 2nd speech to the Heritage
Foundation. NLD leader, and Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung San
Suu Kyi and three other senior NLD leaders have been in
prison and/or house arrest since May 2003. The CEC thanked
the Secretary for his statement and asked emboffs during a
March 4th meeting (septel) to pass on that the NLD members
had "heard Secretary Powell's remarks and were encouraged by
them." They promised that the NLD would "carry on the fight"
and urged the Secretary to continue raising at all
opportunities the importance of real democratic transition in
Burma.
Martinez

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