Cablegate: Ilo Pressure Leads to Lawyer's Release

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

UNCLAS RANGOON 000963

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA; TREASURY FOR OASIA:AJEWELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV BM
SUBJECT: ILO PRESSURE LEADS TO LAWYER'S RELEASE

REF: A. RANGOON 904
B. RANGOON 849
C. RANGOON 806

1. (SBU) On July 9, authorities released U Aye Myint from
Bago prison. In June, International Labor Organization (ILO)
members set Aye Myint's release by the end of July as one
test of the GOB's willingness to address forced labor. Aye
Myint credits the ILO pressure for his release. End Summary.

2. (SBU) Burmese prison officials released lawyer Aye Myint
from Bago prison at 8:00 am on July 9. On October 31, 2005,
a judge found Aye Myint guilty of "spreading false
information," for advising a group of farmers to report to
the ILO when authorities confiscated their land. Aye Myint
had served almost nine months of a seven year sentence. In
2003, Aye Myint had previously been sentenced to death for
high treason for alleged contacts with the ILO Liaison
Officer, but the GOB released him in January 2005.

3. (SBU) In his first press interview, Aye Myint credited ILO
pressure during the June International Labor Conference for
his release. ILO members set the release of Aye Myint, Su Su
Nway and three defendants currently under prosecution in
Aunglan as tests of GOB sincerity to address forced labor and
to avoid further ILO actions.

4. (SBU) Although he did not cite which section of the law
authorities used for his release, Section 401 of the Criminal
Procedure Law allows for suspension of a prisoner's sentence
with or without conditions. On June 6, the authorities
released Su Su Nway without conditions (reftels), but Aye
Myint said that his release had one condition. If he breaks
the law again, he will have to serve not only the sentence
for the new crime, but also the unserved time remaining from
the current charge. Aye Myint was a member of the NLD's Legal
Advisory Committee, but told the press that the GOB did not
restore his license to practice law.
VILLAROSA

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