Cablegate: Local Nld Youth Honor Activist Su Su Nwe

VZCZCXRO6966
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGO #1092 2131120
ZNY EEEEE ZZH
O 011120Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4904
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1039
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0053
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9811
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0268
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4268
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1730
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3458
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0455
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6908
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4524
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0848
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0851
RUDKIA/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0549
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2794
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0437
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS E F T O RANGOON 001092

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PREL BM
SUBJECT: LOCAL NLD YOUTH HONOR ACTIVIST SU SU NWE

REF: RANGOON 964

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Despite increased scrutiny and
harassment by the authorities, local NLD Youth members in
Twante Township outside Rangoon held a ceremony July 30
honoring Su Su Nwe, the recently released political prisoner
who successfully sued the regime over forced labor in her
village (reftel A). Deeply appreciative of Su Su Nwe's
bravery and sacrifice on their behalf, approximately 50 local
villagers and supporters attended the ceremony at the home of
a local NLD MP elect. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) A ceremony honoring Su Su Nwe, the recently
released political prisoner who dared to challenge the regime
over forced labor in her village, was held July 30 in Kawmoo,
Twante Township, across the river from Rangoon. The ceremony
was originally scheduled to be held on July 25, but
authorities refused permission for an event that day,
claiming that a SPDC official would be visiting the area.
Using persistence, a trait for which Su Su Nwe is well known,
the organizers obtained permission to hold the event on July
30, explaining that it would not be political but a small
ceremony in honor of a local villager, Su Su Nwe.

3. (SBU) In what organizers believed was an effort to
discourage travel from Rangoon to the event, local police
searched ferry passengers going between Rangoon and Twante
beginning on July 28. Those who did not have their National
Registration Card (NRC) were turned back. Police claimed to
be searching passengers because they had obtained information
regarding a plot to blow up a nearby bridge. On July 30,
police also began checking passenger's NRCs against a
never-before seen book of names. The close scrutiny of
passengers ended after the event on July 30. The low-key
ceremony was held from 10-12 in the morning. A local NLD
township member read Su Su Nwe's biography to the audience
and the NLD MP elect in whose home the event was held read a
poem in her honor.

4. (SBU) COMMENT: Su Su Nwe is a committed NLD member who
is willing to put herself forward to oppose the regime in
defense of these villagers. Recognizing her bravery the NLD
senior leaders gave their blessings to the village tribute.
Su Su Nwe is another in a long line of Burmese willing to
stand up for what is right and she is a welcome youthful face
to inspire other young people, whom many older Burmese
activists worry have given in to hopelessness. END COMMENT
VILLAROSA

© Scoop Media