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Cablegate: Letter From Nld to Gambari

VZCZCXRO5422
OO RUEHBZ RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGO #1559/01 2930815
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 200815Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0553
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5313
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001559

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM NLD TO GAMBARI

REF: RANGOON 1528

1. (SBU) Summary: The Chairman and Secretary of the National
League of Democracy (NLD) asked the Embassy to pass copies to
Secretary Rice and Ambassador Bolton of a letter they sent to

SIPDIS
Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary General at the United
Nations. We have abridged the text to focus on the specific
NLD requests, but complete copies are now circulating on the
internet. The NLD requests the release of NLD leaders Aung
San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and Tin Oo; reopening of NLD offices; and
the initiation of a political dialogue that includes ASSK.
In addition, the NLD requests Gambari meet with a broad
spectrum of pro-democracy supporters when he next visits
Burma, and that he arrange for the senior leaders to meet
together with ASSK and Tin Oo in advance of Gambari's visit.
End Summary.

2. (U) Begin abridged text:

Excellency,

We understand that Your Excellency will be visiting this
country for a second time. Before your visit, we, on behalf
of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and of Nation League
for Democracy (NLD), would like to appraise the situation in
this country as extensive as possible for Your Excellency's
information. Therefore please except our apologies for this
relatively long letter since we could not have discussed
thoroughly the issues during our meeting in May 2006.

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The NLD is of the opinion that the current problems of
political, economic and social nature (especially of health
in respect of diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS) are
the consequences of the refusal by the State Peace and
Development Council (SLORC) (presently the State Peace and
Development Council - SPDC) to recognize the outcome of the
free and fair Multi Party Democracy General Election held in
1990 according to the "Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law" enacted
by themselves (the SLORC) in 1989. The results of the
Election portrayed that almost the entire people yearned for
democracy and human rights in Burma. In fact this definitely
the sincere desire of the mass.

We would suggest that, when the time comes for negotiation
for national reconciliation and for democratic
transformation, decision makers from both sides should
participate in the process without fail. The request is made
from the 18 year's experience of the NLD. Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi who has been striving for the national reconciliation and
dialogue from the beginning, who gets the overwhelming
mandate of the people for the democratic transformation in
Burma, who can make changes through political compromises and
who has achieved the confidence of the ethnic nationalities,
should participate in all the political processes.

We would also suggest that the UN Security Council try the
utmost for the realization of a substantial political
dialogue and also for adoption of a binding resolution. On
September 26, 2006, at the present 61st Session of the United
Nations General Assembly, U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Burma stated in his address on policy that Myanmar
will step up its efforts in close cooperation with friendly
countries and international organizations and that
cooperation to the United Nations is a corner stone of
Myanmar's Foreign Policy and track record that had proven
that Myanmar has invariably extended its cooperation to the
United Nations. The first urgently needed step for the
establishment of democracy and national reconciliation is the
political dialogue.

Recent actions of the authorities which include closing and
sealing of the offices of various levels of organizational
committees of the NLD, forced the League members by various
means of pressure to resign leading to the obliteration or
inactivity of the organizational committees show that they
are not leading towards democracy.

Moreover, for a fair political environment and national
reconciliation, we would like to request for the immediate
and unconditional release of U Tin Oo, Vice Chairman, Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the NLD and all other
political prisoners and also for the reopening offices of the
organizational committees of various levels and rights to
organize freely according to the law.

Hence we would like to suggest, for the cause of democracy
and human rights in Burma, that during the trip to Burma,
Your Excellency should meet, besides with the authorities and

RANGOON 00001559 002 OF 002


NLD, other ethnic nationalities parties including the
deregistered parties which won the elections in 1990, the
veteran politicians, 88 generation student leaders to gain
more extensive opinion regarding the political situation as
well as the general crisis of the country.

We also would like to request Your Excellency's help in
getting permission for the full CEC meeting of the NLD
including U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for preparation
before meeting with Your Excellency. We also suggest that
Your Excellency should meet with the full 9 member CEC of the
NLD at the same time.

Summing up the above:

- To hold substantial political dialogue making mutual
compromises for the transformation to democracy and national
reconciliation in Burma.
- To call up the People's Parliament to transform the
State Peace and Development Council into a legitimate "de
jure" council.
- The 104 principles laid down by the National Convention
shall be points to be considered and not binding principles.
- Since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the
democratic cause in Burma, she should participate in all the
political processes.
- The UN Security Council shall try to get a binding
resolution. NLD does not ever think to propose any kind of
sanction.
- The offices of the state/divisional and township
organizational committees shall be reopened and be permitted
to function freely in accordance with the laws.
- Immediately and unconditionally release U Tin Oo, Vice
Chairman, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the NLD
and all other political prisoners.
- Meet and discuss with representatives from political
parties which won in the 1990 Election, veteran politicians
and 88 generation student leaders.

Yours truly,
U Aung Shwe, Chairman-NLD
U Lwin, Secretary - NLD
VILLAROSA

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