Cablegate: Post Response: Following Up On the Activists For

VZCZCXRO1812
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGO #0300 1211020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 301020Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7446
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1090
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4637
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8178
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5739
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1529
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1492
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS RANGOON 000300

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: POST RESPONSE: FOLLOWING UP ON THE ACTIVISTS FOR
DEMOCRACY AND DISSIDENTS OUTREACH REQUEST

REF: A. STATE 44903

B. 2007 STATE 108294
C. RANGGON 185
D. RANGOON 179
E. RANGOON 98
F. RANGOON 25
G. 2007 RANGOON 1165

1. Embassy Rangoon fully supports the President's Freedom
Agenda. The Chief of Mission has made every effort to meet
leaders and members of Burma's pro-democracy opposition and
to encourage the United Nations and diplomatic counterparts
in Rangoon to do so as well. To further this goal, the Chief
of Mission has held regular meetings with the leaders of Aung
San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party (NLD) and
regularly attended ceremonies at NLD headquarters, most
recently on March 27. She also paid a condolence call on
the widow of NLD spokesperson U Myint Thein. As the regime
has increased its scrutiny and harassment of the
pro-democracy opposition since the September protests, the
Charge has held regular events at her residence, allowing
political and human rights activists to meet in order to
speak freely and network with each other. The Charge
d'Affaires also meets regularly with political and human
rights activists in informal settings, to assure them of the
United States' support of their activities and to find out
from them how we can most effectively promote democratic
change in Burma.

2. In addition, the Charge d'Affaires always includes
leaders and members of Burma's pro-democracy movement at
official receptions, and cultural and representational
events, where foreign diplomats and Burmese government
officials are also invited. The inclusion of democracy
activists in these events demonstrates the USG's commitment
to promoting freedom and democracy, and our willingness to
bring together all members of Burma's political community to
do so. For more details of the Chief of Mission's activities
to support Burma's pro-democracy leaders, we refer you to
reftels.
VILLAROSA

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