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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:          
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