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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 000919 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PREL BM NGO
SUBJECT: ICRC DRAWS DOWN FURTHER 
 
REF: A. A) RANGOON 617 
     ¶B. B) RANGOON 272 
 
Classified By: P/E, Mark Taylor, for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  The Burma office of the International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plans to reduce further its 
expatriate and local staff in light of continued restrictions 
on independent prison visits and access to vulnerable 
populations in conflict zones in border areas absent any 
indications the regime will reconsider them.  At this point 
the ICRC will retain minimal staffing should the regime have 
a change of heart.  ICRC also has seen its access to border 
areas significantly reduced. Initially quiet in the hopes of 
finding a resolution, the ICRC may become more outspoken with 
the international media and sympathetic governments to draw 
attention to the disturbing humanitarian and political 
messages these SPDC restrictions convey. END SUMMARY. 
 
DETENTION VISITS STAFF REDUCTIONS 
--------------------------------- 
 
2.(C)  Acting ICRC/Burma Head of Delegation Thierry Ribaux 
(strictly protect) in a June 29 meeting with Emboffs 
confirmed a June 26 media report, attributed to him, that the 
ICRC will further reduce its expatriate staff, already down 
to 28 from a pre-2006 level of 55 (see reftels), over the 
coming month as prospects for restarted prison visits remain 
bleak.  Similarly, the ICRC also will pare its Burmese staff, 
already cut from 278 to 240 over the last six months, he 
disclosed.  While emphasizing that the ICRC has no intention 
of leaving Burma altogether, Ribaux stated that staff 
dedicated to visiting prison and forced labor camps would now 
be cut to the bare minimum needed to respond quickly in the 
event of SPDC approval to visit.  In addition, some 
expatriate personnel dedicated to protection work in 
conflict-affected border areas would also likely depart. 
 
3.(C) Ribaux noted that the ICRC office continues to submit 
formal requests for independent prison visits to the Home 
Affairs Ministry, which houses the Department of Prisons; 
with no response.  Meanwhile, the ICRC has received reports 
that prison conditions have deteriorated in various 
locations.  Government-controlled press has reported Union 
Solidarity Development Association (USDA) and Myanmar 
Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA) 
representatives  made visits to prisons to provide food, 
medicine and clothing.  Ribaux noted that these visits are on 
the wane as both organizations lack funding for sustained 
donations.  Ribaux also disclosed that the ICRC heard that 
during these prison visits, the USDA attempted to condition 
assistance provided to individual prisoners on their joining 
the USDA, with formal membership cards to be provided upon 
their release from prison. 
 
PRISON ACTIVITIES ERODED 
------------------------ 
 
4.(C) The regime's less cooperative stance with the ICRC has 
also affected "Protection" activities for communities 
affected by border conflicts.  Access to key areas of the 
eastern border expanded in 2000-2004.  By late 2004, ICRC 
staff visited northern Kayin (Karen) state almost weekly for 
discussions with communities affected by conflict, ensuring 
that wounded villagers and IDPs received appropriate care. 
ICRC staff stationed at offices in Hpa-An, Moulmein, 
Kengtung, and Taunggyi also could access communities in Mon 
State and southern and eastern Shan State.   Unlike the 
abrupt termination of independent prison visits, the GOB 
gradually restricted visits to conflict-affected communities 
over the latter half of 2005 down to two in early 2006. 
ICRC's restricted access to conflict zones does not appear 
the result of a clear order from the capital, according to 
Ribaux, but rather an intolerance of any foreigners in 
sensitive areas.  Ribaux opined that the generals had no 
appreciation for the ICRC's unique status, which includes 
strict confidentiality; instead it lumped ICRC together with 
international NGOs as a foreign security risk. 
 
ICRC IN MANDALAY 
---------------- 
 
5.(C) While Ribaux claimed that the ICRC has no timetable for 
further steps to minimize its presence, Mandalay ICRC 
representative Serge Thierry (Strictly Protect) disclosed 
during a June 26 meeting with Emboff that a mid-July 
country-wide ICRC/Burma staff meeting would take stock of the 
situation and recommend next steps.  Thierry claimed that, 
according to ICRC's study, 67% of the wardens in the prisons 
visited by ICRC staff found the visits beneficial and did not 
want them stopped.  Noting that this positive view of the 
ICRC prevailed in the Departments of Prisons, Thierry 
concluded that the decision to end independent ICRC access 
came from "high on top."  Thierry claimed that he received 
better cooperation from Mandalay commander General Khin Zaw 
than from his predecessor, who departed in early 2005.  While 
some of his colleagues in other ICRC/Burma offices face 
severe restrictions on movement imposed by local commanders, 
such as the office in Kengtung, Thierry stated that he is 
relatively free to travel in the Central zone without advance 
permission or participation of GOB personnel. 
 
WHAT'S LEFT:  PROSTHETICS AID AND FAMILY VISITS 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
6.(C). Staff at ICRC's six offices in Burma (Rangoon, 
Mandalay, Taunggyi, Kengtung, Hpa-An and Moulmein) now 
oversee  two activities.  The provision of artificial limbs 
to amputees (wounded largely by land mine explosions in 
conflict zones) continues at all six offices.  ICRC sees the 
largest number of patients in Moulmein and Hpa-An, closest to 
the scenes of insurgent activities in Karen and Mon states. 
Denied direct access to communities in the conflict zones, 
ICRC staff discreetly use limited confidential interactions 
with amputees to obtain information about the conflict zones, 
confided Ribaux. 
 
7.(C) ICRC also provides assistance to relatives of "persons 
detained for security reasons" because they often have to 
travel long distances for visits.  In addition to 
facilitating the confidential transmission of letters between 
prisoners and family members, ICRC offices in Burma provide 
funding for relatives to make regular visits to the far-flung 
prisons and provide their imprisoned relatives with 
medicines, foodstuffs and clothing.  According to Ribaux, 
ICRC offices continue to fund and monitor the visits of 
family members of 700 prisoners.  To date, the regime has not 
interfered in this activity, he said. 
 
9.(C)  COMMENT:  The ICRC staff in Burma is increasingly 
frustrated by the intransigence of the regime in accepting 
Geneva Convention provisions respected around the world.  The 
June 26 press statement by Ribaux was a calculated move to 
tap outside sources of leverage to pressure the regime.  The 
recent visit to Burma of U/SYG Gambari, who called for 
increased humanitarian access also probably influenced the 
statement.  Lifting restrictions on the ICRC's access to 
prisons and conflict areas would be a welcome step showing 
sincerity by the generals in re-engaging the international 
community.  Continued restrictions, on the other hand, should 
raise doubts about the generals intentions.  END COMMENT. 
VILLAROSA