VZCZCXRO1466
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGO #0352/01 1330706
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120706Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7550
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1166
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4710
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8254
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5816
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3688
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1580
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 000352 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR USAID/OFDA, EAP/MLS, S/ES-O-CMS, DS/CC AND 
DS/IP/EAP; PACOM FOR LTC JAMIE MCADEN; BANGKOK FOR RSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: CYCLONE NARGIS SITREP NO. 6 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 335 
     ¶B. RANGOON 345 AND PREVIOUS 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU)  EMBASSY OPERATIONS:  Embassy Rangoon continued to 
operate on city power and had topped off its diesel fuel 
tanks.  On May 9, four EFMs departed post for Bangkok.  On 
May 13, six more EFM will depart post for Bangkok.  Only one 
new welfare and whereabouts inquiry came in overnight and 
consular continued to try and resolve thirteen outstanding 
cases.  No criminal incidents involving American staff or 
families were reported. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  C-130 FLIGHTS:  Our C-130 flight is expected to 
land at 1330 today.  Admiral Keating, U/S Fore, and DAS 
Marciel will accompany the relief shipment.  Two additional 
C-130 flights are scheduled for May 13; and we have requests 
for five flights on Wednesday, May 14. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  SITUATION ON THE GROUND:  We continued to receive 
reports of high casualties in the delta and outskirts of 
Rangoon.  Food prices in Rangoon continued to climb, but fuel 
prices dropped since last Friday.  The Myanmar International 
Terminals Thilawa port has resumed limited operations, and a 
shipment of 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel arrived in Rangoon 
on May 10.  Electricity was restored to more Rangoon 
neighborhoods although much of the city, and nearly all of 
the delta, remained without power.  There were no reports of 
widespread looting or public disturbance in or around 
Rangoon.  Heavy rain is expected in Rangoon and parts of the 
delta this week and is expected to exacerbate problems in the 
cyclone-affected areas. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  REFERENDUM:  The GOB went ahead with its 
constitutional referendum on May 10 in all the areas that 
were not critically affected by Cyclone Nargis.  On an 
MFA-sponsored diplomatic tour, two of our officers were able 
to view polling in two cities, Myeik and Kyaingtone.  They 
observed some irregularities, but no violence or significant 
disturbances.  In the five vote counts our officers observed, 
turnout was high as was the percentage of "yes" votes 
recorded. 
 
EMBASSY OPERATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU)  STAFFING AND OPERATIONS:  Embassy Rangoon continued 
to operate on its normal 0800-1630 schedule subject to a 
liberal leave policy. 
 
¶6. (SBU) CONSULAR:  Only one new welfare and whereabouts 
inquiry came in overnight.  Among the unregistered thirteen 
Amcits who are "unaccounted for," Burmese Immigration 
authorities have told us they have no record of four ever 
entering Burma via Rangoon airport (note: land crossings by 
tourists into Burma are very rare and require advance 
approval by the GOB).  Due to the sporadic 
telecommunications, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has 
not yet been able to locate the remaining Amcits through 
their own internal monitoring system of foreigners.  Consular 
staff continued searches by cold calling hotels and guest 
houses throughout Burma when the phones actually connect. 
Given that we have received no reports of American 
fatalities, we believe the unaccounted for tourists in 
country are likely traveling in parts of upper Burma not 
affected by the cyclone. 
 
¶7. (SBU) AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE AND FLIGHTS:  Post's Authorized 
Departure Task Force met again on May 12.  On May 9, four 
eligible family members (EFMs) from one family departed 
Rangoon for Bangkok at 1945 hrs on Thai Air flight 306.  On 
May 13, six more EFMs from three families will depart post 
for Bangkok at 1945 hrs on Thai Air flight 306.  Two EFMs 
from one family who were scheduled to depart on May 13 have 
 
RANGOON 00000352  002 OF 003 
 
 
decided to remain at post for now.  After the May 13 Thai 
flight, all EFMs who have asked to depart post will have left. 
 
¶8. (SBU)  FUEL AND POWER:  The Embassy continued to operate 
on city power.  We received two more truckloads of diesel 
fuel on May 12.  With that delivery, our diesel storage tanks 
are full, and high octane tanks are at 60 percent.  All 
Embassy-owned vehicles have full gas tanks. 
 
¶9. (SBU)  WATER: The Embassy continued to have adequate water 
supplies and purification capacity on hand. 
 
¶10. (SBU)  SECURITY:  No criminal incidents involving 
American staff were reported. 
 
C-130 FLIGHT 
------------ 
 
¶11.  (SBU)  Our C-130 flight is expected to land at 1330 
today.  Admiral Keating, U/S Fore, and DAS Marciel will 
accompany the shipment.  During the stopover, the three US 
officials will meet with GOB officials in the VIP lounge of 
the airport, but the Burmese have not yet confirmed which 
officials will be present.  The relief supplies will be 
delivered directly to Burmese officials at the airport.  We 
have received permission for two more C-130 flights to 
deliver relief supplies on May 13; and have requests for five 
flights on Wednesday May 14.  Today's flight will contain 
24,000 pounds of relief supplies, including bottled water, 
blankets, and mosquito netting. 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  On May 11, the Charge met with the Chinese 
Ambassador to discuss the possibility that Burmese 
authorities may object to Admiral Keating's presence on the 
C-130.  After further discussions, the Burmese authorities 
agreed not to object to the Admiral's visit. 
 
SITUATION ON THE GROUND 
----------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU)  CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE:  Residents of Kunchankone 
township in southern Rangoon Division estimated as many as 
10,000 residents of that area were dead or missing. 
Witnesses reported numerous un-recovered corpses and a severe 
shortage of food, fuel, clothing, and shelter.  Despite the 
poor conditions in the area, the regime announced that it had 
begun to send residents of the township back to their 
neighborhoods.  Embassy contacts reported nine Burma Navy 
vessels were sunk during the cyclone.  Initial reports 
indicated that many of the ships' crews were lost. 
 
¶14. (SBU)  RECOVERY AND RELIEF:  The UN recommended flying 
future aid shipments directly to the airport in Pathein, 
Irrawaddy Division, due to its proximity to the affected 
areas in the delta.  We have communicated this to JTF in 
Thailand. 
 
¶15. (SBU)  Embassy sources told us they continued to receive 
reports of dissatisfaction within the military's ranks over 
the pace and progress of the regime's relief efforts.  Some 
Embassy employees saw high energy bars and other items that 
appeared to be relief supplies sold in several Rangoon stores 
this weekend. 
 
¶16. (SBU) WEATHER:  Heavy rain is expected in Rangoon and 
parts of the delta this week and is expected to exacerbate 
problems in the affected areas. 
 
¶17. (SBU) PORT:  We have confirmed that the Myanmar 
International Terminals Thilawa port has resumed limited 
operations.  On May 12, Embassy contacts reported that 
vessels under 130 meters in length were arriving and 
departing the port, and Embassy officers observed at least 
two ships departing the port over the weekend.  Econ sources 
told us authorities have waived licensing requirements for 
the import of limited amounts of fuel, food, and construction 
 
RANGOON 00000352  003 OF 003 
 
 
materials by certain Burmese businesses.  Our sources also 
confirmed that a shipment of 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel 
arrived as scheduled in Rangoon on May 10.  The fuel was 
offloaded at the mouth of the Rangoon River on May 8 and 
transported by barge to Rangoon (reftel A).  A private 
company took delivery and will sell the fuel at market rates. 
 Another shipment of fuel is expected this week, possibly as 
early as May 13. 
 
¶18. (SBU) FUEL:  Fuel prices in Rangoon dropped slightly but 
were still higher than pre-storm levels.  On May 12, the 
price of diesel was 6,000 kyat ($5.45) per gallon, down 25 
percent from May 8.  The price of gasoline was 5,000 kyat 
($4.50) per gallon, down 28 percent from May 8.  Before the 
cyclone, diesel sold for 3,000 kyat per gallon and gasoline 
cost 2,500 kyat per gallon. 
 
¶19. (SBU) FOOD AND WATER:  The price of food continued to 
rise, particularly rice and meat.  Fish consumption has 
dropped due to fears of contamination.  The price of salt has 
also risen due to increased demand for use as a food 
preservative and decreased supply from Laputta, which was a 
major salt producer before the storm. 
 
¶20. (SBU)  TRANSPORTATION:  More Rangoon commuter busses 
resumed service on May 12.  However, the price of 
transportation between the delta and Rangoon remained high. 
An Embassy contact reported a ticket for a bus from Rangoon 
to Bogolay in the delta was 15,000 kyat ($13.60).  Before the 
storm the trip cost 2,000 kyat ($1.80). 
 
¶21. (SBU)  ELECTRICITY:  The government continued to restore 
electricity to Rangoon neighborhoods, including parts of the 
populous Dagon township.  However, much of the city and most 
of the delta was still without any power. 
 
¶22. (SBU)  LAW AND ORDER:  RSO noted a lack of nighttime 
police presence in several central Rangoon neighborhoods. 
However, there were no reports of widespread looting or 
public disturbances in or around Rangoon. 
 
REFERENDUM 
---------- 
 
¶23. (SBU)  The GOB went ahead with its referendum on May 10 
in all of the areas that were not critically affected by 
Cyclone Nargis.  On an MFA-sponsored diplomatic tour, two of 
our officers were able to view polling in two cities, Myeik 
and Kyaingtone.  The polling we observed was free of violence 
or disturbances, although we did see several instances of 
voting irregularities and mismanagement.  Reports from other 
areas indicated that the voting process was less fair: some 
voters were given ballots that had previously been completed, 
and others were watched carefully as they voted.  In the five 
vote counts our officers observed, turnout was high, as was 
the percentage of "yes" votes recorded (see Septel). 
VILLAROSA