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Viewing cable 08RANGOON99, ELECTION FORUM BRINGS TASTE OF DEMOCRACY TO BURMA

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08RANGOON99 2008-02-08 08:10 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Rangoon
VZCZCXRO2821
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGO #0099/01 0390810
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080810Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7154
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1721
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0887
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4758
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4447
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7978
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5539
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1343
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1371
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0210
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3502
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1323
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000099 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/PD 
PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO BM
SUBJECT: ELECTION FORUM BRINGS TASTE OF DEMOCRACY TO BURMA 
 
RANGOON 00000099  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Over 100 Burmese students, journalists and 
businesspeople gathered at the Embassy's American Center on February 
6 to watch live results of the Super Tuesday primary elections and 
participate in a lively discussion about foreign policy and 
democratic values.  Embassy officers and American Center teachers 
led the discussions.  The participants contrasted Burma's lack of 
political freedom with the openness of the U.S. electoral process. 
Burmese students also participated in a straw poll, enabling them to 
experience their own measure of the democratic process.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) The American Center in Rangoon hosted a Super Tuesday 
discussion session on February 6, exposing Burmese youth to the 
concept of voting for national leaders, an experience few know for 
themselves.  An audience of 100, mostly Burmese students, attended 
the program, which offered live CNN coverage of Super Tuesday 
primary election results at the American Center.  U.S. Embassy 
officers and American Center teachers led small group discussion and 
break-out sessions, elaborating on the election process. 
 
Reacting to Election Clips 
-------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Scenes of crowded polling stations and jubilant expressions 
from supporters of the various candidates in America contrasted 
starkly against a background of acute oppression and continuing 
political arrests in Burma.  Audience reactions ranged from 
fascination to astonishment at America's openness.  One young 
Burmese student asked, "You can debate in the United States?" 
Others expressed disbelief that television commentators and 
political analysts spoke their minds without fear of punishment.  A 
group of students from a beginner's English class were baffled at 
the lack of any authority dictating which party should lead the 
country. 
 
Learning about Democratic Politics 
---------------------------------- 
 
4. (U) This was the first exposure to American politics for many 
participants and for a few, it was the first introduction to the 
reality of democracy and voting.  Audience members asked about basic 
U.S. election procedures, the differences between candidates' 
positions and party policies, and election dynamics.  While most 
participants understood how parties worked in principle, some lacked 
any understanding of the way that the Republican and Democrat party 
elect convention delegates.  When one participant asked what the 
difference was between Democrats and Republicans, emboffs explained 
how different parties represent different interests and policies. 
Americans have the right to vote for the candidate most in line with 
their personal preferences and values, they emphasized.  In response 
to a question, one emboff explained to a group of participants that 
he would not lose his job or face reprisals if the White House or 
Congress changed hands. 
 
5.  (SBU) A handful of participants displayed deeper knowledge about 
American politics.  One woman attendee wanted to know why a state's 
political party might choose to have a winner-take-all allocation of 
delegates, instead of splitting them among candidates.  Other 
questions focused on specific topics such as differences between the 
candidates over the Iraq war, other foreign policy issues, and 
economic policies.  In response to a question about which candidate 
would take the strongest stance on Burma, an emboff noted that the 
U.S. Congress voted almost unanimously for current measures, and 
that both parties fully support the struggle for greater democracy 
in the country.  While the event was a serious effort to promote 
democratic values, it was not without humor.  The audience laughed 
when they noticed that American political parties have "national 
conventions," the same name as the meeting of Burmese 
junta-appointed delegates that rubber-stamped the military's sham 
 
RANGOON 00000099  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
"roadmap to democracy." 
 
Experiencing Democracy through Voting 
------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) Participants also had the opportunity to experience the 
democratic process firsthand.  Early in the program, candidates were 
asked to vote for their preferred Democratic and Republican 
candidates.  On the Republican side, John McCain won about 
two-thirds of the vote. The results on the Democratic side closely 
set the scene for the actual results of Super Tuesday, with Hillary 
Clinton and Barack Obama finishing in a dead heat.  The program was 
scheduled to end at 10:30 a.m., but participants continued to ask 
questions about American politics.  In the spirit of democracy, the 
participants were offered another chance to vote, with the option of 
extending the program by 90 minutes.  Reflecting the Burmese 
population's hunger for open politics, the result was a resounding 
"yes." 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (SBU) This event further displays a keen interest in politics 
amongst Burmese citizens and a desire to have their own political 
voice.  The participants' lack of knowledge about the political 
process shows the need for continued awareness-raising.  This kind 
of outreach is at the heart of the American Center's mission.  While 
the regime suspects the American Center of intervening in Burmese 
politics, discussions of U.S. politics does not cause as much 
concern.  Thus we can indirectly raise the political awareness of 
the Burmese.  We will continue to work closely with the people of 
Burma, educating them on the importance and mechanics of democracy 
and the value of free and fair elections. 
 
 
VILLAROSA