Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08RANGOON336, BAGO DIVISION: IT COULD BE WORSE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08RANGOON336.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08RANGOON336 2008-05-08 09:50 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Rangoon
VZCZCXRO8350
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGO #0336/01 1290950
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080950Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7519
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1145
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4692
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8233
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5795
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3664
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1552
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000336 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR USAID/OFDA, EAP/MLS, S/ES-O-CMS, DS/CC AND 
DS/IP/EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID BM
SUBJECT: BAGO DIVISION: IT COULD BE WORSE 
 
REF: RANGOON 335 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Southern Bago Division, among the areas 
that the Burmese government declared a disaster area, 
suffered some damage from Cyclone Nargis, although 
significantly less than the Irrawaddy Delta.  The roads to 
and from Bago were clear and relatively undamaged.  The city 
of Bago appeared normal except for a few fallen trees and 
damaged homes.  The situation south of Bago, however, was far 
more severe.  Prices for construction materials have tripled 
since the May 3 cyclone.  Food, fuel, and clean water was 
scarce and prices continued to rise.  They have not received 
any outside assistance.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) FOOD: On May 7, Poloff visited some areas that 
Cyclone Nargis affected in Bago and Rangoon Divisions.  The 
cyclone hit the area at the time of the rice harvest in these 
areas and flooded most rice paddies.  In an effort to salvage 
their crops, farmers have turned highways into areas where 
they can dry rice. Even four days after the storm, however, 
rice stocks smelled moldy and appeared brown.  One woman who 
was spreading rice on the highway with her feet told us that 
the rice itself was ripe, but unless they dry it quickly, 
they will lose the harvest. 
 
3. (SBU) Maykha Poultry Farm just fifteen miles east of 
Rangoon suffered considerable damage.  Mark Eman, head of 
operations at the farm, estimated that his farm suffered 
about $200,000 in damage and a loss of 60 to 70 percent of 
his chickens.  Joko, another associate at the farm, showed us 
a barn that houses young chickens.  The roof of the barn was 
gone and he said that even the remaining chickens will not 
survive unless they get better shelter.  There were already 
bags of dead chickens stacked at the door of the barn.  The 
farm supplies about 30 percent of chicken to Rangoon, he 
said, and even though prices are rising in Rangoon, he 
preferred that they stay lower or people will not buy it. 
Chicken prices have already doubled since the storm.  Eman 
expected that things will get worse before they get better 
and he did not expect the situation to improve for months. 
He believed, however, that people are unlikely to riot as a 
result of food shortages.  These people are too spread out 
and they will be too busy trying to get food on the table to 
riot, he said. 
 
4. (SBU) FUEL: Everyone we spoke with brought up the shortage 
of fuel throughout the area.  A few miles outside of Rangoon, 
fuel stations have opened to buses and taxis for the first 
time in several days.  The line to the station was 1.5 miles 
long on the taxi side and 2.5 miles long on the bus side. 
Eman said that between May 3 and 7, diesel prices skyrocketed 
for his farm to 10,000 kyat ($9) per gallon.  Besides high 
prices, he said, people must have friends who sell diesel in 
order to get any.  Even in Bago, which appeared normal 
compared to surrounding areas, the price of one gallon of 
gasoline was 8,500 kyat ($7.75), about the same as it was in 
Rangoon.  (Note: diesel prices in Rangoon have since dropped 
to 8,000 kyat per gallon and gasoline prices have dropped to 
7,000 kyat per gallon.) 
 
5. (SBU) SHELTER: Throughout southern Bago and eastern 
Rangoon Divisions, many people have lost their homes.  Many 
of the homes outside of major cities consisted of bamboo 
poles and siding and thatched roofs, which villagers replace 
each year at this time in anticipation of the monsoon season. 
 These houses sit in the middle of paddy fields, which are 
now flooded, and many, especially in the hardest-hit areas, 
completely collapsed or blew away.  A few village school 
buildings that retained at least part of their roofs served 
as shelters for those who had lost their homes.  These 
schools were extremely crowded, sometimes holding forty 
people in a single room. 
 
6. (SBU) Piles of fresh thatch and bamboo poles were being 
sold on the sides of the highways as people sought to clean 
up and rebuild their homes.  Eman told us, however, that the 
 
RANGOON 00000336  002 OF 002 
 
 
prices of these supplies were triple what they had been 
before the storm.  The supplies that he will need to rebuild 
his poultry farm, such as tin roofing, plastic sheeting, and 
nails, also went for three times their previous rates and 
were more difficult to find. 
 
7. (SBU) WATER: On the outskirts of Rangoon and south of 
Bago, the prices of bottled water rose 60 percent in the four 
days since the storm.  Eman mentioned safe drinking water as 
key to ensuring that people stay healthy in the aftermath of 
the storm.  In small villages, however, drinking water is 
always scarce and people generally obtain it by boiling 
ground water.  Now with the ground water contaminated with 
dirt and debris, people will have a harder time providing for 
their drinking, cooking and sanitary needs and disease will 
likely spread, particularly in smaller villages.  While there 
were no reported deaths in the area at present, he believed 
the death toll could rise as people become ill from 
waterborne disease. 
 
8. (SBU) Comment: The situation in southern Bago and eastern 
Rangoon Divisions was not as devastating as the reports 
coming from the Irrawaddy Delta.  However, these people also 
need assistance to rebuild homes and businesses, feed their 
families, and get clean water.  The GOB was nowhere in 
evidence providing any assistance, and they have told donors 
not to worry about Bago and other places along the storm 
track east of Rangoon.  We can see the GOB has done little in 
Rangoon, and has barely touched the Delta.  Cyclone Nargis 
has created many more victims than the GOB is prepared to 
recognize, but they do exist.  End Comment. 
VILLAROSA