COLOMBO PLAN: ACTION REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001916 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, IO/T, INL/C/CJ E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2014 TAGS: PREL SNAR AORC CE SUBJECT: COLOMBO PLAN: ACTION REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM DIRECTOR REF: A. BANGKOK 8118 ¶B. COLOMBO 301 ¶C. STATE 11719 Classified By: James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission. Reasons 1. 4(b,d). ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request -- please see Para Four. ¶2. (C) REPLACEMENT FOR DAP DIRECTOR?: Poloff met with Colombo Plan Secretary-General Kittipan Kanjanapipatkul on November 23 to discuss organization's Drug Awareness Program (DAP) directorship and the search for candidates to succeed Malaysian outgoing director, Tay Bian How. The Secretary-General stated that, in the second call for SIPDIS applicants, he had received three resumes, but had determined that none was qualified for the position. His suggestion was to offer Mr. Tay another extension, for a one-year period, to the end of 2005. The Secretary-General felt that during the upcoming year, the Colombo Plan could have a more successful search for the next DAP director. ¶3. (C) As Department is aware, with U.S. support, Mr. Tay's term was previously extended to the end of 2004. This time, however, the Secretary-General requested from poloff that the U.S. propose this follow-on year extension for Mr. Tay in the next Council meeting. He said he did not want to make the proposal personally to the Council since he had proposed the previous extension. Instead, he only wanted to report that none of the three additional applicants met the job qualifications. He also requested that the U.S. lobby other members, such as Pakistan and India, for support in extending Mr. Tay. The Secretary-General noted he could likely obtain Thailand's and Indonesia's support for the idea. (Note: Another topic which may arise at the next meeting on December 15 is the issue of arrears and related proposals to amend the Colombo Plan constitution to require member countries to pay their annual dues -- see Ref A. End Note.) ¶4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: The Secretary-General's idea of extending Mr. Tay in his current position for one year is the only reasonable solution to keeping the position effectively staffed in the short term. In our view, Mr. Tay's performance in superb. The Secretary-General recognizes that the DAP is beginning a critical project in 2005 to establish community prevention centers run by local Muslim leaders throughout Southeast Asia and that Mr. Tay's presence in overseeing and implementing the project is essential. Mission requests Department's advice on whether the U.S. would support another extension for Mr. Tay through December 2005 and whether the U.S. should present that proposal at the upcoming December 15 Council meeting in Colombo. End Action Request. LUNSTEAD