UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON BURMA TO SPDC: WHAT DO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004063

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM TH BM BURMA
SUBJECT: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON BURMA TO SPDC: WHAT DO
YOU WANT?


Classified By: Political Counselor Robert J. Clarke, Reason: 1.4 (d)




1. (C) SUMMARY: During a visit to Bangkok, Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma,
expressed frustration with Burma's ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) and called upon the Burmese junta
to clarify what steps they plan to take in the democratic
reform process. The Special Rapporteur met separately with
the Thai Foreign Minister (FM) Kantathi Supamongkhon and the
Bangkok diplomatic community. The Thai FM expressed his hope
to Pinheiro that National League for Democracy (NLD) leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) be freed next year when elections
might be held following the ratification of a new Burmese
constitution. Pinheiro said that he hoped neither the US or
the EU would agree to a possible ASEAN compromise with the
SPDC which would allow Burma to assume the ASEAN chairmanship
in 2006, but only if the meetings take place in another
country. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur on
the Situation of Human Rights in Burma, visited Bangkok the
week of June 13 to attend a workshop on Violence Against
Children in Asia and the Pacific. (Note: Pinheiro also
serves as a UN Independent Expert for the UN global study on
violence against children. End Note.) On June 17, COM
Embassy Rangoon and Embassy Bangkok Poloff attended a meeting
with Pinheiro for the Bangkok diplomatic community organized
by the Bangkok Regional Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights.


3. (C) Pinheiro opened the meeting, which was also attended
by about 12 diplomats from Western European countries, Canada
and Australia, by stating the he was seeking clarification
from the GOB on what they want in order to pursue their
so-called roadmap for democracy. In order to engage the
international community, the GOB needed to more clearly
articulate what would happen at the expected end of the
National Convention later this year. Pinheiro commented that
it was a shame that ASSK was still under house arrest and in
"virtual solitary confinement." He said that he thought her
conditions were in some ways worse than those experienced by
political prisoners at Rangoon's Insein prison, who at least
had some occasional contact with visitors.


4. (C) Pinheiro noted that Thai FM Kantathi had surprisingly
shown "either a genuine interest" in Burma or "received a
very good briefing" in their meeting on June 15. But
Pinheiro was surprised when Kantathi told Pinheiro that
Kantathi believed ASSK would be released next year once
proposed elections are announced following the ratification
of a new constitution this year. Pinheiro said he has
received no indications that the SPDC intends to release ASSK
anytime soon. (Note: Most press accounts quote Kantathi as
stating that he "expressed hope" that ASSK would be released,
a point confirmed by MFA when asked about Kantathi's position
in a later telephone conversation by Poloff with MFA
officers. End Note.)


5. (C) In reference to the assumption of the Chairmanship of
ASEAN by Burma in 2006, Pinheiro said that it would be a
shame if Burma was allowed to take the Chair in any way. He
further stated that if Burma didn't, it might be a "relief"
to ASEAN, but still an embarrassment to have Burma as a
member. He noted, however, that if Burma gives up the Chair
without conditions, ASEAN would have no leverage to
negotiate with Burma. Rangoon COM noted there is talk in
Rangoon of a "third alternative", where Burma would retain
the Chair but the meetings would take place in another
country, thus allowing the SPDC to save face but avoiding the
controversial issue of ASEAN partners like the US and the EU
traveling to Burma. Pinheiro expressed his dissatisfaction
with this "compromise" and said he hoped the US and the EU
would not agree to such an arrangement.


6. (C) Pinheiro claimed that the sanctions against the SPDC
"are not working," and that the international community was
compelled to dialogue with the regime, emphasizing the
important role of China and India in this process. There was
no "Plan B" to bring reform to Burma. The Rangoon COM noted,
however, that even when Pinheiro himself had extended his
hand to the SPDC in dialogue, the SPDC did not reciprocate.
(Note: Pinheiro last visited Burma in November 2003. End
Note.) Pinheiro concluded his remarks by saying that he had
essentially "written off" the National Convention process as
a fait accompli. The next step was to focus on the
constitutional ratification process and subsequent elections.
But Pinheiro emphasized that the outcome of the ASEAN
chairmanship issue should cause the EU to re-evaluate its
position and strategy before the National Convention is
scheduled to reconvene in November.


7. (U) This message was cleared by Embassy Rangoon.
BOYCE