BURMA: INPUT FOR REPORT TO CONGRESS ON NORTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000077

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PRM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM KN BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: INPUT FOR REPORT TO CONGRESS ON NORTH
KOREAN REFUGEES

REF: A. 04 SECSTATE 275820

B. 04 SECSTATE 275712

Classified By: DCM Ronald K. McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (U) NORTH KOREANS ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE
PROTECTION IN BURMA: Burma is not a signatory to the 1951 UN
Convention on Refugees and cannot be considered as hospitable
for any individuals seeking refugee protection. To the
contrary, the regime's egregious human rights practices,
military operations directed at ethnic minority insurgents
and populations, and economic mismanagement have created a
decades-long outflow of Burmese persons seeking refuge in
neighboring and other countries.


2. (SBU) Our discussions with relevant UN agencies in
Rangoon, including the UNHCR and UNDP, have revealed that
these institutions do not believe they would be in a position
to provide refuge or substantial protection for North Korean
asylum seekers. UNHCR, in particular, has a limited MOU with
the GOB that only covers repatriation issues. UNHCR staff
view the GOB in general as unsympathetic toward North Korean
asylum seekers.


3. (C) UN agencies and several diplomatic missions in Rangoon
have an informal understanding with the South Korean embassy
to direct bona fide North Korean asylum seekers to the South
Korean chancery for assistance. The South Koreans maintain
several safe houses in Rangoon for this purpose and have
successfully assisted numerous North Koreans with onward
travel to South Korea. Note: The South Korean embassy treats
this information as highly sensitive. End Note.


4. (U) CHALLENGES POSED WHEN NORTH KOREANS PRESENT
THEMSELVES: Post has no direct experience with North Korean
asylum seekers or refugees. Standard procedures are in place
to handle potential cases and post has recently reissued
walk-in instructions to all relevant staff members and plans
to undertake mock exercises in the near future. However, an
influx of North Korean asylum seekers could pose a security
challenge, given a myriad of separate facilities spread
throughout Rangoon that comprise the U.S. mission (including
the chancery; the official residence and other mission-owned
housing units; an American Center (housed in the former North
Korean embassy); a GSO facility; a medical unit; a
residential compound and American Club; a former residential
compound and the site of the future chancery; and a U.S.
mission-sponsored international school).


5. (C) In 2004, a small number of North Koreans were known to
have entered Burma seeking opportunities for asylum,
including the following:

--In June, a group of 11 North Koreans entered Burma from
China at Muse, were caught by border officials, and forced
back into China. The North Koreans sneaked back into Burma,
were picked up by military intelligence authorities and
eventually handed to South Korean embassy officials who
assisted them with onward travel to South Korea.

--In October, a 35 year-old North Korean woman crossed into
Burma from China and presented herself at the local office of
a French NGO working with UNODC. NGO officials brought the
women to the local UNODC field office; however, GOB border
affairs officials learned about the case and took custody of
her. UNODC officers, who were able to visit the North Korean
woman but not provide protection, contacted the UN resident
coordinator, the South Korean Embassy, ICRC, and UNIAP.
South Korean embassy officials then met with GOB officials to
gain access to her with hopes of winning her release into
their custody and facilitating onward travel to South Korea.
The case remains unresolved.

--In December, a group of six North Koreans allegedly entered
Shan State, their travel reportedly facilitated by a private
American citizen of Korean origin who planned to seek
assistance on their behalf from the South Korean embassy.
The group was apparently unsuccessful in Burma and reportedly
left for Laos to seek other asylum opportunities.


6. (SBU) GOB ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A U.S.
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, OR USG-FUNDED HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE, FOR NORTH KOREANS: The United States has in
place comprehensive sanctions that target the Burmese regime
(SPDC) for its severe human rights violations and its failure
to facilitate political reconciliation with the democratic
opposition. The GOB in turn maintains a highly antagonistic
posture toward the United States. Consequently, we do not
believe the GOB would under any circumstances support the
establishment of a U.S. refugee resettlement program, or
facilitate USG-funded humanitarian assistance, for North
Koreans in Burma. Ironically, Burma severed diplomatic
relations with the DPRK in 1983, following a bombing in
Rangoon, perpetuated by North Korean agents, that killed four
visiting members of the South Korean cabinet. However, North
Korea is a source of arms and other military supplies for the
SPDC.

Martinez