BURMA: DEMARCHE ON UPCOMING ASEAN FM MEETING IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002135

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH ASEAN BURMA
SUBJECT: BURMA: DEMARCHE ON UPCOMING ASEAN FM MEETING IN
BALI

REF: STATE 56185

Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) In a meeting with MFA's East Asian Affairs Director
for Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Brunei Mr.
Damrong Kriakruan on April 12, Poloff delivered reftel
demarche and asked for RTG views. Damrong noted that ASEAN's
credibility is on the line, but the RTG still believes that
engagement is the best option for ASEAN. He said that the
Bali meeting is a "retreat" and that, as such, no formal
public statements are anticipated. However, he acknowledged
that the ministers are likely to face questions from the
media on Burma and it will be up to each country to decide
how to respond. The RTG feels that it would not help matters
to "bombard" Burma with public criticism, but it should be
made clear that ASEAN will continue its efforts and will look
for ways to achieve substantive progress toward
democratization in Burma.


2. (C) Damrong said that Burma is a fixed agenda item for the
Bali meeting. The ministers will receive a report from
Malaysian FM Hamid which the RTG expects will be negative
based on information that they have received from Malaysia.
After Hamid's report, the ministers will focus on next steps.
The RTG is looking for a way to "institutionalize" ASEAN's
engagement efforts to move Burma toward democratization.
Damrong said that one proposal that Thailand is carefully
considering introducing is the creation of a forum for
"regular, informal" meetings to discuss democratization. The
forum would be "informal" (i.e. not an international
conference with public statements, etc.) to encourage open
discussion. It would meet regularly in an effort to ensure
substantive progress on issues. Damrong said that such a
group might include non-ASEAN members as well, including,
perhaps, countries from outside the region. In discussing
this option, Damrong emphasized that the RTG has not yet
decided to introduce the idea. Nevertheless, the RTG is
concerned that "the so-called engagement of ASEAN (with
Burma) be credible, respectable and with substance."


3. (C) In response to Poloff's comment that the RTG policy of
engagement with the regime in Burma has shown no success in
advancing the democratization process, Damrong admitted that
the RTG is "exhausted and tired" of the regime's behavior and
of their failure to "inform their friends of what they are
doing." He said that since December, the RTG and others are
"making life harder for the Burmese." He said that Burma
used to come to ASEAN only when it needed help in dealing
with international pressure from the US, the EU, etc. Now,
according to Damrong, the RTG and the other ASEAN members are
making it clear to the regime that such support will not be
automatic and will only come after high-level consultations
at policy levels between the regime and the ASEAN
governments. Damrong said that he believes the Burmese
government senses the "psychological pressure" from ASEAN.
He concluded by saying that the RTG wants the Burmese to
understand that "life without friends is very hard."
BOYCE