CAMBODIA'S LEGISLATURE LAUNCHES BURMA CAUCUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 001534 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PREL KDEM CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIA'S LEGISLATURE LAUNCHES BURMA CAUCUS PHNOM PENH 00001534 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On August 25, Cambodia's National Assembly launched its Burma Caucus, which includes 26 members from Cambodia's three political parties. Members of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC),diplomats, and NGOs participated in the inauguration ceremony, as did members of the Burmese National League for Democracy (NLD) and Charm Tong, a young female activist of the Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN). New Zealand PM Helen Clark sent a congratulatory letter. PM Hun Sen met for two hours with the visiting ASEAN parliamentarians and two NLD members of parliament; the first time an ASEAN leader has met with the AIPMC. The SPDC reportedly sent a letter of protest to Hun Sen denouncing the Burmese attendees as "terrorists." End Summary. Burma Caucus Inaugurated -------------- ¶2. (U) Cambodia's National Assembly held a modest inauguration ceremony on August 25 at the Cambodiana Hotel to launch its Burma Caucus -- the sixth ASEAN member state to form such a group. Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia have launched similar caucuses since 2004; Cambodia is the last country among the six whose MPs have participated in AIPMC events. AIPMC Chairperson Zaid Ibrahim of Malaysia gave welcoming remarks to the Cambodian MPs present for the inauguration, while RGC Burma Caucus Chairman Son Chhay introduced each of the 26 Cambodian MPs who joined the Caucus. Son Chhay gave special thanks to National Assembly President Heng Semrin and PM Hun Sen for supporting the effort and encouraging CPP parliamentarians to join. Dr. Sann Aung, MP in exile belonging to the NLD of Burma, spoke of the importance of bringing greater pressure within ASEAN on the Burmese junta. He thanked the Cambodian MPs for their solidarity and urged greater ASEAN pressure on the Burmese generals. The AIPMC Secretariat representative read a letter from New Zealand PM Helen Clark congratulating the Cambodian Burma Caucus in its launch and welcoming the group's active contributions to "AIPMC's efforts to bring peace, stability, and safety to the region." ¶3. (U) At the evening's dinner, MFA Secretary of State for ASEAN Affairs Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the recent statements by PM Hun Sen relating to Burma, noting that Cambodia has joined with other ASEAN voices in calling for greater action on the part of the military generals in Rangoon to accede to ASEAN demands for real progress towards democratic reform. Burmese activist Charm Tong from SWAN spoke about the hardships experienced by the Burmese people, in particular the ethnic minority groups along the Burma-Thai border. Philippine congresswoman Loretta Rosales noted that the five other ASEAN countries with a Burma Caucus all belong to the original group of ASEAN nations. Cambodia's Burma Caucus is significant because Cambodia is one the newer members, and the only one to join AIPMC, she added. ¶4. (SBU) Rosales commended PM Hun Sen for his reception of the AIPMC delegation, noting that no other ASEAN leader had taken the time to meet with the AIPMC group. Hun Sen, she noted, gave the delegation more than two hours of his time, and provided a substantive exchange on the issue. The PM reportedly encouraged an ASEAN plus nine formula that would exclude Burma from international gatherings. He was also reportedly receptive to the UNSC putting Burma on the agenda. The PM told the delegation that while the Rangoon generals had earlier extended an invitation to him to visit Burma, he doubted the invitation would still stand after the inauguration of the Burma Caucus. The PM reportedly showed the delegation a letter from the SPDC protesting the establishment of the Burma Caucus and the Cambodian government's invitation to NLD MPs to join the launch. The letter allegedly referred to Burma's democratic activists as "terrorists." Although the SPDC reportedly further requested the PM to refuse an audience to the Burmese MPs and NGO officials, the PM did permit two NLD representatives to attend the meeting at the PM's residence. The AIPMC reps urged Hun Sen to engage with Vietnam and Laos on Burma; the PM Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Son Chhay was disappointed that some members of the Caucus (notably the CPP representatives) remain wary of the initiative and unsure of their role. He plans to begin meeting with them with an eye towards eventual passage of a resolution calling for democratic change in Burma consistent with language already adopted by other ASEAN states. He was PHNOM PENH 00001534 002.2 OF 002 also disappointed that more members of the National Assembly did not turn out for the launch of the Caucus, and attendance at the launch was supplemented by members of the Senate. The important point, he emphasized, was that the launch took place and received positive media coverage. We have encouraged the Cambodian NGO attendees to congratulate the PM and Heng Semrin for their support of the Burma Caucus. One NGO rep noted that her organization rarely commends the government, but should do so when positive steps such as these are taken. The Canadian Ambassador planned to go back to Ottawa to request a high-level note along the lines of the New Zealand PM, noting that such encouragement will work to keep the positive momentum going. End Comment. MUSSOMELI