Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RANGOON445
2006-03-31 10:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:  

BURMESE DON'T BUDGE FOR ASEAN

Tags:  PREL PGOV BM MY 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000445 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM MY
SUBJECT: BURMESE DON'T BUDGE FOR ASEAN

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 8

Classified By: P/E Chief W. Patrick Murphy for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000445

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM MY
SUBJECT: BURMESE DON'T BUDGE FOR ASEAN

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 8

Classified By: P/E Chief W. Patrick Murphy for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid made a
brief March 23-24 visit to Burma on behalf of ASEAN, but
could only gain access to second-tier regime officials who
recited the standard party line on the SPDC's road map to
democracy. The Malaysian Embassy tells us that Hamid
appealed to the regime to allow him access to all
"stakeholders" (e.g. ASSK and other political opposition
leaders) in order to get a full picture of the situation and
to allow ASEAN to engage key partners in a more informed
manner. GOB officials rejected Hamid's request, urging him
not to dwell on "specific personalities." Hamid surprised
his own Embassy and GOB officials by abruptly returning to
Malaysia a day prior to his scheduled departure. The
National League for Democracy expressed regret and
disappointment that Hamid did not meet with the party or
other political opposition groups during his trip. End
Summary.

THE USUAL GANG
--------------


2. (U) Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar made a
short-notice and brief 24-hour visit to Rangoon March 23-24.
The official Burmese press described Hamid as the head of a
"Malaysian delegation" that came to Burma at the invitation
of the GOB to "pay a goodwill visit." He held discussions
with Foreign Minister Nyan Win (who also hosted a dinner in
Hamid's honor) and made a courtesy call on Prime Minister
General Soe Win. Hamid also met separately with Agriculture
Minister Major General Htay Oo, in his capacity as Secretary
General of regime's mass-member Union Solidarity Development
Association (USDA),and Chief Justice U Aung Toe, in his
capacity as Vice Chairman of the National Convention
Convening Committee.


3. (C) While the Malaysian Embassy in Rangoon was elusive
prior to the visit, on March 30 Malaysian DCM Rizany Irwan
Bin Muhamad Mazlan shared views more openly. Rizany told us
that FM Hamid emphasized at every meeting that his visit was
not a bilateral one, but was in his capacity as Chair of the
ASEAN Standing Committee. He underscored to the GOB that he

had an ASEAN mandate to fulfill and that his intention was to
gather information, not to investigate, evaluate, assess, or
interfere.

SAME OLD SONG AND DANCE
--------------


4. (C) Hamid appealed for transparency, noting to GOB
officials that ASEAN members and others in the international
community were "very interested" in the Burma situation.
Hamid, said Rizany, cited ASEAN's need to be well informed in
order to engage its key partners and that he therefore hoped
to get a full picture of the situation in Burma. Hamid
specifically appealed to the GOB to allow him to "see all of
the stakeholders," who Rizany characterized as Aung San Suu
Kyi and other National League for Democracy officials, as
well as ethnic leaders and delegates to the National
Convention.


5. (C) Rizany said that GOB officials fully acknowledged
Hamid's role as an ASEAN envoy but rejected out of hand his
requests to see members of the political opposition.
According to Rizany, each of the four senior GOB officials
with whom Hamid met told the Malaysian FM that he should not
dwell on specific personalities (i.e. ASSK),but should
rather focus on the "broader interests of the nation."


6. (C) Rizany said that Hamid's discussions with Nyan Win
were the most substantive of his talks in Rangoon, although
the FM merely rehashed the regime's party line on its "road
map to democracy." The meeting with PM Soe Win was "a
disappointing 15-minute courtesy call," during which the PM
focused solely on bilateral Burma-Malaysia issues in general
terms. Rizany added that the Malaysians also requested
meetings with senior regime leaders, including Than Shwe and
Maung Aye, but the GOB responded that PM Soe Win "was senior
enough" for Hamid. Rizany surmised that had Hamid visited as
Malaysian Foreign Minister and not ASEAN envoy, he would
likely have been granted direct access to Than Shwe.


7. (C) Hamid's meetings with Maj Gen Htay Oo and U Aung Toe
were additional opportunities for the SPDC to extol its
self-perceived progress on its road map and sundry other
accomplishments of the military. Rizany described the USDA
and National Convention briefs as lectures that the regime
has delivered previously to many diplomats and other
visitors. The USDA also trotted out a video on its
development activities, which Rizany said caused Hamid to
roll his eyes and check his watch repeatedly.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
--------------


8. (C) According to Rizany, Hamid announced his immediate
return to Kuala Lumpur without warning at lunch on March 24,
a surprise to both Malaysian Embassy officers and GOB
officials. The Embassy quickly canceled a dinner the
Ambassador planned to host for Hamid that evening and
scrambled to find the Malaysian flight crew, who were
shopping at a local market. Hamid had arrived on a military
aircraft for the trip, apparently to allow him schedule
flexibility and to return in time for a Saturday political
event in his home province. With no substantive meetings
left on his Rangoon itinerary on Friday afternoon, Hamid told
Malaysian Embassy officers that he desired to return and
spend time with his family before the weekend.


9. (C) Rizany described Hamid as "satisfied" with his visit
to Burma, but not "happy." Hamid, he said, was concerned
that the trip had not been as comprehensive as he had
desired. Despite the limitations the regime placed on the
visit, Rizany said, Hamid had felt compelled to "not miss the
opportunity" to visit Rangoon before the April 17-18 ASEAN
Foreign Ministers retreat in Bali.

WHY BOTHER?
--------------


10. (SBU) On March 25, the NLD issued a statement expressing
regret that Hamid and his delegation had departed Burma
without meeting either ASSK or other NLD leaders. On March
30, party leaders U Aung Shwe and U Lwin told us they were
extremely disappointed that Hamid made no effort to see them
or other opposition figures. "We understand that Hamid was
charged with making an assessment of democratic reform," said
U Aung Swe, "Frankly, we don't know why he bothered to come."


11. (C) Comment: Hamid's visit was symbolic of the obstacles
the regime imposes on any envoy with a pre-announced mandate.
The SPDC carefully denied Hamid access to the senior
generals and a chance to meet the political opposition, both
of which were Hamid's proposed objectives as well as
prerequisites for a fully effective visit. The generals may
have hoped that by allowing Hamid to visit they could appease
ASEAN concerns, but in controlling his itinerary they
indicated no desire to modify their behavior. The next test
will be whether Hamid shares his frustrations with fellow
ASEAN foreign ministers in Bali. End Comment.
STOLTZ