BRUNEI LIKELY TO REPEAT LAST YEARS' VOTES ON UNGA

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000319 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS:OSTERMEIER, DRL/MLGA:SICADE, EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIA PHUM PREL UN BX SUBJECT: BRUNEI LIKELY TO REPEAT LAST YEARS' VOTES ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 145641 ¶B. 06 BANDAR 583 ¶1. (SBU) DCM delivered ref A demarche on October 24 to Florence Chong, Assistant Director for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Chong replied that Brunei would likely take positions on single country resolutions similar to last year (see also ref B), when Brunei had abstained on Belarus and voted no on Iran. ¶2. (SBU) On Burma, DCM stressed the need to maintain pressure on the Burmese regime and follow up the strong ASEAN statement with a strong resolution in the Third Committee. Chong took on board our points, but was not in a position to respond without a text in hand to review, and she declined to speculate on the hypothetical of a text in line with the resolution approved in Geneva at the Human Rights Council. ¶3. (SBU) On the thematic resolutions, Chong said that the content would be key. Brunei would likely support the U.S. on the resolution against rape as an instrument of state policy. However, she noted that the current text was too bracketed at this stage to make a decision. Similarly, she commented that Brunei would need to see the text of any resolution on religious intolerance or elections before stating its position. Chong said that she had not heard of any intention by the OIC to introduce a defamation of religion resolution but would keep us informed. (Note: as a member of the OIC, Brunei would likely support an OIC-introduced resolution.) ¶4. (SBU) Brunei would vote with the U.S. against a moratorium on the death penalty. Chong stated that she had just received a review from the Attorney General's Chambers on Brunei's laws and procedures on death penalty cases (the death penalty can be sought for drug smuggling, aggravated murder, and high treason). According to that review, the GoB believes it has strong due process protections and appeal possibilties to ensure that the death penalty, while rarely applied, is done so in a fair and transparent manner. SKODON