READOUT: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOCIAL ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001152

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM TH
SUBJECT: READOUT: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOCIAL ISSUES
DISCUSSES BURMA WITH PRIME MINISTER'S POLITICAL ADVISOR


Classified By: Political Officer J.R. Littlejohn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In a February 12-13 visit to Bangkok, Special
Representative for Social Issues, Ambassador Grover Joseph
Rees raised concern about Burma's human rights record with
the Prime Minister's Deputy Secretary General for Political
Affairs, Ambassador Surapong Jayanama. Surapong offered a
frank assessment of Thailand's engagement with Burma in the
current political environment, and disparagingly labeled
ASEAN's past approach of constructive engagement as "many
doing nothing." He also urged the USG to support the current
Thai administration, claiming its policies were more
democratic and favorable toward human rights than the Thaksin
administration's. End Summary.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
--------------


2. (C) On February 11, Special Representative for Social
Issues Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees called on the Prime
Minister's Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs,
Ambassador Surapong Jayanama. Rees explained the purpose of
his visit was to place the spotlight on social issues,
including the use of rape as a state instrument. Rees
expressed USG satisfaction with the fact that 9 members of
the UNSC voted for a strong and detailed resolution critical
of actions of the military government of Burma, including
widespread rape of ethnic minority women and girls by
government soldiers. He added that China and others who did
not support the resolution did not refute the propriety of
raising human rights concerns with Burma, which left an
opening to pursue these issues in multiple venues.

A REGIONAL ISSUE
--------------


3. (C) Surapong said that ASEAN shotld support the UN
Secretary General's efforts in Burma, and quite possibly

SIPDIS
could play a role complimentary to United Nations efforts. He
suggested that the USG try to keep Burma on the UN radar in
every available venue, including the UN General Assembly, the
Human Rights Council, and the Third Committee. He suggested
the idea of creating an international fact-finding mission as
another mechanism for applying pressure on the regime, and
creating international community awareness (even if such a
team were refused entry).


4. (C) Although Surapong said that ASEAN's past policy of
"constructive engagement" essentially amounted to "many doing
nothing," he was quick to point out that the ASEAN
Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) made some
progress. However, he said the parliamentarians'
capabilities to influence policy were limited because the
power to make and honor decisions still rested with their
respective governments. Surapong said that because of the
long and porous border, Thailand was more directly affected
by what happens in Burma and therefore the interests and
solutions were more complex.

INTERIM GOVERNMENT: ETHICS IN FOREIGN POLICY
--------------


5. (C) Ambassador Rees suggested that Thailand raise
concerns about rape and other human dignity issues with Burma
on a regular basis and in all applicable venues. Surapong
offered that the Thai interim government policy since October
1 has been to reintroduce ethics into foreign (and domestic)
policy. He said applying ethics in foreign policy meant
different things, but support of human rights was a top
priority. He said that the interim government of Thailand
had been careful in dealing with Burma. He mentioned that the
interim government had undertaken no new initiatives to
engage amicably with the Burmese, although existing projects
that did not violate the principles of good governance would
continue to be supported.


6. (C) Surapong then launched into a polite but forceful
discourse about what he described as the correct relationship
that Prime Minister Surayud's government has with Burma, in
comparison to the Thaksin government, which he deemed
undemocratic. He said that outsiders seemed to focus on
elections, but that democracy required more than just
elections.


7. (C) Surapong said that since the interim government's
appointment, the spirit, practices, and implementation of

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policies had all been democratic in nature. He said
extrajudicial killings, and disappearances no longer
occurred, as they had under deposed PM Thaksin. He said the
USG's concern for human dignity and human rights should lead
it to support the interim administration. Rees reiterated
the purpose of his visit was to encourage placement of social
issues in the region on the leadership's agenda. He also
suggested that advocating support for human dignity issues,
and particularly taking a strong stand against the systematic
rape of women and girls by Burmese government soldiers, is
one way this government could demonstrate the democratic
spirit it purports to embody.


REFUGEES ON THE BORDER
--------------


8. (C) Ambassador Rees suggested that Thailand reconsider
its policy of denying new asylum seekers entry into refugee
camps along the border. He noted that in recent meetings
with representatives of Burmese ethnic minority groups he had
been told that Thai authorities in at least some border areas
had recently tightened the definition of "persons fleeing
armed conflict" so as to exclude virtually all new
cross-border asylum seekers. In response, Surapong
suggested that Thailand's policy was a domestic issue, and
that the Thai were doing more than most. He said that the
Thai could not respond to the flow of refugees alone and that
they needed help (read: funding). Ambassador Rees noted that
the United States gives substantial support for the operation
of the camps and had also begun to accept Burmese refugees in
Thailand for resettlement. He offered to inquire about
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