AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001752

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC KDEM BM TH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY
MYANMAR CAUCUS (AIPMC)

REF: JAKARTA 727 (MEETING AIPMC)

Classified By: DCM Alex A. Arvizu, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) Members of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar
Caucus (AIPMC) met with Ambassador Boyce to exchange views on
Burma. Indonesian parliamentarian Djoko Susilo noted the
Indonesian legislature was pressing its Foreign Ministry to
take a stronger line on Burma, and he welcomed the U.S.
Embassy in Jakarta having recently met with the AIPMC to
share views on Burma. Djoko and his fellow AIPMC members
advocated an Indonesian (NFI) be appointed as UN Special
Envoy to Burma. The Ambassador agreed with the delegation
that the Indian government had shown an absence of leadership
on Burma. While traveling in Thailand, the AIPMC delegation
will not meet with representatives of the RTG, because the
AIPMC does not view the coup-installed government as
legitimate. The Thai AIPMC members noted that Thai PM
Surayud had failed to live up to widespread expectations that
he would be tougher on the Burmese regime. End Summary.

PARTICIPANTS
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2. (C) On March 22, the Ambassador met at his residence
with members of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus:
Buranaj Smutharaks (Thailand),Charles Chong (Singapore),
Djoko Susilo (Indonesia),Anna Mu'awanah (Indonesia),Jon
Ungphakorn (Thailand),Kraisak Choonhavan (Thailand),Teresa
Kok Suh Sim (Malaysia),Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Malaysia),and
Dato Yip Kum Fook (Malaysia). Roshan Jason, the Executive
Director of the Malaysia-based AIPMC, also attended.

USG VIEW
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3. (C) The Ambassador opened the meeting by providing a broad
overview of the USG perspective on Burma. He expressed
disappointment that the UNSC had failed to pass a resolution
on Burma in January, but emphasized that even the PRC, while
vetoing the resolution, had made some constructive comments.
Various UN fora, such as the Human Rights Council (HRC),
might be able to promote progress on Burma, and we were
consulting with other countries on the best way to proceed
with the HRC.


4. (C) The Ambassador welcomed the AIPMC's focus, noting
groupings of legislators represented classic use of "track
II" diplomacy, and a useful mechanism for maintaining
pressure on Burma more forcefully than the approaches of
ASEAN executive branches. He encouraged the delegation to
update its "Asian Voices: Myanmar's Threat to Regional
Security" publication for broad distribution.


5. (C) The Ambassador said he shared the concerns of the
delegates that the Indian government was embroiled in a
competition with China over Burma. He pointed out that the
RTG had pressed for the USG to focus not only on Thai and
ASEAN shortcomings on Burma, but to include India's failure
to demonstrate leadership. The Ambassador assured the AIPMC
delegation that the USG was more forcefully advocating a more
constructive Indian role on Burma.

INDONESIAN PERSPECTIVE
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6. (C) Djoko Susilo explained that the Indonesian House of
Representatives (DPR) Commission I (Defense, Foreign Affairs,
and Information) had unanimously urged that the Indonesian
government take a stronger line on Burma. As a relatively
new democracy that had emerged from a period of authoritarian
rule, the GOI should be actively pressing the Burmese to
democratize. The GOI should not waste its opportunity to
influence Burma, and the broader region, while it held a seat
on the UNSC, Djoko said.


7. (C) Djoko also welcomed the efforts of the U.S. EMBASSY in
Jakarta to share its perspective on Burma (reftel). He said
the AIPMC's recent meeting with DAS John in Jakarta had
helped to clear up "misunderstandings" about the USG
position. Djoko added that he encouraged the USG to
establish a sanctions regime on Burma similar to that imposed
on Cuba by the Helms-Burton Act.

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SUGGESTIONS ON THE SPECIAL ENVOY TO BURMA
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8. (C) In response to the Ambassador soliciting views on the
next UN Special Envoy to Burma, Djoko suggested that it would
be appropriate for an Indonesian to hold the position. He
did not offer any names, but the group was generally
supportive of this idea. The delegation agreed that the
envoy should not only come from ASEAN, but that that person
should be an Indonesian. (Comment: The reasoning behind
these comments was unclear; no one offered any clear criteria
for selection of an envoy. But we note that the Thai MFA has
also recommended to us the selection of an Asian for the
position. End Comment.)

DISCUSSION OF ASEAN CHARTER
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9. (C) Charles Chong -- a Singaporean founding member of the
AIPMC -- noted that the ASEAN Charter, currently being
drafted, could provide substantial pressure on the Burmese
government, as it may include provisions allowing ASEAN to
expel members, or suspend their membership. He noted that
the Burmese seemed not to take seriously the prospect of
pressure emanating from ASEAN. The Burmese did take the
threat of UNSC action seriously, though, Chong observed.

RTG DISAPPOINTS
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10. (C) Thai Former Senator Kraisak noted that the AIPMC
delegation, while in Thailand, would not meet with officials
of the RTG, since the AIPMC considered the coup-installed
government an illegitimate governing body. Kraisak
lightheartedly suggested that an Asian Interparliamentary
Caucus should be formed on Thailand, given the growing list
of similarities between Thailand and Burma, such as
controversial constitutional drafting processes that were
projected to produce a new elected government. The Thai
AIPMC members expressed disappointment with Prime Minister
Surayud's relatively weak stance on Burma, as expectations
had run high among many in the Burma-watcher and exile
communities when Surayud was appointed as Prime Minister,
given his tough stance on Burma in the past.

PITCH FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU)
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11. (C) Before ending the meeting with a group photo, AIPMC
Executive Director Roshan made a pitch for high level U.S.
participation at the International Parliamentary Union
conference in Bali, April 29-May 4. Djoko chimed in with a
request that a U.S. congressional delegation attend the
meeting. He quickly pointed out that in the last few IPU
meetings there was no presence from the U.S. Congress. The
Ambassador offered to pass this message to Washington.

BOYCE