THAILAND SUPPORTS GAMBARI MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004891 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BU TH SUBJECT: THAILAND SUPPORTS GAMBARI MISSION REF: SECSTATE 125430 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In response to reftel demarche, MFA acting Permsec told DCM that Thailand fully supports the Gambari mission. Thailand continues to argue for a "soft approach" on Burma, however, encouraging the use of incentives to influence the SPDC. MFA said they have agreed their Defense Minister, who is planning a visit to Burma in the near future, will raise talking points in support of UNSC goals. We will encourage the Thai to continue their support for Gambari, and also to increase their own efforts bilaterally and within ASEAN to press the SPDC to end the crackdown and release protesters. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) DCM and Polcouns delivered reftel talking points to MFA Acting Permanent Secretary Cholchineepan Chiranond on September 10. Cholchineepan was accompanied by East Asia Director Kallayana Vipattipmiprates and representatives from the Americas division. DCM also reviewed recent reports of further repression of peaceful protest by the SPDC, which added urgency to the need for an effective response. DCM noted in particular our concerns regarding peaceful demonstrators who had been arrested and were reportedly facing mistreatment by the Burmese authorities. He encouraged the Thai to permit any Burmese fleeing arrest by the SPDC for their peaceful political activities to be allowed to cross the border into Thailand to seek refuge. ¶3. (C) Acting Permsec stated that Thailand firmly supported Gambari's mission. She noted that President Bush had raised this issue in his brief meeting with Prime Minister Surayud on the margins of APEC, and that the PM had pledged Thailand's support for the Gambari mission. MFA believed that Indonesia should welcome a formal Gambari briefing and did not anticipate any disagreement on that score. Cholchineepan also agreed that it was important that Gambari be able to meet with ASSK as part of his mission. East Asia director Kallayana added that he understood Gambari had a guarantee that he would be able to see Than Shwe and ASSK. DCM noted that Gambari could not ignore the many other detainees now imprisoned following the crackdown. Director Kallayana said that Gambari should call for their release during his visit. ¶4. (C) Although the MFA was in agreement with the importance of the Gambari mission, they continued to argue for the merits of a "soft approach" in general with the SPDC. Acting Permsec Cholchineepan praised Gambari's "comprehensive approach" and believed that his strategy of discussing other issues of importance to the SPDC, such as health and narcotics trafficking, would enable him to achieve better results in the long run. She urged the US to consider the use of some incentives to encourage the Burmese authorities to address international concerns. She said that the Burmese were not completely insensitive to the concerns of the international community. For example, although the US is critical of their constitution, the SPDC is trying to produce a constitution to appease international criticism. This shows that they are "beginning to care about international opinion." DCM said that the constitution convention was a sham and expressed skepticism that a "soft approach" or "carrots" had proven over the years to work with the regime. ¶5. (C) DCM asked whether Defense Minister Boonrawd would raise concerns over the crackdown during his planned visit to Burma (note: this is expected soon, but the exact date is not clear.) Cholchineepan said that the Thai Foreign Minister had pledged to Gambari, when he was here earlier this year for consultations, that the Defense Minister would include talking points on the issues of concern to the UNSC when he had contacts with the Burmese. She said that they would have to raise such concerns "discreetly," as, with the Burmese, "you can't tell them what to do." ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The Thai side seems sincere in supporting the Gambari mission. This may be partly because they seek to avoid confrontation with Burma themselves, and prefer to have the UN in the lead. We will continue to encourage their support for Gambari, and also to press for Thailand to take whatever steps it can bilaterally and within ASEAN to support BANGKOK 00004891 002 OF 002 an end to the crackdown and the release of prisoners. BOYCE