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