AMBASSADOR PRESSES THAI FOREIGN MINISTRY ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005126

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES THAI FOREIGN MINISTRY ON BURMA

REF: BANGKOK 5106 (PERMSEC UPDATES VIEW)

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Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) The Ambassador called MFA Permanent Secretary
Virasakdi Futrakul on September 27 to express concern about
current RTG policy toward Burma. The Ambassador cited
reports that Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram, in New
York for the UNGA, had sought to discourage Prime Minister
Surayud from making constructive public remarks on Burma.
The Ambassador also expressed dismay that Thai MFA officials
had indicated Nitya was not available to meet with
Undersecretary Burns.


2. (C) Virasakdi said he was surprised by the perception that
Nitya was unhelpful on Burma. (Note: Press reports have
quoted Nitya as saying, "We all want to see peace." End
Note.) Subsequently, Virasakdi called the Ambassador to say
he had conveyed USG concerns to Nitya. Virasakdi then
provided a copy of what he described as much-improved,
tougher language that Nitya was prepared to use with ASEAN
Foreign Ministers on September 27 (see below).


3. (C) Virasakdi confided to the Ambassador that he believed
Surapong Jayanama, currently serving as Deputy Secretary
General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, was
likely responsible for propagating false reports that the MFA
was watering down Surayud's position on Burma. Virasakdi
said the MFA faithfully carried out Surayud's policies, but
Surapong, whom he characterized as an inexperienced "Monday
morning quarterback," advocated a harder line against the
Burmese regime. Virasakdi, who formerly served as Ambassador
to Burma, noted that Thailand and Burma had a relationship
akin to that of the United States and Mexico (e.g., chaos in
Burma would have serious implications for Thais),and Burma
also appeared to be a "Yugoslavia in waiting," a mix of
ethnic and interest groups with separatist tendencies that
needed to be restrained.


4. (C) The Ambassador also read to Virasakdi remarks by
General Sonthi on Burma (septel),which appeared to have
Sonthi expressing sympathy and support for the Burmese
regime. Virasakdi admitted these remarks were "very
unfortunate."


5. (C) Regarding Surayud, an audience member reported that
the Prime Minister said at a September 26 Asia Society event:
"Burma is a concern to all of us" and "using violence to
crack down on monks should not be the way of life for
Buddhists."


6. (C) Below is the text provided by the MFA with Nitya's
draft talking points for his meeting with the ASEAN Foreign
Ministers on September 27. Virasakdi said Prime Minister
Surayud would draw on these themes in his UNGA speech later
the same day.

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BEGIN MFA TEXT
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"Talking about Southeast Asia, my country, like many others,
is gravely concerned about the latest developments in Myanmar
and that the situation should not deteriorate. We support
the good offices role of the United Nations Secretary-General
on this issue and welcome the decision of the UNSG to
dispatch Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the region.

"As a neighbor, sharing a land border of more than 2,400

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kilometres and currently hosting more than a million Myanmar
citizens, we are closely monitoring the situation.

"Being a fellow ASEAN member country and fellow Buddhists,
Thailand urges the Myanmar Government to exercise maximum
restraint and call on all parties concerned to seek a
peaceful solution and work towards democracy and national
reconciliation."

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END MFA TEXT
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7. (C) Comment: We have leaned on the MFA hard during the day
and their rhetoric on Burma seems to be improving, although
final decisions will rest with the Foreign Minister and Prime
Minister in New York.
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