Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK5406
2007-10-15 10:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
GAMBARI SEEKS THAI HELP WITH BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO9502 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #5406 2881047 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151047Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0181 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4983 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 7788 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4796 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3742 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9890 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5210 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHFJSCC/COMMARFORPAC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005406
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: GAMBARI SEEKS THAI HELP WITH BURMA
REF: BANGKOK 05367
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005406
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: GAMBARI SEEKS THAI HELP WITH BURMA
REF: BANGKOK 05367
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: UN Burma Envoy Gambari is seeking Thai
assistance to convince the SPDC to allow him to enter Burma
sooner; stay longer; and facilitate a dialog with all
stakeholders. The Thai are committed to conveying these
points to Burma, but they are not certain how best to do it.
The Chinese Ambassador also approached the Thai last week to
urge ASEAN to "do more" on Burma. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) UN Burma envoy Gambari met the Thai foreign minister
in Bangkok on October 15. Gambari is on a swing through the
region that will include Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China
and Japan. He then plans to return to Burma. Gambari will
collect ideas from the countries in the region on how to
respond to the crisis.
SEEKING THAI ASSISTANCE
--------------
3. (C) MFA Permsec Virasakdi briefed the Ambassador October
15 on Gambari's views. Gambari asked for Thai assistance in
approaching the Burmese authorities to allow him to return to
Burma sooner than the mid-November timeframe they have given.
He also wants to be able to stay longer than on previous
visits, and to facilitate dialog with all stakeholders. The
Permsec said that Thailand was committed to conveying
Gambari's request to Burma, but was uncertain how best to do
it, especially given the very strong signals they had
received that Burma rejected a role for ASEAN and wanted to
work only with the UN in addressing the current crisis.
AFTER YOU. NO, AFTER YOU. NO, NO, AFTER YOU
--------------
4. (C) Virasakdi said that the Chinese ambassador had come to
MFA on October 12 to discuss Burma. (Chinese ambassadors
throughout ASEAN had apparently gotten similar instructions.)
The Chinese Ambassador outlined Beijing's views, telling the
Thai that China supported Gambari and felt that sanctions
were counterproductive. They asked that ASEAN "do more" in
responding to the situation. FonMin Nitya responded, telling
the Chinese ambassador that China should tell Burma to be
more open to ASEAN. Foreign Minister Nitya recounted
Thailand's most recent experience with the Burmese government
(reftel),when the Thai were advised in very strong terms
that Burma would brook no interference from ASEAN.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Like it or not, the Thai are being compelled to be
part of the regional effort to address the crisis in Burma.
The intercessions by Gambari and the Chinese ambassador add
to our own repeated admonishments to the RTG that Thailand
can and should do more to contribute to a resolution. We are
pleased that they are prepared to try to assist Gambari, who,
we presume, will carry a similar message to the other
countries on his itinerary. END COMMENT
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: GAMBARI SEEKS THAI HELP WITH BURMA
REF: BANGKOK 05367
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: UN Burma Envoy Gambari is seeking Thai
assistance to convince the SPDC to allow him to enter Burma
sooner; stay longer; and facilitate a dialog with all
stakeholders. The Thai are committed to conveying these
points to Burma, but they are not certain how best to do it.
The Chinese Ambassador also approached the Thai last week to
urge ASEAN to "do more" on Burma. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) UN Burma envoy Gambari met the Thai foreign minister
in Bangkok on October 15. Gambari is on a swing through the
region that will include Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China
and Japan. He then plans to return to Burma. Gambari will
collect ideas from the countries in the region on how to
respond to the crisis.
SEEKING THAI ASSISTANCE
--------------
3. (C) MFA Permsec Virasakdi briefed the Ambassador October
15 on Gambari's views. Gambari asked for Thai assistance in
approaching the Burmese authorities to allow him to return to
Burma sooner than the mid-November timeframe they have given.
He also wants to be able to stay longer than on previous
visits, and to facilitate dialog with all stakeholders. The
Permsec said that Thailand was committed to conveying
Gambari's request to Burma, but was uncertain how best to do
it, especially given the very strong signals they had
received that Burma rejected a role for ASEAN and wanted to
work only with the UN in addressing the current crisis.
AFTER YOU. NO, AFTER YOU. NO, NO, AFTER YOU
--------------
4. (C) Virasakdi said that the Chinese ambassador had come to
MFA on October 12 to discuss Burma. (Chinese ambassadors
throughout ASEAN had apparently gotten similar instructions.)
The Chinese Ambassador outlined Beijing's views, telling the
Thai that China supported Gambari and felt that sanctions
were counterproductive. They asked that ASEAN "do more" in
responding to the situation. FonMin Nitya responded, telling
the Chinese ambassador that China should tell Burma to be
more open to ASEAN. Foreign Minister Nitya recounted
Thailand's most recent experience with the Burmese government
(reftel),when the Thai were advised in very strong terms
that Burma would brook no interference from ASEAN.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Like it or not, the Thai are being compelled to be
part of the regional effort to address the crisis in Burma.
The intercessions by Gambari and the Chinese ambassador add
to our own repeated admonishments to the RTG that Thailand
can and should do more to contribute to a resolution. We are
pleased that they are prepared to try to assist Gambari, who,
we presume, will carry a similar message to the other
countries on his itinerary. END COMMENT
BOYCE