GAMBARI SEEKS THAI HELP WITH BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005410 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