Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK5410
2007-10-16 02:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
GAMBARI SEEKS THAI HELP WITH BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO0173 OO RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHROV DE RUEHBK #5410 2890219 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 160219Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0186 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4988 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 7793 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4797 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3747 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9895 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5211 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 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).
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
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