Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RANGOON447
2007-05-11 16:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: KARENNI PEACE TALKS GOING NOWHERE FAST
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000447
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
CORRECTED COPY - CHANGE OF ADDRESSEE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREF BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KARENNI PEACE TALKS GOING NOWHERE FAST
REF: A. 06 RANGOON 1520
B. 06 RANGOON 1184
C. 06 RANGOON 1042
D. 05 CHIANG MAI 199
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000447
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
CORRECTED COPY - CHANGE OF ADDRESSEE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREF BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KARENNI PEACE TALKS GOING NOWHERE FAST
REF: A. 06 RANGOON 1520
B. 06 RANGOON 1184
C. 06 RANGOON 1042
D. 05 CHIANG MAI 199
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The regime has quietly engaged leaders of
the insurgent Karenni National People's Party in peace
discussions in recent months. The key sticking point remains
the status of Burmese Army bases in Kayah State. The Karenni
may eventually cede this point, but appear to be in no hurry
to decide. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Bishop Sotero Phamo of Loikaw, Kayah State (ref C),
briefed us on recent peace talks between the regime and the
Karenni National People's Party (KNPP),the key resistance
group in Kayah State. Following efforts in early 2006 by
mediators from Kayah State to restart a dialogue between the
KNPP and the regime (ref A),Sotero told us he traveled to
Thailand in November 2006 to meet Karenni leaders at a
refugee camp near Mae Hong Son. According to Sotero, the
regime approved him as a mediator to meet the insurgent
leaders.
3. (C) The Karenni leaders told Sotero they wished to return
to Kayah State and requested the regime to designate special
repatriation zones for Karenni refugees. They also requested
the Burmese Army to withdraw its troops from the zones, the
very same issue that led the KNPP to break its 1995
cease-fire agreement with the regime after only three months
(ref B).
4. (C) Sotero said in February he joined Burmese Military
Security Affairs officers from Loikaw, Taunggyi, and Kengtung
for follow up talks with KNPP leader Raymond Htoo at
Tachileik, Shan State. The intelligence officers told
Raymond Htoo it was not possible to withdraw Burmese soldiers
from Kayah State because the Burmese Army is responsible for
protecting Burma's borders. According to Sotero, Raymond
Htoo seemed ready to acquiesce to the continued presence of
Burmese soldiers in Kayah State after a cease-fire. However,
when Burmese intelligence officials pressed him to strike a
quick peace agreement, Raymond Htoo said he could not make a
decision on his own and needed time to consult with the
KNPP's central committee.
5. (C) COMMENT: Although Raymond Htoo may be ready to try
another cease-fire deal, other KNPP members may be more
cautious. The recent experience of former Karen National
Liberation Army Brigadier General Htay Maung, whose
independent peace deal with the regime left Karen unity in
tatters, has shown the limited rewards and great risks
involved. However, as more Karenni refugees settle in third
countries and the KNPP's power base diminishes (ref D),KNPP
leaders may decide they have no choice but to share their
state with the Burmese Army. END COMMENT.
6. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Chiang Mai.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
CORRECTED COPY - CHANGE OF ADDRESSEE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREF BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: KARENNI PEACE TALKS GOING NOWHERE FAST
REF: A. 06 RANGOON 1520
B. 06 RANGOON 1184
C. 06 RANGOON 1042
D. 05 CHIANG MAI 199
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The regime has quietly engaged leaders of
the insurgent Karenni National People's Party in peace
discussions in recent months. The key sticking point remains
the status of Burmese Army bases in Kayah State. The Karenni
may eventually cede this point, but appear to be in no hurry
to decide. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Bishop Sotero Phamo of Loikaw, Kayah State (ref C),
briefed us on recent peace talks between the regime and the
Karenni National People's Party (KNPP),the key resistance
group in Kayah State. Following efforts in early 2006 by
mediators from Kayah State to restart a dialogue between the
KNPP and the regime (ref A),Sotero told us he traveled to
Thailand in November 2006 to meet Karenni leaders at a
refugee camp near Mae Hong Son. According to Sotero, the
regime approved him as a mediator to meet the insurgent
leaders.
3. (C) The Karenni leaders told Sotero they wished to return
to Kayah State and requested the regime to designate special
repatriation zones for Karenni refugees. They also requested
the Burmese Army to withdraw its troops from the zones, the
very same issue that led the KNPP to break its 1995
cease-fire agreement with the regime after only three months
(ref B).
4. (C) Sotero said in February he joined Burmese Military
Security Affairs officers from Loikaw, Taunggyi, and Kengtung
for follow up talks with KNPP leader Raymond Htoo at
Tachileik, Shan State. The intelligence officers told
Raymond Htoo it was not possible to withdraw Burmese soldiers
from Kayah State because the Burmese Army is responsible for
protecting Burma's borders. According to Sotero, Raymond
Htoo seemed ready to acquiesce to the continued presence of
Burmese soldiers in Kayah State after a cease-fire. However,
when Burmese intelligence officials pressed him to strike a
quick peace agreement, Raymond Htoo said he could not make a
decision on his own and needed time to consult with the
KNPP's central committee.
5. (C) COMMENT: Although Raymond Htoo may be ready to try
another cease-fire deal, other KNPP members may be more
cautious. The recent experience of former Karen National
Liberation Army Brigadier General Htay Maung, whose
independent peace deal with the regime left Karen unity in
tatters, has shown the limited rewards and great risks
involved. However, as more Karenni refugees settle in third
countries and the KNPP's power base diminishes (ref D),KNPP
leaders may decide they have no choice but to share their
state with the Burmese Army. END COMMENT.
6. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Chiang Mai.
VILLAROSA