SINGAPORE MEDIA COMES DOWN HARD ON BURMESE JUNTA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 001812

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL ASEAN BM SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE MEDIA COMES DOWN HARD ON BURMESE JUNTA;
MFA CONFIRMS GAMBARI PASSING THROUGH SINGAPORE

REF: A. SINGAPORE 1795


B. SINGAPORE 1782

Classified By: DCM Daniel L. Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b)(d).


1. Summary: Singapore's government-controlled press has
been uncharacteristically critical of the Burmese regime,
with a Straits Times editorial calling on it to "manage --
with as much decency and dispatch as it can muster -- its own
demise." Meanwhile, the MFA issued another press statement,
this time spotlighting UNSYG Special Advisor Gambari's
passing through Singapore on his way to Burma (paragraph 6).
Along with Singapore's leadership on the unusually tough
statement issued by ASEAN Foreign Ministers in New York, the
media focus suggests Singapore is fed up with the regime and
wants to position itself, and ASEAN, on the side of the
"angels" in Burma. End Summary.


2. (C) Post has been struck by the degree to which
Singapore's tightly controlled press has been forward-leaning
throughout the current crisis in Burma. Most remarkable was
a Straits Times editorial published September 28, which
essentially called for an end to the Burmese regime: "The
current regime...cannot point to anything positive that can
justify its continued iron grip on power... The junta has
starved the people politically as well as materially. There
is absolutely nothing it can do now to redeem its long and
dismal record other than manage -- with as much decency and
dispatch as it can muster -- its own demise."


3. (SBU) The protests in Burma have received wide-ranging and
prominent Singaporean press coverage since they began. The
Straits Times (estimated readership 1 million) has covered
the events in particular depth, including stories from its
correspondents in Bangkok and New Delhi and large color
photographs of the protests. On September 28, the front
page, above the fold, featured a photograph of the dead
Japanese photographer. In general, the press has been
noticeably sympathetic toward the monks and democracy
protesters, including coverage of their hardships,
grievances, and efforts to circumvent official censorship
through blogs and the internet.


4. (SBU) A "Today" op-ed titled "Why ASEAN is the only hope"
on September 27 called for ASEAN action. The article argued
that "At the very least, (ASEAN) should send an urgent
mission to persuade the generals not to resort to force."
The authors urged, "ASEAN needs to act now rather than
express regret when there is blood on the streets. For if
that happens, it will not be just Myanmar whose international
reputation will suffer, but the whole region."


5. (SBU) A Straits Times editorial September 28 also urged
ASEAN to issue a strong statement against the Burmese regime
and voiced support for the dispatch of special envoy Ibrahim
Gambari. This appeal foreshadowed the unusually strong
statement issued by ASEAN Foreign Ministers from New York and
activism in New York on the part of ASEAN Chair and Singapore
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo. The MFA issued a
press statement September 28 highlighting the fact that
Gambari had met with MFA officials while passing through
Singapore on his way to Burma, and that MFA officials
expressed "strong support" for his mission (see full
statement in paragraph 5).


6. (U) Text of September 28 MFA statement:

UN Secretary General's Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari is
passing through Singapore on his way to Myanmar. He met
officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) today.
They reiterated Singapore's strong support for Mr. Gambari's
mission to Myanmar and expressed the hope that the Myanmar
authorities would give Mr. Gambari and the UN their full
cooperation so as to find a peaceful resolution to the
situation in Myanmar. End text of MFA statement.


COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Singapore's tightly regulated press is not in the
habit of getting out front of the government and we doubt it
is doing so now. Also noteworthy are MFA's series of
increasingly forceful press statements (reftels),its
spotlighting of Gambari's transit and reception here, and
Singapore's apparent leadership in pushing for an unusually

SINGAPORE 00001812 002 OF 002


tough ASEAN statement in New York. Singapore has always
seemed more concerned with stability than human rights in
Burma. But the GOS now appears fed up with the regime's
brutality, insularity, and incompetence. At the least, the
GOS seems to have concluded that it's time to position
itself, and ASEAN, more on the side of the angels. End
comment.

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD