URGING SINGAPORE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 001832 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2022 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM SN SUBJECT: URGING SINGAPORE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE BURMESE REGIME REF: A) SECSTATE 137644 B) SINGAPORE 1812 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Shields for Reason 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The CDA met with Singapore MFA Permanent Secretary Peter Ho to urge Singapore to keep up the pressure SIPDIS on the Burmese regime to end the violence and begin a genuine transition to a civilian, democratic, government in Burma. Ho said Singapore and ASEAN could not remain silent after what had happened in Burma. Singapore will continue to work closely with Special Envoy Gambari, who is expected to pass through Singapore once he finishes his current visit to Burma. Singapore does not believe sanctions will be effective in changing the Burmese regime's behavior, Ho said. The CDA stressed that effective action on Burma by ASEAN is needed to maintain the organization's credibility as it launches the ASEAN Charter and the regional human rights body. End Summary. Keep Up the Pressure -------------- ¶2. (C) The CDA met with Singapore MFA Permanent Secretary Peter Ho on October 2 to pursue Ref A objectives and urge Singapore to keep up the pressure on the Burmese regime. The CDA thanked Ho for Singapore's strong bilateral statements and its leadership in generating a forceful ASEAN statement. The United States appreciates Singapore's backing for Special Envoy Gambari's efforts. Now more pressure has to be brought to bear to persuade the Burmese regime to end the violence and begin a genuine transition to a civilian, democratic, government. The CDA made Ref A point that the United States is tightening its sanctions and encourages other governments to consider imposing similar sanctions targeted at senior leaders of the regime, their immediate family members, and their financial supporters. Singapore will Continue to Work with Gambari -------------- ¶3. (C) PermSec Ho responded that the U.S. message has been received "loud and clear." Singapore and ASEAN could not remain silent after what happened in Burma. Singapore will continue to work closely with Gambari, who is expected to pass through Singapore once he finishes his current visit to Burma. Ho argued in familiar terms, however, that Singapore does not believe sanctions will be effective in changing the Burmese regime's behavior. The Burmese regime is concerned about survival and is not worried about being isolated. Singapore and ASEAN have limited influence over Burma. China and, to a lesser degree, India have more influence than ASEAN, Ho claimed. After Burma snubbed ASEAN's special emissary Malaysian FM Syed Hamid it was clear that the regime preferred dealing with UN Special Envoy Gambari. Ho stated that Gambari's efforts offer the best hope for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Moving Forward? -------------- ¶4. (C) When asked how Singapore and ASEAN plan to move forward on Burma, Ho said ASEAN has made clear its unhappiness with the regime, but the situation in Burma would have to get even worse before ASEAN would consider further measures. Burma is "for good or bad, a member of the ASEAN family," he said. The CDA stressed that ASEAN needs to take effective action on Burma to ensure the organization's credibility as it launches the ASEAN Charter and the regional human rights body. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS