Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SINGAPORE1870
2007-10-09 09:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
BURMA: SINGAPORE RULING PARTY MP WANTS TOUGHER
how-toVZCZCXRO4123 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHPB DE RUEHGP #1870 2820936 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090936Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4196 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 001870
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL BM SN
SUBJECT: BURMA: SINGAPORE RULING PARTY MP WANTS TOUGHER
ASEAN ACTION
REF: SINGAPORE 1851
Classified By: EP Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 001870
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL BM SN
SUBJECT: BURMA: SINGAPORE RULING PARTY MP WANTS TOUGHER
ASEAN ACTION
REF: SINGAPORE 1851
Classified By: EP Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
1. (C) ASEAN needs to move beyond statements and take action
against the regime in Burma, Singapore ruling party MP
Charles Chong told us October 5. Chong, who is a leader of
the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC),said
ASEAN should consider either suspending Burma from the
organization or adopting targeted sanctions against the
regime and its leaders if it doesn't undertake positive
change. He plans to question Foreign Minister George Yeo
during the next sitting of parliament (scheduled for October
22) on what steps ASEAN will take against Burma and the
possibility of suspension or Singapore imposing sanctions.
2. (C) Chong interpreted the October 4 Barry Desker op-ed
(Reftel) calling for ASEAN to suspend Burma as a trial
balloon by the government to lay out possible next steps
against the regime. However, he believed the GOS would take
a very deliberate approach to the question of sanctions or
suspension and noted Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's October 4
comments to a local student audience that "it is in the
interest of every country in ASEAN to help stabilise
Myanmar." In addition, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told
the Straits Times in an October 4 interview that "sanctions
against a regime ready to isolate itself are more likely to
be counter-productive than effective."
3. (C) Given the large number of Buddhists in Singapore and
the prestige of monks, the Singapore public was sympathetic
to the protesters in Burma and was repulsed by the regime's
violent response, Chong noted. The GOS had to come out with
a tough statement as ASEAN Chair in order to stay in step
with public opinion. Chong noted that more MPs were
contacting him about Burma and what could be done, beyond the
other four Singaporean members of the AIPMC. Chong also
suggested that public sympathy for the demonstrations in
Burma could have a positive effect on Singapore if it caused
people to question Singapore's stringent restrictions against
public assemblies.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL BM SN
SUBJECT: BURMA: SINGAPORE RULING PARTY MP WANTS TOUGHER
ASEAN ACTION
REF: SINGAPORE 1851
Classified By: EP Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
1. (C) ASEAN needs to move beyond statements and take action
against the regime in Burma, Singapore ruling party MP
Charles Chong told us October 5. Chong, who is a leader of
the ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC),said
ASEAN should consider either suspending Burma from the
organization or adopting targeted sanctions against the
regime and its leaders if it doesn't undertake positive
change. He plans to question Foreign Minister George Yeo
during the next sitting of parliament (scheduled for October
22) on what steps ASEAN will take against Burma and the
possibility of suspension or Singapore imposing sanctions.
2. (C) Chong interpreted the October 4 Barry Desker op-ed
(Reftel) calling for ASEAN to suspend Burma as a trial
balloon by the government to lay out possible next steps
against the regime. However, he believed the GOS would take
a very deliberate approach to the question of sanctions or
suspension and noted Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's October 4
comments to a local student audience that "it is in the
interest of every country in ASEAN to help stabilise
Myanmar." In addition, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told
the Straits Times in an October 4 interview that "sanctions
against a regime ready to isolate itself are more likely to
be counter-productive than effective."
3. (C) Given the large number of Buddhists in Singapore and
the prestige of monks, the Singapore public was sympathetic
to the protesters in Burma and was repulsed by the regime's
violent response, Chong noted. The GOS had to come out with
a tough statement as ASEAN Chair in order to stay in step
with public opinion. Chong noted that more MPs were
contacting him about Burma and what could be done, beyond the
other four Singaporean members of the AIPMC. Chong also
suggested that public sympathy for the demonstrations in
Burma could have a positive effect on Singapore if it caused
people to question Singapore's stringent restrictions against
public assemblies.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD