UK ENVOY ON BURMA ENCOURAGES BETTER THAI ROLE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001279

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: UK ENVOY ON BURMA ENCOURAGES BETTER THAI ROLE ON
BURMA

REF: A. BANGKOK 1205 BURMESE MIGRANTS DEATHS


B. BANGKOK 846 MFA PROVIDES READOUT OF PM BURMA VISIT

C. BANGKOK 341 EU BURMA ENVOY IN THAILAND

BANGKOK 00001279 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (
b) and (d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) UK Prime Minister's Special Representative for Burma
Michael Williams encouraged the RTG to consider a more
proactive role in Burma during his April 16-18 trip to
Thailand. During a private meeting with Ambassador John,
Williams expressed the UK's shared concern about the current
situation in Burma. He said his visit was intended to
persuade the RTG to consider options that would lead to a
more constructive regional discussion about Burma. In a
welcome divergence from recent RTG remarks, Noppadon told the
press that "Thailand wants to see a credible referendum
process in which everyone takes part." British EMBASSY
Political Chief Andy Garth later told us that Williams was
encouraged that the RTG seemed more willing to recognize it
should have a role in supporting democratic transition in
Burma. The true test of RTG policy will be Thailand's
handling of Burmese PM Thein Sein's visit to Thailand April
28-29. End Summary.

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BURMA'S LATEST SPECIAL ENVOY ARRIVES IN BANGKOK
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2. (C) Michael Williams, the UK's Special Representative for
the Middle East and Special Projects traveled to Thailand
April 16-18 to personally deliver UK PM Gordon Brown's views
on the situation in Burma. Williams also exchanged ideas
with Thai FM Noppadon on April 18 about the role of the
region, in particular Thailand, in bringing about political
reform to Burma. Unlike EU Burma Envoy Piero Fassino, who
undertook a failed mission to Thailand in January (ref B),
Williams found the Thais forthcoming about the reality of the
situation in Burma and Thailand's relation with the Burmese
junta, Garth said. Garth went on to say that Williams had
the impression the Thais were embarrassed by PM Samak's
comments on the heels of the Thai leader's first official
trip to Burma (ref B). At that time Samak praised the
Burmese general's devotion to Buddhism and touted Thailand's
intention to proceed with "neighborly engagement" as morally
superior to the hardline approach favored by Western
governments.


3. (C) Garth relayed to us that Noppadon opened his meeting
with Williams by saying that Thailand's relationship with
Burma extended beyond economics; he cited the RTG's belief in
the importance of democracy and human rights. Noppadon
accepted that Thailand needed to play a more forward-leaning
role in addressing the current situation in Burma,
particularly as the RTG would take over the Chair of ASEAN in
July. As an example of his intentions, Noppadon stated that
Thailand planned to support moves to pressure the Burmese to
issue another visa to UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari in
advance of the May 10 referendum on the Burmese constitution.
However, Noppadon did not provide any further details about
how the RTG would accomplish this or any other specific
actions Thailand planned to take on Burma.

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4. (C) Williams also called on Ambassador on April 17 and met
with a broader group of Bangkok-based diplomats over lunch
the next day. In both meetings Williams discussed the same
concerns that the USG has expressed about Burma's upcoming
constitutional referendum. The discussions also explored
ideas to encourage ASEAN countries to engage more helpfully,
noting in particular Indonesia's efforts, but without
reaching any new conclusions.

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IMPROVED PUBLIC STATEMENTS
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5. (U) Although they received little coverage, Noppadon's
statement to the press following his meeting with Williams
may have been the most useful outcome of the visit. Joining
Williams for a press conference at the MFA, Noppadon
explained that on several occasions he had informed the
Burmese FM of Thailand's interest in seeing a credible
referendum process in Burma. Noppadon added that he intended
to persuade Burma to allow the ICRC to resume activities in
Burma after an almost two-year hiatus of ICRC visits to
detainees in prisons and labor camps. Noppadon drew a
parallel between the recent death of 54 Burmese migrant
workers (ref A) and the need for economic development in
Burma. Noppadon did not outright oppose sanctions on Burma,
but expressed Thailand's preference for engagement and
humanitarian support. He concluded that the RTG will
revaluate the situation in Burma following the May 10
referendum and that once Thailand takes over the ASEAN chair
(slated for July 2008),the RTG "will have a more prominent
role in looking at Myanmar's situation."

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COMMENT
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6. (C) It was encouraging to hear Noppadon take a less
combative stance towards Western policy on Burma, even going
so far as to highlight that Burma's economic problems affect
Thailand. Williams' visit appears to have given Noppadon the
opportunity to try to mitigate the effect of some of the
disappointing rhetoric from the PM's office in recent weeks.
We will be carefully monitoring Thailand's handling of the
Burmese PM's visit to Bangkok April 28-29 to gauge to what
extent the RTG will transform Noppadon's comments into
actions.
JOHN