Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK1429
2008-05-09 10:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
MGBM01: THAI PRIME MINISTER ABORTS TRIP TO BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO9428 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1429 1301019 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091019Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2985 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8694 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0716 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5946 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4592 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5231 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5329 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001429
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID MOPS TH BM
SUBJECT: MGBM01: THAI PRIME MINISTER ABORTS TRIP TO BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001429
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID MOPS TH BM
SUBJECT: MGBM01: THAI PRIME MINISTER ABORTS TRIP TO BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In the morning of May 9, UK Ambassador Quayle, on
instructions from London, met with Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej and urged Samak to use his good offices to
persuade the Burmese junta to allow foreign aid workers to
enter Burma and assist with cyclone relief efforts. Samak
told Ambassador Quayle he would fly to Burma on the morning
of Sunday, May 11, to meet with members of the junta and
lobby for this objective. Samak then announced his intention
to the media.
2. (C) Subsequently, General Nipat, Director of the Royal
Thai Armed Forces Border Relations Directorate, told us that
Samak's planned trip to Burma was canceled. According to
Nipat, Samak was provided with news of a public GOB statement
to the effect that foreign aid workers would not be allowed
to participate in the relief effort. Nipat claimed that this
news caused Samak to decide he should not undertake a trip
unlikely to succeed. (Later, the Thai press reported that
the Burmese government had conveyed that it was preoccupied
with relief efforts, and its officials would not be available
to meet with Samak.) Nipat told us he (Nipat) would fly to
Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday, May 10, and meet with an as-yet
undetermined senior GOB official to deliver a letter from
Samak. Our contacts in the Prime Minister's office confirmed
to us at mid-day May 9 that Samak's planned trip had been
canceled, and Samak instead intended to send an envoy.
3. (C) In our discussions with General Nipat, we have
recommended certain key points for the PM's letter, including
an expression of the international community's readiness to
assist the people of Burma, a request for Burmese visas for
the U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Team, and a request for
clearance for U.S. military cargo aircraft to deliver relief
supplies and equipment. As of the afternoon of May 9, we did
not know the contents of Samak's letter, or even if it has
been finalized. We do not expect to be provided with a copy
of Samak's letter.
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID MOPS TH BM
SUBJECT: MGBM01: THAI PRIME MINISTER ABORTS TRIP TO BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In the morning of May 9, UK Ambassador Quayle, on
instructions from London, met with Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej and urged Samak to use his good offices to
persuade the Burmese junta to allow foreign aid workers to
enter Burma and assist with cyclone relief efforts. Samak
told Ambassador Quayle he would fly to Burma on the morning
of Sunday, May 11, to meet with members of the junta and
lobby for this objective. Samak then announced his intention
to the media.
2. (C) Subsequently, General Nipat, Director of the Royal
Thai Armed Forces Border Relations Directorate, told us that
Samak's planned trip to Burma was canceled. According to
Nipat, Samak was provided with news of a public GOB statement
to the effect that foreign aid workers would not be allowed
to participate in the relief effort. Nipat claimed that this
news caused Samak to decide he should not undertake a trip
unlikely to succeed. (Later, the Thai press reported that
the Burmese government had conveyed that it was preoccupied
with relief efforts, and its officials would not be available
to meet with Samak.) Nipat told us he (Nipat) would fly to
Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday, May 10, and meet with an as-yet
undetermined senior GOB official to deliver a letter from
Samak. Our contacts in the Prime Minister's office confirmed
to us at mid-day May 9 that Samak's planned trip had been
canceled, and Samak instead intended to send an envoy.
3. (C) In our discussions with General Nipat, we have
recommended certain key points for the PM's letter, including
an expression of the international community's readiness to
assist the people of Burma, a request for Burmese visas for
the U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Team, and a request for
clearance for U.S. military cargo aircraft to deliver relief
supplies and equipment. As of the afternoon of May 9, we did
not know the contents of Samak's letter, or even if it has
been finalized. We do not expect to be provided with a copy
of Samak's letter.
JOHN