MGBM01: RTG, THAI NGOS SENDING CASH, SUPPLIES TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 001430 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR PHU, EAP/MLS FOR AARON COPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID TH BM SUBJECT: MGBM01: RTG, THAI NGOS SENDING CASH, SUPPLIES TO BURMA REF: A. BANGKOK 1414 THAI PM TO URGE BURMA ACCEPT AID ¶B. SECSTATE 48651 HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS BANGKOK 00001430 001.2 OF 004 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The MFA reported to us that the RTG was already in the process of transferring USD 300,000 to the Burmese government and that the Royal Thai Air Force delivered three planeloads of relief supplies as of May 8. Thus far, RTG assistance has been limited to the delivery of supplies only, and the Thai offer to send a medical team was rebuffed by the Burmese. The Thais expect to send in additional flights with supplies in the coming days as part of an operation being organized by the Office of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Supreme Commander. In addition, several private Thai businesses, various Burmese exile groups, and cross-border NGOs are organizing their own relief efforts. Officials at the Canadian and Australian Embassies also shared their assistance plans to date. While the Canadians face many of the same access hurdles as the USG, the Australian Ambassador was able to intervene with the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok in order to secure a visa for an Australian national working with World Vision. End summary. -------------- RTG CONTRIBUTING TO RELIEF EFFORTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador delivered reftel B points to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on May 8 (ref A) and post followed up later in the day with MFA Burma Senior Desk Officer Jirusaya Birananda. According to Birananda, several entities in the RTG and Thai private sector were organizing the delivery of much-needed supplies to Burma in response to Burmese government's request for international assistance following the damage wreaked by Cyclone Nargis. Jirusaya emphasized that all humanitarian assistance to date had been in the form of cash and commodities. Jirusaya stated that the Burmese government flat out rejected the Thais' offer to send a medical team to support Burmese health workers responding to the disaster, saying that they only wanted supplies for the time being. She opined that perhaps the Burmese could not accommodate additional people at this stage and that therefore, the RTG would not press the matter but rather await further guidance from the Burmese. ¶3. (SBU) The primary RTG agencies providing the bulk of humanitarian assistance to date are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Energy, Thai Red Cross, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT),and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT). Jirusaya described the Royal Thai Air Force Supreme Command as coordinating the collection and transportation of the following items (except where noted) as follows: Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- USD 100,000 donated to the Burmese Ambassador to Thailand in the name of the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Association Ministry of Public Health -- Medicine and medical supplies valued at approximately USD BANGKOK 00001430 002.2 OF 004 325,000 Ministry of Energy -- food -- electrical supplies -- plastic sheets -- roofing materials Thai Red Cross -- 1,000 'living bags' (consisting of basic foods, household supplies, first aid kits, plastic bags, and similar items) -- Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (head of the organization) expected to donate water purification systems and tablets via the Thai Red Cross EGAT -- USD 200,000 transferred to its counterpart in Burma -- electrical equipment PTT -- 100,000 liters of diesel fuel -- food -------------- ACTIVITIES ALONG THE BORDER -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Burmese exiles and cross-border NGOs we spoke with stated they have very limited contact with their colleagues inside Burma. Overall, there is little direct assistance they can contribute to relief efforts. However, they remain vocal in the international community admonishing the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) for maintaining the May 10 referendum date and for not doing enough to respond to disaster victims. ¶5. (SBU) Well-known Burmese activist and founder of the Mae Tao Clinic Dr. Cynthia Maung spearheaded an appeal to the international community urging that governments and the UN deliver aid to disaster victims without waiting for proper visas from the Burmese government. Joined by the National Health and Education Committee - Burma (NHEC),the Burma Medical Association (BMA),and the Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT),the letter called for immediate assistance and claimed that "any delays in providing aid to our (Burmese) people just adds to the unbearably long list of crimes against humanity already committed by the military junta." ¶6. (SBU) Jack Dunford, Executive Director of the Thai-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) told us his cross-border assistance providers reported no major damage in Mon and Karen states. However, Dunford foresaw that further destabilization in the Irrawaddy delta region (where many Karen are from) had the strong potential to result in increased flows of refugees and migrants to Thailand. He explained that there is a strong existing connection between those on the border and those in the Irrawaddy delta region, which could serve to draw more people to the border as things become more difficult in the delta region. At the very least, he expected increased numbers of migrant workers to head for Thailand to seek any means possible to support families in the wake of the cyclone's destruction. Mae Tao Clinic staff told CG Chiang Mai that they were very concerned about the possibility of a large influx of unaccompanied minor children into Thailand in BANGKOK 00001430 003.2 OF 004 the medium and long-term. ¶7. (SBU) Members of the Thailand-based NGO Partners Relief and Development (which works closely with Free Burma Rangers) told CG Chiang Mai personnel that they have a way to courier cash inside Burma and distribute it, as well as the ability to truck supplies from Chiang Mai to the border within 48 hours of receiving the cash and/or supplies. While the Burmese Embassy in Thailand refused visas to Partners' medical team, on May 8 the organization shipped 400 boxes of the nutritional supplement Vitameal (valued at approximately USD 8,000). -------------- UPDATE FROM AUSTRALIANS AND CANADIANS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Officials from the Canadian and Australian Embassies in Thailand shared the latest on their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance. Steve Rheault-Kihara, Political Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy, told us that Canada's Disaster Assessment team -- referred to as DART -- is en route to Bangkok and will arrive Saturday, May 10 at 0600. The team will arrive on their own cargo plane, which is a self-contained unit capable of providing medical assistance, water purification, and other emergency relief. The four team members accompanying the plane are prepared to undertake an assessment of the situation in Burma (if allowed in) as part of a wider effort by the Canadians to provide humanitarian assistance to Burma. Rheault-Kihara delivered the team members' visa applications to the Burmese Embassy earlier today, though he is not expecting a quick reply. ¶9. (SBU) Mikaela Browning, Political Counselor at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok told us that the Australian Ambassador met with the Burmese Ambassador to Thailand to plead the case of the international community that the Burmese allow humanitarian aid workers to enter Burma soonest. The Burmese Ambassador replied that he was willing do everything he could to facilitate this request and would relay it to the Ministry of Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw. As evidence of this, the Burmese Ambassador cited his Embassy's immediate processing of the visa request for an Australian national seeking to enter Burma to work with World Vision. Browning noted that her Embassy has very good relations with the Burmese Embassy in Thailand. However, they have no specific plans to use that relationship to push for additional visas for specific Australian nationals. Rather they will continue to encourage the Burmese to push for visas for UNDAC officials, many of whom are Australian nationals. Browning cited that to date the Australian government has pledged USD 3 million to support relief efforts being carried out by World Vision and the World Food Program. -------------- THAI PRESS: "RTG IS BURMA'S FRIEND IN NEED" -------------- ¶10. (U) Most reports in the Thai press focused on the severity of the storm, its victims and damage. They highlighted the role of the Thai government, both in terms of providing assistance and acting as an intermediary between the Burmese and the international community to facilitate the transport of supplies and relief workers to Burma. Local BANGKOK 00001430 004.2 OF 004 press also reported that King Bhumibol had sent condolences to Burmese top General Than Shwe. Finally, the Ambassador's May 8 meeting with PM Samak (ref A) and subsequent press conference with USAID officials received widespread coverage in print and broadcast media throughout Thailand. ¶11. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate General Chiang Mai. JOHN