AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES LAO HMONG, BURMA, SOUTH, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002359 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PREF SCUL UNESCO UNGA BM TH CB SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES LAO HMONG, BURMA, SOUTH, AND PREAH VIHEAR WITH NSC SECGEN REF: A. BANGKOK 2294 (MFA ON TEMPLE TALKS) ¶B. STATE 79734 (PROTECTING LAO HMONG) Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador paid an introductory call on National Security Council Secretary General Surapol Puanaiyaka on August 4, in advance of Surapol's participation in the upcoming POTUS visit. Surapol appeared receptive to points the Ambassador made on Lao Hmong migrants, Burmese refugees, Preah Vihear temple, and southern Thailand. End Summary. REFUGEES -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador on August 4 paid a courtesy call on National Security Council Secretary General Surapol Puanaiyaka during which he addressed the importance of Thailand's continued assistance to refugees. Drawing on ref B points, the Ambassador emphasized that the RTG needs an improved screening process for Hmong migrants -- in particular, a transparent screening process that meets international standards. The Ambassador stressed that this issue is an important priority for the United States. Surapol said he understood the priority that the United States placed on the Hmong, and promised to work closely with the Embassy. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador thanked Surapol for the RTG's historic assistance for Burmese refugees in Thailand, and for RTG assistance in facilitating FLOTUS access to Mae Sot during the upcoming visit of President Bush. The Ambassador also noted the important role Thailand could play in promoting democratic reform in Burma. PREAH VIHEAR -------------- ¶4. (C) Surapol confided that the divergent views on the disposition of the Preah Vihear temple continued to complicate RTG relations with Cambodia, and mentioned that it would be discussed further when Parliament reconvened on August 6. He said that tensions decreased after the Cambodian national elections, but he worried about the "psychological impact" of a ceremony held by Prime Minister Hun Sen's wife at the temple site on August 1. NSC Director of Border and Defense Security Affairs Phonchat Bunnak, also attending the meeting, stressed the sensitivity of the prospective relocation of Cambodians living at the temple site. The Ambassador reiterated that the USG viewed the issue as a bilateral problem and supported the Thai position that the issue did not warrant attention by the UN Security Council. SOUTHERN THAILAND -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador inquired about Thailand's relations with Malaysia. Surapol said that relations were strong, but problems persisted in Thailand's southernmost provinces. The Ambassador stressed that the U.S. viewed the conflict in southern Thailand as an internal issue. Surapol thanked the Ambassador, explaining that U.S. involvement in southern matters could further complicate the situation. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Despite having been in his current position for nearly three months, Surapol was not prepared for a substantive discussion. He stressed to the Ambassador that he was still familiarizing himself with various issues and asked for his understanding. Surapol expressed his intention to travel to Washington in 2009 to meet counterparts. JOHN