Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK383
2008-02-06 10:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR AND ASEAN SECGEN DISCUSS ASEAN,

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM TH BM 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1718
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5528
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8308
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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4248
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0371
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2159
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 000383 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND ASEAN SECGEN DISCUSS ASEAN,
APPROACHES TO CHANGE IN BURMA


Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 000383

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SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM TH BM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND ASEAN SECGEN DISCUSS ASEAN,
APPROACHES TO CHANGE IN BURMA


Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador called on ASEAN Secretary
General Surin Pitsuwan on February 4 and discussed the ASEAN
charter and Burma. Surin was confident that ASEAN member
states, except for possibly the Philippines, would ratify the
ASEAN charter this year. Surin expressed hope that Secretary
Rice would attend this year's ARF meeting in Singapore, as a
demonstration of USG commitment to the region. Surin said
all problems in Asia must be solved regionally; as such,
ASEAN should play the lead role in trying to resolve the
situation in Burma. The U.S., China, India, and other
countries would be key in assisting ASEAN if a multilateral
approach to Burma were to succeed, Surin explained. End
Summary.

ASEAN CHARTER
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador February 4 called on ASEAN
Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and opened the meeting by

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expressing his hope for greater U.S.-ASEAN cooperation.
Turning to the ASEAN charter, the Ambassador asked Surin for
his opinion on prospects for ratification of the ASEAN
charter after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's
recent statements. Surin said Singaporean Foreign Minister
George Yeo had proposed that ASEAN member states, minus the
Philippines, ratify the charter and commemorate ratification
in November on the fortieth anniversary of the Bangkok
Declaration. Surin explained that the Philippines would go
slow on ratification after Arroyo had reaffirmed that
ratification would be difficult while Aung San Suu Kyi
remained in detention. Ratification by other member states,
however, was likely. Brunei was ready to ratify the charter
and Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda had expressed
confidence that Indonesia would ratify the charter.


3. (C) Turning to the meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum to
be held in Singapore this July, Surin said Singaporean Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong had told him that he hoped that
Secretary Rice would attend as a demonstration of U.S.


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commitment to the region. A demonstration such as this could
encourage ASEAN member states to take a more proactive
approach to difficult issues such as Burma, Surin said.

ASEAN AS LEADER OF BURMA PROCESS
--------------


4. (C) Surin told the Ambassador that he agreed with
Singaporean PM Lee's comments that Burma "is an albatross
around our necks." Surin said he believed the United Nations
process on Burma was stalled and the only way to bring about
a solution was through a collaborative endeavor by ASEAN and
interested parties. Indonesia and Thailand, among other
ASEAN members, could play a positive, leading role in
engaging the Burmese authorities. All problems in Asia are
solved through regional actors, Surin said. For example, the
U.S. has been a long-time regional actor in Northeast Asia
and has played a key role in the North Korean nuclear issue.
Other examples of regional success included Aceh, Mindanao,
and Cambodia. In Southeast Asia, ASEAN must take a leading
role with support from the U.S., China, India and others.
Surin explained that a multi-party approach to Burma, similar
to Six-Party Talks on North Korea, would hold the best
prospects for success.

CHINA'S ROLE KEY IN SUPPORT OF ASEAN
--------------


5. (C) Surin said Indonesia and Thailand are best placed to
take the lead on Burma because Singapore and Malaysia felt
burnt by past efforts to take a proactive role on the Burma
issue. The Chinese would be key, Surin explained; without
the support of China all efforts to bring about change in
Burma would fail. China has played an important role on the
global stage in the Six-Party Talks, nevertheless the world
community is expecting more from the Chinese in Darfur and
Burma. The Ambassador agreed that the Chinese need to act
soon, as Chinese prestige is at stake. The Chinese need to
decide what side they want to be on, as the Burmese junta
would not last. Surin suggested the U.S. focus efforts to

BANGKOK 00000383 002 OF 002


engage the Chinese on Burma with the Communist Party of
China, which has a more proactive, long-term view than the
Chinese MFA.


6. (C) Surin told the Ambassador that the Chinese had
approached him several times to ask for his assistance in
persuading the U.S. to meet with Burmese authorities. The
Chinese were quite serious in this desire, Surin explained.


7. (C) Referencing his meeting last week with Thai Prime
Minister Samak Sundaravej, the Ambassador told Surin that,
with a democratic government soon to be in place in Thailand,
the RTG should take a leading role in calling for democratic
change in Burma. Surin said the RTG planned to host a
commemorative ASEAN meeting at the end of the year, and that
would be an opportunity for Thailand to highlight the
promotion of democracy and human rights.

COMMENT
--------------


8. (C) Surin was willing to engage on Burma, and could be a
positive actor for change from within the ASEAN secretariat.
While Surin's powers to compel ASEAN governments to take a
more proactive approach on Burma are limited, he appears
quite eager to take a constructive approach nonetheless, and
for ASEAN to lead the effort.
JOHN