Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA443
2008-05-01 07:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIA ASSAILS BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

Tags:  PGOV PHUM AS BM 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBY #0443 1220754
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 010754Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9491
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON IMMEDIATE 2590
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1089
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 2166
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 1296
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 9443
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 3043
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 5308
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0630
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 5212
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 3495
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 3403
UNCLAS CANBERRA 000443 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE, EUR, AND EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AS BM
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ASSAILS BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

REF: A. STATE 45471


B. CANBERRA 372

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000443

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE, EUR, AND EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AS BM
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ASSAILS BURMA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

REF: A. STATE 45471


B. CANBERRA 372


1. (U) This message contains an action request -- please see
para 4 below.


2. (U) In a May 1 media statement, Foreign Minister Stephen
Smith charged that Burma,s "deeply flawed" constitution was
only intended to entrench the military,s grip on power. He
criticized the constitution as having been drafted without
real participation by opposition groups, including the
National League for Democracy and the ethnic minorities. FM
Smith called on the Burmese regime to engage in a genuine
process of political reform and national reconciliation.
Full text of the statement is reproduced at para 3 below.


3. (U) Begin text of Foreign Minister Smith's media release:

01 May 2008

BURMA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

On 29 and 30 April, the Burmese Embassy in Canberra conducted
voting for certain Burmese citizens ahead of the
consitutional referendum in Burma on 10 May.

Regrettably, this process does not signal any intention by
the Burmese regime to listen to the will of the Burmese
people on their future.

The proposed constitution is deeply flawed and intended only
to entrench the military's grip on power. It was drafted
without any genuine involvement of opposition groups,
including the National League for Democracy, and Burma's
ethnic minorities.

The regime's lack of good faith is clear as criticism of the
referendum or the constitution is illegal in Burma.

Australia has consistently called for the full and free
participation of all political players in Burma in a
political reform process supported by the international
community.

I fully understand the frustration of the Burmese community
in Australia at the failings in current processes, including
the frustration of those Burmese community members living
outside Canberra.

I call again on the Burmese regime to engage in a genuine
process of political reform and national reconciliation, not
a sham "roadmap to democracy."

End text.


4. (SBU) ACTION REQUESTED: Poloff delivered Ref A demarche
to Jeannie Henderson, Director for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
and Burma, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on May 1,
just as FM Smith issued his media statement. Henderson
expressed some surprise at the demarche points, however,
noting that the Department had apparently communicated a
different demarche directly to the Australian Embassy in
Washington earlier this week that sought GOA assistance in
outreach. Embassy requests Department's clarification on the
discrepancies in the demarches, and, if a separate demarche
has been made, to please share that with post.

MCCALLUM