IRELAND PREPARED TO TAKE A FIRM STANCE ON BURMA

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000332 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EI SUBJECT: IRELAND PREPARED TO TAKE A FIRM STANCE ON BURMA REF: (A) STATE 59122 (B) STATE 55244 (C) STATE 53985 (D) DUBLIN 267 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: POLOFF delivered demarche (Ref A) on June 4, 2008 to Conleth Brady, Desk Officer, Asia and Oceania Division, Department of Foreign Affairs. The Irish Government agrees with the views of the USG and is concerned that humanitarian relief efforts may soften diplomatic pressure on Burma to implement meaningful democratic and human rights reforms. Ireland appears willing to get out in front on this issue and could become a resolute partner of the group of nations that wants to hold the Burmese junta to account. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Brady stated that the situation in Burma is of grave concern to the Irish Government, noting that the Irish agree with the views of the USG (Ref A). He further stated that Burma has been of great concern to successive Irish Governments. He agreed that international access is urgently needed in order to deliver aid, carry out reliable needs assessments, and lay plans for reconstruction and rehabilitation. He noted that there are two Irish NGOs in Rangoon that are experiencing obstruction of their efforts to travel into affected areas; and are reporting that people are being forced back into areas thought to be only marginally habitable at the current time. ¶3. (SBU) While the Irish agree that the priority in Burma must be on relief for the victims of the cyclone, Brady noted that Ireland was determined that the political agenda in Burma not be eclipsed by the aid efforts. He was very critical of what he called the "deeply flawed and rigged" constitutional referendum in May and the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. He expressed fears that ASEAN countries - and perhaps even the UN - might see the Cyclone as a reason (or use it as an excuse) not to press the Burmese regime for political change. For its part, Brady said, Ireland would steadfastly urge neighboring states, the EU, and the UN to increase diplomatic pressure on Burma to implement meaningful democratic and human rights reforms. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Preferring consensus decision making, there are not a lot of issues on which Ireland is willing to get out in front. Burma is one. Ireland could become a resolute partner of the group of nations that wants to hold the Burmese junta to account. FAUCHER