Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR1024
2008-11-20 05:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON BURMA CRACKDOWN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001024
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON BURMA CRACKDOWN
REF: STATE 121418
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001024
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON BURMA CRACKDOWN
REF: STATE 121418
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND D).
1. (C) Polcouns and visiting Senate Foreign Relations
Committee professional staff member Paul Grove called on
Malaysian Foreign Ministry Principal Assistant Secretary
(Southeast Asia) Ismail Haji Salam and Assistant Secretary
Firdauz Othman on November 19 and raised serious concerns
over the Burmese junta's recent crackdown. The Malaysian
officials represented the geographic office in the Ministry
responsible for Burma. Grove, who had just visited Burma,
provided compelling first-hand accounts of the terrible
humanitarian and political conditions in Burma today.
Polcouns and Staffdel presented reftel points, and emphasized
that continued lack of good governance in Burma has real
costs for neighboring countries, including Malaysia, stemming
from refugee flows, crime and health concerns. Polcouns
urged Malaysia to send a message to Burma through its UN
votes this week on the Burma resolution and the no-action
motion. Polcouns and Staffdel also highlighted the upcoming
ASEAN summit as an opportunity for Malaysia to support
regional pressure on the Burmese regime.
2. (C) Ismail responded that Malaysia continued to work with
Singapore and Indonesia to push for positive change in Burma.
Malaysia's efforts, however, were tied to "ASEAN ways" and
also reflected that ASEAN members had "different levels of
democracy." Ismail stated that Burma was "playing different
sides against each other," noting China in particular. He
explained that the EU, Australia and New Zealand recently had
lobbied Malaysia on the Burma issue. The Foreign Ministry
had advised the EU to adopt a "people approach" with
post-cyclone assistance that in part would demonstrate that
such aid did not flow from the Burmese regime. In this
regard, Malaysia had supported Mercy Malaysia, an NGO, to
establish five or six small hospitals. Malaysia thought that
Burma could change through "some transitional period"
featuring the gradual exit of the military from politics.
Polcouns responded that there was no evidence of any positive
trend, and instead recent arrests represented a regression.
Ismail said Foreign Minister Rais Yatim was engaged in
discussions on how to approach Burma in the coming ASEAN
summit, but offered no details. Ismail pledged to share U.S.
views with his superiors.
3. (U) Staffdel Grove did not have an opportunity to review
this message.
KEITH
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON BURMA CRACKDOWN
REF: STATE 121418
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND D).
1. (C) Polcouns and visiting Senate Foreign Relations
Committee professional staff member Paul Grove called on
Malaysian Foreign Ministry Principal Assistant Secretary
(Southeast Asia) Ismail Haji Salam and Assistant Secretary
Firdauz Othman on November 19 and raised serious concerns
over the Burmese junta's recent crackdown. The Malaysian
officials represented the geographic office in the Ministry
responsible for Burma. Grove, who had just visited Burma,
provided compelling first-hand accounts of the terrible
humanitarian and political conditions in Burma today.
Polcouns and Staffdel presented reftel points, and emphasized
that continued lack of good governance in Burma has real
costs for neighboring countries, including Malaysia, stemming
from refugee flows, crime and health concerns. Polcouns
urged Malaysia to send a message to Burma through its UN
votes this week on the Burma resolution and the no-action
motion. Polcouns and Staffdel also highlighted the upcoming
ASEAN summit as an opportunity for Malaysia to support
regional pressure on the Burmese regime.
2. (C) Ismail responded that Malaysia continued to work with
Singapore and Indonesia to push for positive change in Burma.
Malaysia's efforts, however, were tied to "ASEAN ways" and
also reflected that ASEAN members had "different levels of
democracy." Ismail stated that Burma was "playing different
sides against each other," noting China in particular. He
explained that the EU, Australia and New Zealand recently had
lobbied Malaysia on the Burma issue. The Foreign Ministry
had advised the EU to adopt a "people approach" with
post-cyclone assistance that in part would demonstrate that
such aid did not flow from the Burmese regime. In this
regard, Malaysia had supported Mercy Malaysia, an NGO, to
establish five or six small hospitals. Malaysia thought that
Burma could change through "some transitional period"
featuring the gradual exit of the military from politics.
Polcouns responded that there was no evidence of any positive
trend, and instead recent arrests represented a regression.
Ismail said Foreign Minister Rais Yatim was engaged in
discussions on how to approach Burma in the coming ASEAN
summit, but offered no details. Ismail pledged to share U.S.
views with his superiors.
3. (U) Staffdel Grove did not have an opportunity to review
this message.
KEITH