Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR342
2008-05-05 09:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
DEMARCHE TO MALAYSIA: BURMA'S FLAWED
how-toVZCZCXRO5151 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0342 1260933 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050933Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0924 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2534 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0768 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0188 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0397 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1654 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2515 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0556 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1071
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000342
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BM MY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO MALAYSIA: BURMA'S FLAWED
CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
REF: STATE 45471
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000342
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BM MY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO MALAYSIA: BURMA'S FLAWED
CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
REF: STATE 45471
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
1. (C) Poloff met May 5 with the Malaysian Foreign
Ministry's Southeast Asia and South Pacific Division chief
Rahimi Harun to convey reftel points, emphasizing in
particular the importance of ASEAN,s role. Rahimi responded
that the GOM had been pushing the regime &for years8 to
expedite the process. Now that the junta had &moved
forward8 to set in place a concrete timetable, the GOM could
hardly turn around and condemn them. Poloff reiterated that
an illegitimate referendum on a non-representative
constitution would not move the process forward but if
anything risks renewed instability.
2. (C) Rahimi argued that while the proposed constitution
would prevent
Aung San Suu Kyi from running, the NLD could still compete.
The GOM, while sharing our objectives, viewed the situation
in Burma more in terms of personalities than formal
mechanisms. In Rahimi,s view, due to their bitter personal
animosity, Than Shwe would never free ASSK as long as he was
in power, but accommodations probably would be possible once
Than Shwe left the scene. Rahimi also argued that the NLD
should explore alternatives to ASSK, less identified with the
West and its pressuring, who may be more acceptable to the
regime. While conceding that the proposed constitution was
flawed, Rahimi thought it possible it could be amended over
the next two years to be made more amenable to the
opposition, especially if Tan Shwe were no longer around.
3. (C) Comment: Given the above perspectives, and ASEAN
members, tradition of non-intervention in each other,s
internal affairs (to which Rahimi also alluded),we cannot
expect any public criticism from the GOM on Burma,s
referendum process. Poloff therefore strongly urged that
the GOM at least restrain from welcoming the results of the
referendum exercise.
KEITH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BM MY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO MALAYSIA: BURMA'S FLAWED
CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
REF: STATE 45471
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
1. (C) Poloff met May 5 with the Malaysian Foreign
Ministry's Southeast Asia and South Pacific Division chief
Rahimi Harun to convey reftel points, emphasizing in
particular the importance of ASEAN,s role. Rahimi responded
that the GOM had been pushing the regime &for years8 to
expedite the process. Now that the junta had &moved
forward8 to set in place a concrete timetable, the GOM could
hardly turn around and condemn them. Poloff reiterated that
an illegitimate referendum on a non-representative
constitution would not move the process forward but if
anything risks renewed instability.
2. (C) Rahimi argued that while the proposed constitution
would prevent
Aung San Suu Kyi from running, the NLD could still compete.
The GOM, while sharing our objectives, viewed the situation
in Burma more in terms of personalities than formal
mechanisms. In Rahimi,s view, due to their bitter personal
animosity, Than Shwe would never free ASSK as long as he was
in power, but accommodations probably would be possible once
Than Shwe left the scene. Rahimi also argued that the NLD
should explore alternatives to ASSK, less identified with the
West and its pressuring, who may be more acceptable to the
regime. While conceding that the proposed constitution was
flawed, Rahimi thought it possible it could be amended over
the next two years to be made more amenable to the
opposition, especially if Tan Shwe were no longer around.
3. (C) Comment: Given the above perspectives, and ASEAN
members, tradition of non-intervention in each other,s
internal affairs (to which Rahimi also alluded),we cannot
expect any public criticism from the GOM on Burma,s
referendum process. Poloff therefore strongly urged that
the GOM at least restrain from welcoming the results of the
referendum exercise.
KEITH