BURMA RELIEF: PHILIPPINES FOCUSED ON A SUCCESSFUL

UNCLAS MANILA 001260 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL RP BM SUBJECT: BURMA RELIEF: PHILIPPINES FOCUSED ON A SUCCESSFUL PLEDGING CONFERENCE REF: A. SECSTATE 55244 ¶B. SECSTATE 53985 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Per reftels, Ambassador, polcouns, and poloffs have underscored demarche points with Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials, from Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo to working-level contacts. DFA is busy preparing for the May 25 UN-ASEAN co-sponsored conference in Rangoon, and welcomed U.S. views and concerns about potential outcomes. DFA officials share our frustration that the Burmese junta has been recalcitrant and obstructionist towards international assistance. According to DFA officials, the Philippine government is likewise underscoring the great importance of the pledging conference by sending a delegation led by Senator Richard Gordon (also Chair of the Philippine National Red Cross) and Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) In conjunction with poloffs' communication with working-level DFA officials, Ambassador reinforced reftel points in a May 23 conversation with Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, underscoring the need for independent assessments of the damage, our concern about the Burmese regime's limiting access for international relief operations, and that the U.S. is sending Rangoon Charge d'Affaires Villarosa to the conference to emphasize the importance of the gathering. Secretary Romulo assured the Ambassador that the Philippines likewise intended to send a strong message. ¶3. (SBU) Polcouns on May 23 detailed for Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Romeo Manalo our concerns about the upcoming conference. Manalo readily grasped all the points, and said he would share our views with higher DFA levels and other offices represented in the Philippine delegation. POLOFF discussed demarche points with Asia and Pacific Affairs Office (ASPAC) Principal Assistant Princess Tayo on May 23, stresing the need for an independent assessment of cyclone damage. When Tayo mentioned the ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) Mission Report as a potential independent assessment, POLOFF noted that the ERAT Mission Report bemoaned the Burmese regime's limiting access to areas in the Irrawaddy delta most ravaged by Cyclone Nargis. ¶4. (SBU) DFA Office of UN and International Organizations (UNIO) Staff Officer Carolina Constantino told econoff May 23 that the Philippines concurs with the U.S. positions, and is distressed over the Burmese junta's obstruction of assistance. She added that her government also feels strongly that rapid and objective assessments are critical to the coordination of appropriate international donor response. Constantino outlined that Singapore will offer ASEAN's official response at the pledging conference. ¶5. (SBU) According to officials at DFA's ASEAN and ASPAC offices, the delegation led by Senator Gordon and Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo will also include ASPAC Assistant Secretary Romeo Manalo and a representative from the Office of ASEAN Affairs. ASPAC Principal Assistant Princess Tayo said that DFA conversations and planning surrounding the conference, as well as the delegation itself, show that the Philippine government places high importance on the conference, the suffering in Burma, and implications for ASEAN should relief missions fail to gain sufficient access. KENNEY