Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI1562
2008-06-06 12:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA URGED TO PRESS BURMA ON ALLOWING AID TO
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001562
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAID BM IN
SUBJECT: INDIA URGED TO PRESS BURMA ON ALLOWING AID TO
REACH CYCLONE NARGIS VICTIMS
REF: STATE 59122
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001562
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAID BM IN
SUBJECT: INDIA URGED TO PRESS BURMA ON ALLOWING AID TO
REACH CYCLONE NARGIS VICTIMS
REF: STATE 59122
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A/PolCouns urged MEA Director
(Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma) I.M. Pandey on June 6 to press
Burma harder to allow international aid supplies and workers
to reach victims of Cyclone Nargis. Pandey cited India's
difficulties in getting aid into Burma, noting that direct
access to the Irrawaddy Delta had been denied and that the
GOB had not allowed India a role in the distribution of the
aid supplies it delivered to Burmese airports. Pandey
defended India's decision to honor the strict conditions the
GOB has placed on accepting aid, stating that "pressure and
sanctions on Burma have never worked" and would only
complicate relief efforts. Post expects the Indian
government will privately ask the Burmese government to
fulfill its promises to cooperate fully with international
relief efforts, but will not exert any real pressure. END
SUMMARY.
INDIA ASKED TO BRING MORE PRESSURE ON BURMA TO ACCEPT AID
2. (U) A/PolCouns met with MEA Director (Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Burma) I.M. Pandey on June 6 to deliver reftel
demarche and to urge the GOI to press Burma harder to allow
international aid supplies and workers to reach victims of
Cyclone Nargis. Noting India's considerable influence with
the GOB, A/PolCouns pressed the GOI to exploit that influence
privately to urge the GOB to allow more access for
international relief workers into devastated areas and also
to make public statements designed to bring further pressure
to bear on the GOB. Pandey stated that the GOI has asked the
GOB to accept international aid, resulting in the GOB
allowing several countries, including the U.S. and India, to
fly in aid to selected airports. Pandey added that the GOB
has allowed some foreign aid workers into Burma including two
successive 24-person teams of Indian medical doctors, the
most recent of which returned to India on June 5. Pandey
noted that the GOI has requested, and has not yet received
permission from the GOB for direct access to the Irrawaddy
Delta. A/PolCouns asked the GOI to keep pressing the GOB on
this request, on behalf of the entire international community.
GOI DESCRIBES BURMESE RESTRICTIONS ON AID
3. (U) A/PolCouns thanked the GOI for the large amounts of
Cyclone relief it has provided to Burma, and requested a
comprehensive, detailed description of India's aid to date,
which Pandey agreed to forward to Post. Admitting that the
GOI has no plans at the moment for sending further aid,
Pandey briefly described the background of GOI relief
efforts, explaining how immediately after Cyclone Nargis tore
through Burma India's Embassy in Rangoon reached out to the
GOB to offer help. The GOB, recounted Pandey, requested
medicine, roofing materials and ready-to-eat meals from
India, but it stipulated that the aid supplies should be
released to the GOB at the airport, and that India would not
be allowed a role in the distribution of aid. Pandey stressed
that the GOI agreed without reservations to these conditions.
Pandey emphasized that the GOI has and will continue to
avoid pressuring the GOB, and is "sensitive" to the GOB's
political wishes, and will comply with the GOB's conditions
to not politicize any aspect of relief efforts. Pandey
stated that the GOI does not support a strategy of applying
pressure (such as sanctions) on the GOB, as it considers
these counter-productive.
COMMENT: EXPECT PRIVATE NUDGING, AT BEST
4. (SBU) Pandey told us he had discussed our demarche with
his boss, Joint Secretary T. S. Tiramurti, and suggested that
Tiramurti acknowledged the Burmese government had not lived
up to its promises to allow full access to international aid
workers. However, Pandey reiterated that the Indian
government does not believe "pressure" is an effective way to
influence the junta. Pandey did agree that India, for the
benefit of the international community, could be helpful in
NEW DELHI 00001562 002 OF 002
pointing out to the GOB that it has not followed through on
promises made to UN SYG Ban, or the Indian government. While
Pandey was non-committal on actions the GOI would take, based
on his acknowledgment that Indian relief efforts could
benefit from a further opening of restrictions, Post expects
India will make a low-level, low-pressure "request" to the
GOB to live up to its commitments and allow full access for
international aid workers. END COMMENT.
MULFORD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAID BM IN
SUBJECT: INDIA URGED TO PRESS BURMA ON ALLOWING AID TO
REACH CYCLONE NARGIS VICTIMS
REF: STATE 59122
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A/PolCouns urged MEA Director
(Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma) I.M. Pandey on June 6 to press
Burma harder to allow international aid supplies and workers
to reach victims of Cyclone Nargis. Pandey cited India's
difficulties in getting aid into Burma, noting that direct
access to the Irrawaddy Delta had been denied and that the
GOB had not allowed India a role in the distribution of the
aid supplies it delivered to Burmese airports. Pandey
defended India's decision to honor the strict conditions the
GOB has placed on accepting aid, stating that "pressure and
sanctions on Burma have never worked" and would only
complicate relief efforts. Post expects the Indian
government will privately ask the Burmese government to
fulfill its promises to cooperate fully with international
relief efforts, but will not exert any real pressure. END
SUMMARY.
INDIA ASKED TO BRING MORE PRESSURE ON BURMA TO ACCEPT AID
2. (U) A/PolCouns met with MEA Director (Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Burma) I.M. Pandey on June 6 to deliver reftel
demarche and to urge the GOI to press Burma harder to allow
international aid supplies and workers to reach victims of
Cyclone Nargis. Noting India's considerable influence with
the GOB, A/PolCouns pressed the GOI to exploit that influence
privately to urge the GOB to allow more access for
international relief workers into devastated areas and also
to make public statements designed to bring further pressure
to bear on the GOB. Pandey stated that the GOI has asked the
GOB to accept international aid, resulting in the GOB
allowing several countries, including the U.S. and India, to
fly in aid to selected airports. Pandey added that the GOB
has allowed some foreign aid workers into Burma including two
successive 24-person teams of Indian medical doctors, the
most recent of which returned to India on June 5. Pandey
noted that the GOI has requested, and has not yet received
permission from the GOB for direct access to the Irrawaddy
Delta. A/PolCouns asked the GOI to keep pressing the GOB on
this request, on behalf of the entire international community.
GOI DESCRIBES BURMESE RESTRICTIONS ON AID
3. (U) A/PolCouns thanked the GOI for the large amounts of
Cyclone relief it has provided to Burma, and requested a
comprehensive, detailed description of India's aid to date,
which Pandey agreed to forward to Post. Admitting that the
GOI has no plans at the moment for sending further aid,
Pandey briefly described the background of GOI relief
efforts, explaining how immediately after Cyclone Nargis tore
through Burma India's Embassy in Rangoon reached out to the
GOB to offer help. The GOB, recounted Pandey, requested
medicine, roofing materials and ready-to-eat meals from
India, but it stipulated that the aid supplies should be
released to the GOB at the airport, and that India would not
be allowed a role in the distribution of aid. Pandey stressed
that the GOI agreed without reservations to these conditions.
Pandey emphasized that the GOI has and will continue to
avoid pressuring the GOB, and is "sensitive" to the GOB's
political wishes, and will comply with the GOB's conditions
to not politicize any aspect of relief efforts. Pandey
stated that the GOI does not support a strategy of applying
pressure (such as sanctions) on the GOB, as it considers
these counter-productive.
COMMENT: EXPECT PRIVATE NUDGING, AT BEST
4. (SBU) Pandey told us he had discussed our demarche with
his boss, Joint Secretary T. S. Tiramurti, and suggested that
Tiramurti acknowledged the Burmese government had not lived
up to its promises to allow full access to international aid
workers. However, Pandey reiterated that the Indian
government does not believe "pressure" is an effective way to
influence the junta. Pandey did agree that India, for the
benefit of the international community, could be helpful in
NEW DELHI 00001562 002 OF 002
pointing out to the GOB that it has not followed through on
promises made to UN SYG Ban, or the Indian government. While
Pandey was non-committal on actions the GOI would take, based
on his acknowledgment that Indian relief efforts could
benefit from a further opening of restrictions, Post expects
India will make a low-level, low-pressure "request" to the
GOB to live up to its commitments and allow full access for
international aid workers. END COMMENT.
MULFORD