ASSK MEETS WITH REGIME; UN MOVING SLOWLY ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000019

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: ASSK MEETS WITH REGIME; UN MOVING SLOWLY ON
GAMBARI VISIT

REF: A. USUN NEW YORK 8


B. 06 RANGOON 1701

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Classified By: P/E Chief Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary: Aung San Suu Kyi met with regime liaison
Aung Kyi today at the Government Guest House. It was her
first meeting with the regime since November 19. UN Staff
told us they are not preparing for any Gambari visit and also
informed us that the GOB has still not granted permission for
Gambari to assign a staff member to Burma. Like other
diplomatic missions, the UN has difficulty obtaining routine
visas for staff and official visitors. End summary.


2. (C) Embassy sources confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi met
with Minister of Relations Aung Kyi today between 13:00 and
14:10 at the Government Guest House. Embassy employees
observed a motorcade with blackened windows traveling from
ASSK's house to the Government Guest House and back during
this time. The government did not inform officials from
ASSK's National League for Democracy party about the meeting,
so they had no information on what was discussed.


3. (C) We also spoke today with Deputy UN Resident
Coordinator Sanaka Samarasinha and Deputy Resident
Representative Shahrokh Mohammadi to follow up on the
preparations for Gambari's next visit to Burma outlined in
Ref A. Samarsinha acknowledged that the UN Country Team
(UNCT) in Rangoon had been tasked with drafting a paper for
Gambari on a proposed structure for the Poverty Alleviation
Commission. The UNCT had not finished a draft but were
currently working to put one together for Acting UN Resident
Coordinator Dan Baker to discuss with Gambari during a
scheduled meeting in New York on January 14. According to
Samarsinha, Gambari planned to present the proposal to the
GOB during his next visit. Asked if the UNCT was working
with the GOB to develop the proposal, Samarsinha replied they
were not. Additionally, neither Samarsinha nor Mohammadi
were aware of any work being done by the UNCT on the issue of
broadening the Constitution Drafting Committee, but
volunteered that the DPA in New York may have the lead on
this issue. Samarsinha commented that the Burma UNCT did not
have the expertise to work on this issue since most UNCT
members were humanitarian assistance specialists rather than
political experts.


4. (C) Samarsinha continued that, as far has he knew,
Gambari had not been granted permission to return to Burma,
so UN staff here were not engaged in any discussions with the
GOB regarding a schedule for any visit in January. The UN
was also still waiting for GOB approval and a visa for
Gambari's assistant to be temporarily stationed in Burma to
assist Gambari with his mission. Samarsinha commented that
the GOB was not pleased with Gambari's efforts to establish
an office in Burma, and thought it unlikely the authorities
would grant Gambari permission to do so. If Gambari secured
the agreement for this arrangement during his next visit,
Samarsinha commented, it would be a positive development.


5. (C) Like other diplomatic missions in Burma, the UN has
difficulties obtaining routine visas for their employees and
official visitors, Samarsinha shared. The GOB demands
repeated diplomatic notes from the UN, assuring the
government that the visitors would "not work outside the
terms of reference" of their visas.


6. (C) Comment: Unless Aung San Suu Kyi is allowed to meet
with her party again soon, it will take some time to find out
what she discussed with Aung Kyi at this latest meeting; we
will likely have to wait for a report from her doctor.
Although Gambari may expect to return to Burma at the end of
January, UN staff in Rangoon are not engaged in any immediate
preparations for this trip. They are not working with their
GOB counterparts on the Poverty Alleviation Commission
proposal because these officials have no authority to make
decisions. Indeed, when Gambari first raised Burma's dire
humanitarian situation with Than Shwe, The Senior General

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dressed down Gambari and denied there were any such problems
(Ref B). Gambari should shift his focus from establishment
of a Poverty Alleviation Commission back to the political
dialogue, which is in serious need of attention, despite
today's meeting. Only a genuine dialogue can address the
political causes of the humanitarian crisis Than Shwe refuses
to admit exists. End comment.
VILLAROSA