BURMA: SUPPORTING ASEAN'S ROLE IN THE TCG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000883 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, INR/EAP DEPT PASS TO USDA DEPT PASS TO USAID BANGKOK FOR USAID PACOM FOR FPA TREASURY FOR OASIA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PREL BM SUBJECT: BURMA: SUPPORTING ASEAN'S ROLE IN THE TCG REF: RANGOON 448 RANGOON 00000883 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4 (b and d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Tripartite Core Group (TCG),established by the UN, ASEAN, and the Burmese Government after Cyclone Nargis, has effectively worked to improve disaster assistance coordination and resolve operational issues related to assistance delivery to cyclone-affected areas. The TCG's mandate expires in July 2009. While Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu, who also acts as TCG co-chair, has indicated privately his willingness to continue the TCG mechanism, and maybe even expand it, he notes that any request to continue TCG operations after July must come from the international community -- and would have to be approved by the regime's top leadership. Visiting World Bank officials commented this week that ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan would be the ideal person to push for the extension of the TCG, but noted that Surin needs assurance of donor countries' support. Embassy Rangoon recommends the USG endorse ASEAN's role in the TCG mechanism and encourage ASEAN to raise with the GOB the usefulness of extending and expanding the TCG's role in Burma. End Summary. Improving Coordination through the TCG -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In an effort to improve coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance following Cyclone Nargis, the UN, ASEAN, and the Burmese Government in late May established the TCG mechanism. ASEAN and the Burmese Government co-chair the TCG, which has effectively responded to operational issues, such as visas, access, and currency exchange restrictions, that impeded the delivery of assistance to the Delta immediately after the cyclone (Reftel). Through the TCG, the UN and ASEAN conducted a Post Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) in June; more than 300 experts traveled to more than 100 villages to assess the overall impact of Cyclone Nargis. Working through the TCG, ASEAN and the UN also received permission to conduct four periodic reviews (PONREPPs) of Delta recovery and aid effectiveness. TCG participants universally praise the TCG mechanism, and many see it as a novel and successful means of interacting with and influencing GOB officials on assistance in the Delta. Need to Extend the Mechanism -------------- ¶3. (C) According to the UN, the TCG mechanism will expire in July, after the UN and ASEAN conclude the PONREPP process. Donors, UN representatives, and others continue to emphasize the need to extend the TCG mechanism for the Delta, as disaster recovery efforts will continue well after July 2009. Additionally, donors and NGOs here in Burma have expressed a desire for the expansion of the TCG mandate to encompass areas beyond the Delta. During a November 10 meeting with Senate Appropriations Committee Staffer Paul Grove, Deputy Foreign Minster Kyaw Thu said he would be willing to continue the TCG and can envision implementing an expanded mandate if tasked to do so. He personally sees no problem in accomplishing such broader duties if tasked; but he is not in a position to raise the issue to his superiors. This RANGOON 00000883 002.4 OF 002 response was a bit more encouraging than Kyaw Thu's non-committal reaction when the Charge raised the same issue in an initial courtesy call in October. ¶4. (C) In a November 10 meeting with Charge, visiting World Bank official Sarah Cliffe expressed support for an extension of the TCG, but said she had also heard from Kyaw Thu that any push would need to come from the international community. Cliffe suggested ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan is the best person to lead that push, given the importance of ASEAN in the process. Cliffe said, however, that not all ASEAN members are on board; some countries (she did not indicate which ones but was most likely referring to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) view participation in the TCG as outside of ASEAN's mandate. Cliffe said Surin needs to know that other donors, such as the United States, not only support ASEAN's efforts with regard to the TCG but also see the need for these efforts to continue. If the international community supports ASEAN's role in the TCG, Surin can work to persuade ASEAN members of the need for continued involvement in the TCG process. Only then will ASEAN be able to approach the GOB about extending the TCG, she argued. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) From our viewpoint, the TCG has been successful in ensuring the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance, including by streamlining the approval process for visas and access to the Delta, fixing currency exchange restrictions and establishing a standing forum to address the myriad difficulties associated with operating in Burma. We agree that the TCG mechanism for the Delta should continue after July 2009, and that the TCG or some similar mechanism should be adopted for other areas in Burma where foreign assistance flows. We also agree that ASEAN, supported by the UN and other donors, seems best positioned to request an extension of the TCG mechanism. ASEAN will host a summit meeting on December 15 in Bangkok, where the first PONREPP findings will be released. Embassy Rangoon recommends the Department reaffirm support for ASEAN's role in the TCG process and encourage Secretary General Surin to push for an extension of the TCG before or at the December 15 meeting. DINGER