PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE JUNTA'S LATEST CRACKDOWN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002248 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (SCHEIBE, LAURA) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM KS SUBJECT: PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE JUNTA'S LATEST CRACKDOWN REF: STATE 121418 Classified By: POL M/C Brian D. McFeeters. Reasons 1.4(b/d) ¶1. (C) MOFAT's Director of the Southeast Asia Division Kim Young-chae said in response to reftel demarche that the ROKG's inclination was to take a non-confrontational, indirect approach with Burma. Korea's interactions with Burma were so limited, he said, that he did not see how the ROK, acting alone, could influence the government's behavior. ASEAN, Kim said, was the most effective forum for influencing Burma. ¶2. (C) Kim said the 2010 elections would be an opportunity for the Burmese people to reform the government but pledged to consider our assessment that the government was undermining the 2010 election process by suppressing opposition leaders. He said he would cable our concerns to the ROK embassy in Rangoon and request more information. ¶3. (C) MOFAT's Human Rights and Social Affairs Division confirmed today that the ROK would oppose a no-action motion on the UN human rights resolution on Burma and support the resolution, co-sponsored by the ROK. STEPHENS