BURMA - BANNING IMPORTS OF GEMS AND HARDWOODS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000103 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018 TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM ETTC SN BM SUBJECT: BURMA - BANNING IMPORTS OF GEMS AND HARDWOODS REF: A. STATE 5276 ¶B. SINGAPORE 67 Classified By: Econ/Pol Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) MFA Director for Southeast Asia Peter Tan reiterated Singapore's position that it opposes sanctions against Burma, in response to ref A demarche we delivered on January 25. He said he would pass our points to his superiors, but indicated Singapore would not adopt an import ban on Burmese gems and hardwoods. ASEAN has concluded that there is little else it can do as an organization to push Burma in a positive direction after its efforts failed during the ASEAN Summit in Singapore last November. UN Special Envoy Gambari's ongoing effort to engage the Burmese regime remains our best hope, Director Tan asserted. Burma does not want ASEAN involved, so we will "leave it" to Gambari. ¶2. (C) Econ/Pol Chief argued that, even if ASEAN faces constraints on its collective actions, individual countries need to keep the pressure on Burma. The regime may be recalcitrant, but efforts such as targeted financial sanctions recently imposed by the United States are affecting the junta's ability to maneuver and send a strong signal of international disapproval, he said. Director Tan responded that sanctions will have limited impact without the support of larger regional players like China, India, and Japan. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm HERBOLD