DEMARCHE: FRENCH UNSC RESOLUTION ON BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 049813

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: FRENCH UNSC RESOLUTION ON BURMA


Classified By: IO PDAS James Warlick, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) The Department requests action addressees to contact
host governments (with the exception of France) immediately
at an appropriately high level to urge them to consider a
draft resolution prepared by France describing the
humanitarian situation in Burma and calling on the regime to
remove obstacles that are preventing timely and effective
delivery of humanitarian assistance to those who are most in
need (text is at para 7 below). The French indicated that if
there is no progress, they are prepared to introduce this
resolution at a meeting of the UN Security Council, possibly
as early as May 12. Action addressees should note that the
humanitarian situation in Burma continues to deteriorate
rapidly, which could require the Council to act expeditiously
on humanitarian grounds.

OBJECTIVES
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2. (SBU) The Department requests addressees to pursue the
following objectives in the demarche:

-- Convey our deep concern about the present humanitarian
situation in those parts of Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis,
where more than 1.5 million people may be without adequate
shelter, sufficient food and clean water, and in desperate
need of medical attention;

-- Underline the need for the Burmese regime to immediately
allow access to affected areas for UN and international
relief workers in order to provide aid to worst-hit areas;

-- Clarify that this is a distinct need apart from Burmese
willingness to "accept" international aid delivered to the
Rangoon airport;

-- Note that an effective humanitarian response requires more
than the provision of supplies; it requires skilled disaster
personnel whose expertise is urgently needed in order to
develop a response appropriate to the scale of this disaster.
The UN has personnel on the ground, but they are stretched to
the limit.

-- Note that with the humanitarian crisis in the Irrawaddy
delta region of Burma creating a danger of loss of life on a
scale rivaling the 2004 tsunami, it is time for all countries
to put political differences aside and cooperate in providing
humanitarian relief;

-- If the Burmese do not allow delivery of assistance and
access by aid personnel, the U.S. is prepared to support a
French resolution in the Security Council (text below).
Request that Council members support such action.

-- (For Moscow and Beijing, only if they indicate they cannot
support the proposed text) Ask that, if they do not feel they
could support this text, they would at least acknowledge the
dire humanitarian need and consider abstaining should this
resolution come to a vote.

-- (For Paris only) Indicate our support for France's
initiative and our desire to work with them at the UN;

-- (For Jakarta Only) Emphasize our sincere humanitarian
desire to assist people who are suffering. Noting
Indonesia,s recent experience with a natural disaster of
this scale, urge Indonesia to recognize that the situation
requires a response by the Security Council in order to avoid
any further unnecessary loss of lives.

REPORTING DEADLINE
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3. (U) The Department requests action addressees to report
results of their efforts by May 12 by cable slugged for
IO/UNP-Paul Wickberg and EAP/MLS-Aaron Cope and USUN-Jeff
Reneau.

BACKGROUND
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4. (SBU) Latest reports by the Burmese government indicate
over 23,000 dead and 40,000 missing after Cyclone Nargis
impacted southern Burma, the Irrawaddy Delta and Rangoon. UN
sources estimate between 63,000 and 100,000 fatalities, and
some NGO sources estimate double that or even higher, with
over 1.5 million affected, the worst natural disaster since
the 2004 earthquake/tsunami. Partial reports from the
affected areas indicate that several populous delta towns
have almost ceased to exist, and that hundreds of thousands
lack sufficient food, clean water, housing and any form of
medical care.


5. (C) In this crisis, the Burmese military regime's
reactions have been hesitant, inefficient and inadequate.
The regime has refused to issue entry visas to most
humanitarian workers. On May 9, the Burmese military
confiscated its cargo of a World Food Program (WFP) relief
flight. The WFP announced it was suspending further aid
flights until the situation was resolved, but later announced
that two more flights would be dispatched to Burma on May 10,
pending resolution of outstanding delivery and distribution
issues. Meanwhile, U.S. and other aid workers stationed at
Bangkok continued to wait for visas, which Embassy Rangoon
reported could only be issued with the personal permission of
Senior General Than Shwe.


6. (C) The French told USUN on May 9 that they would
introduce a resolution, centered strictly on the humanitarian
situation, and try to get a UNSC emergency meeting to vote on
it. The French subsequently agreed with the P-3 and
like-minded that the resolution should be reserved until we
see whether Burmese behavior in regard to humanitarian
deliveries is obstructive or cooperative. While the
Department sees a possibility that China or Russia could veto
this resolution, in light of their known aversion to UNSC
action on Burma and out of concern that humanitarian issues
represent an inappropriate subject for Council action,
nevertheless we believe an effort to explain our position
should be made. Although South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam
backed China's and Russia's position in expert-level
discussions at the UN this week, the Indonesian Deputy
Permrep told IO May 9 that his country's major concern was
that the tragedy not be politicized, and that it might
support a UN effort on purely humanitarian lines.

DRAFT FRENCH RESOLUTION TEXT
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7. (U) Beginning of text:

The Security Council,

Expressing its utmost sympathy to the people of Myanmar after
the massive loss of life and the destruction suffered in the
wake of Cyclone Nargis, which struck the country on 2 May,

Extending its deepest condolences to the families of those
who have been killed, injured, or made homeless because of
the storm,

Recalling that the primary responsibility in providing
humanitarian assistance to the population affected by the
cyclone belongs to the Government of Myanmar,

Acknowledging that the destruction caused by this natural
disaster is of unprecedented scale and requires massive
international aid to the areas affected,

Welcoming the coordinating role of the United Nations and its
offer to extend necessary assistance and to mobilize
international aid to assist the Government and people of
Myanmar, while deploring the bureaucratic difficulties met by
the UN agencies in providing urgently needed aid,

Expressing concern at the slow response by the Government of
Myanmar to various offers of assistance by the international
community,

Stressing that any further delay in the providing of
international humanitarian assistance to the areas affected
by the cyclone puts the population in grave danger of further
massive loss of life on a massive scale,

Reaffirming its commitment to the independence and
territorial integrity of Myanmar,

OP1. Urges member states to urgently provide emergency
relief, by all means available, to the population in regions
affected by the cyclone, in coordination with the Government
of Myanmar;

OP2. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to grant full and
immediate access to the affected areas to international
humanitarian relief teams so they can provide urgent
assistance to people in need;

OP3. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar to provide
necessary conditions for the immediate resumption of the
delivery of food aid by the World Food Programme;

OP4. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

End of text.
RICE