BRUNEI SUPPORTIVE OF TCG EFFORTS IN BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000069 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS/SCHEIBEL, EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG DEPARTMENT PASS FOR NSC/PHUE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2014 TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM PREL BM BX SUBJECT: BRUNEI SUPPORTIVE OF TCG EFFORTS IN BURMA REF: SECSTATE 27325 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires John W. McIntyre for Reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Per Reftel, CDA McIntyre noted USG concerns regarding adverse actions taken by the Burmese government against the Tripartite Core Group's (TCG) existing authority in a March 26th meeting with Government of Brunei (GoB) officials. CDA urged GoB to discourage the recent restrictive conditions that have been placed on international NGOs by speaking directly with the Burmese government. Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director, Politics I, Haji Mulok Jamat, and Burma Desk officer, Shahrul Anaz Haji Ismail, said Brunei supports the efforts of the TCG in Burma. When asked if the GoB will speak directly with the Burmese government, Jamat stated the GoB preferred to address the issue in regional summits, such as the upcoming ASEAN Plus 3 and East Asia summit. Both suggested that while Brunei fully supports the TCG efforts, the GoB will evaluate discussions during upcoming regional summits to determine future GoB's positions in regards to the TCG. MCINTYRE