THAI FM KASIT SENDS LETTER TO BURMESE FM ON ASSK;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001188

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS; NSC FOR PHU, BADER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAI FM KASIT SENDS LETTER TO BURMESE FM ON ASSK;
STATEMENT ON ARREST UNDER CONSIDERATION

REF: SECSTATE 46562

Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Thai Foreign Minister Kasit
Piromya told Ambassador on May 12 that he would engage the
Burmese government on Aung San Suu Kyi's (ASSK) situation, on
behalf of both Thailand and ASEAN. Kasit's personal aide
told us late May 14 that Kasit had signed a letter to the
Burmese FM and instructed his team to coordinate with other
ASEAN countries in anticipation of a possible joint
statement. PQAbhisit's office called the MFA as soon as
reports of ASSK's arrest hit the wires, seeking confirmation
and information about MFA's expected steps. Although
Thailand has often been hesitant to press the GOB on matters
relating to political reform, the RTG and Kasit personally
seem genuinely willing to press the GOB on ASSK and are
concerned with the unfolding events of her current arrest and
detention at Insein prison. Whether the other ASEAN
countries will form any consensus and allow a joint statement
remains an open question; the head of the MFA Burma desk was
skeptical at COB May 14. End Summary and Comment.

FOREIGN MINISTER KASIT SENDS LETTER
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2. (C) Ambassador John conveyed reftel's points in a May 12
telcon with FM Kasit, urging the RTG to press the GOB on the
release of ASSK, as well as her detained personal physician,
Dr. Tin Myo Win. Kasit replied that he agreed and pledged
that he would convey the message to Burmese officials on
behalf of both the RTG and ASEAN in Thailand's capacity as
ASEAN Chair. Kasit's aide told us May 14 that Kasit had
signed a letter to his Burmese counterpart expressing his
concern about ASSK's status.

MFA CONSIDERS A STATEMENT...
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3. (C) We followed up with the MFA's East Asian Affairs/Burma
Office Director Kallayana Vipattipumiprates May 14 after word
of ASSK's arrest appeared on the wires. Kallayana noted that
PM Abhisit's office called him as soon as word of ASSK's
arrest hit the wires, seeking confirmation of the arrest and
inquiring what steps the MFA would take. We later provided a
copy of the Association of Political Prisoners in Burma
(AAPP) statement on ASSK's arrest to Kallayana and Kasit's
aide, who said that FM Kasit, after reading it, instructed
his staff to coordinate a response with fellow ASEAN members.
Kallayana agreed that ASEAN needed to speak clearly on such
a development, particularly in the wake of the ASEAN Charter,
but he expressed skepticism that the Thai would be able to
forge consensus. He said he was drafting material for
Kasit's consideration for use in a statement. Ambassador
will follow up with FM Kasit later May 14 to urge him to
issue a strong statement.

...AND URGES COORDINATED MESSAGE ON BURMA
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4. (C) Speaking more generally, and in the context of various
Burma policy reviews currently underway, Kallayana said that
the MFA hoped the international community could formulate a
common position on Burma and specify what is expected of the
Burmese government, in order more effectively to prompt the
GOB to take positive steps. He said the lack of consensus
allowed the GOB to play various governments off each other.
He agreed, however, that the Burmese government must take the
first positive steps, and that news of ASSK's arrest drove
dynamics in the wrong direction.
JOHN