Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK1315
2009-06-02 09:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI SENATORS ASK GENERAL THAN SHWE TO RELEASE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001315
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAI SENATORS ASK GENERAL THAN SHWE TO RELEASE
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
BANGKOK 00001315 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001315
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAI SENATORS ASK GENERAL THAN SHWE TO RELEASE
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
BANGKOK 00001315 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 (d).
1. (SBU) Thirty Thai Senators, led by Bangkok Senator Rosana
Tositrakul, signed a May 25 letter to the Burmese State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) Chairman Senior General Than
Shwe, requesting that the GOB free Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK)
and create a better democratic environment in Burma. The
thirty senators who signed the letter are a politically
diverse group, including leaders of senatorial committees
such as Foreign Relations, Political Development, Human
Rights, Education, Public Health Committee Chairmen, and
some, such as Rosana, who have a background in NGO work.
Some of the 30 hold Senate seats by virtue of direct
election, while others hold seats because of Senate Selection
Committee action.
2. (SBU) Citing "the declining dignity" of Burma under Than
Shwe, the letter underscored that the continued detention of
ASSK has generated negative reactions among human rights
advocates worldwide. The Senators cautioned the GOB by
noting that human rights violations and political violence in
Burma will have serious consequences. They stated that as a
result of Burma's human rights violations and political
violence, Thailand has had to shelter an influx of Burmese
refugees.
3. (C) Comment: The RTG has often been reluctant to criticize
Burma, and the few staunch critics of Burma in the ASEAN
Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus have never seemed to
garner widespread support in the political class. The
Senators' move is therefore a noteworthy departure from the
norm. We intend to contact some of the Senators who signed
the letter to encourage them to continue to speak out, and to
cite this letter to others in the RTG as a positive example
of Thai legislative sentiment toward democratic reform in
Burma. End Comment.
4. (SBU) The original letter, which the Senators provided to
the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, was in Thai. The following
is the text of the body of the letter, as translated by
Senator Rosana's staff.
BEGIN TEXT:
Dear Chairman of State Peace and Development Council,
-In reference to the arrest and prosecution of Mrs. Aung San
Suu Kyi on the charge of violation of house arrest by the
Myanmar authorities on May 14, the incident has caused
serious concern among the world community and ASEAN,
including Thailand, regarding the issue of human rights and
the political legitimacy of the Government of Myanmar under
the leadership of your Excellency.
-Earlier, it was expected by people the world over who
appreciate human rights that this pro-democracy leader of
Myanmar will have her taste of freedom on May 27 after having
spent 13 years under house arrest in her own home. This was
despite the fact that her NLD party on the general election
in 1990 by a landslide.
-Hence, it came as no surprise why any attempt by the
Government of Myanmar to continue to curtail the freedom of
Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi has generated widespread reactions
among aspirants for freedom and human rights advocates across
the world.
-Your Excellency, please be aware that the Union of Myanmar
is not alone, but has to co-exist with dignity within ASEAN.
It is also a member of the United Nations. Human rights
violations and political violence in Myanmar will cause
serious consequences toward the world community which upholds
the International Convention of Human Rights of the United
Nations and especially toward the Kingdom of Thailand which
has to bear the burden of sheltering refugees from Myanmar
whose number is increasing due to the political violence in
Myanmar.
-In our capacity as members of the Senate as shown in the
attached name list, we wish to convey to Your Excellency our
BANGKOK 00001315 002.2 OF 002
concern for the declining dignity of the Government of
Myanmar under your leadership in the eyes of the world
community and your Thai friends.
-As a friend of Myanmar who appreciates the good relationship
between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Union of Myanmar, we
humbly appeal to Your Excellency to consider freeing Mrs.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, very soon in order
to restore the confidence toward the issue of human rights in
the Government of Myanmar and to create a democratic
atmosphere in Myanmar.
-Your Excellency's judgment in this regard will doubtlessly
bring about political legitimacy and stability for the
government under your leadership.
-We pray that Your Excellency will be willingly receptive to
the friendly appeal of members of the Thai Senate who have
faith that Your Excellency's leadership will pave the way for
the dawning of human rights and democracy in the Union of
Myanmar. Which will mark a new chapter in the political
history of this region.
END TEXT.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAI SENATORS ASK GENERAL THAN SHWE TO RELEASE
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
BANGKOK 00001315 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 (d).
1. (SBU) Thirty Thai Senators, led by Bangkok Senator Rosana
Tositrakul, signed a May 25 letter to the Burmese State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) Chairman Senior General Than
Shwe, requesting that the GOB free Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK)
and create a better democratic environment in Burma. The
thirty senators who signed the letter are a politically
diverse group, including leaders of senatorial committees
such as Foreign Relations, Political Development, Human
Rights, Education, Public Health Committee Chairmen, and
some, such as Rosana, who have a background in NGO work.
Some of the 30 hold Senate seats by virtue of direct
election, while others hold seats because of Senate Selection
Committee action.
2. (SBU) Citing "the declining dignity" of Burma under Than
Shwe, the letter underscored that the continued detention of
ASSK has generated negative reactions among human rights
advocates worldwide. The Senators cautioned the GOB by
noting that human rights violations and political violence in
Burma will have serious consequences. They stated that as a
result of Burma's human rights violations and political
violence, Thailand has had to shelter an influx of Burmese
refugees.
3. (C) Comment: The RTG has often been reluctant to criticize
Burma, and the few staunch critics of Burma in the ASEAN
Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus have never seemed to
garner widespread support in the political class. The
Senators' move is therefore a noteworthy departure from the
norm. We intend to contact some of the Senators who signed
the letter to encourage them to continue to speak out, and to
cite this letter to others in the RTG as a positive example
of Thai legislative sentiment toward democratic reform in
Burma. End Comment.
4. (SBU) The original letter, which the Senators provided to
the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, was in Thai. The following
is the text of the body of the letter, as translated by
Senator Rosana's staff.
BEGIN TEXT:
Dear Chairman of State Peace and Development Council,
-In reference to the arrest and prosecution of Mrs. Aung San
Suu Kyi on the charge of violation of house arrest by the
Myanmar authorities on May 14, the incident has caused
serious concern among the world community and ASEAN,
including Thailand, regarding the issue of human rights and
the political legitimacy of the Government of Myanmar under
the leadership of your Excellency.
-Earlier, it was expected by people the world over who
appreciate human rights that this pro-democracy leader of
Myanmar will have her taste of freedom on May 27 after having
spent 13 years under house arrest in her own home. This was
despite the fact that her NLD party on the general election
in 1990 by a landslide.
-Hence, it came as no surprise why any attempt by the
Government of Myanmar to continue to curtail the freedom of
Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi has generated widespread reactions
among aspirants for freedom and human rights advocates across
the world.
-Your Excellency, please be aware that the Union of Myanmar
is not alone, but has to co-exist with dignity within ASEAN.
It is also a member of the United Nations. Human rights
violations and political violence in Myanmar will cause
serious consequences toward the world community which upholds
the International Convention of Human Rights of the United
Nations and especially toward the Kingdom of Thailand which
has to bear the burden of sheltering refugees from Myanmar
whose number is increasing due to the political violence in
Myanmar.
-In our capacity as members of the Senate as shown in the
attached name list, we wish to convey to Your Excellency our
BANGKOK 00001315 002.2 OF 002
concern for the declining dignity of the Government of
Myanmar under your leadership in the eyes of the world
community and your Thai friends.
-As a friend of Myanmar who appreciates the good relationship
between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Union of Myanmar, we
humbly appeal to Your Excellency to consider freeing Mrs.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, very soon in order
to restore the confidence toward the issue of human rights in
the Government of Myanmar and to create a democratic
atmosphere in Myanmar.
-Your Excellency's judgment in this regard will doubtlessly
bring about political legitimacy and stability for the
government under your leadership.
-We pray that Your Excellency will be willingly receptive to
the friendly appeal of members of the Thai Senate who have
faith that Your Excellency's leadership will pave the way for
the dawning of human rights and democracy in the Union of
Myanmar. Which will mark a new chapter in the political
history of this region.
END TEXT.
JOHN