URGING ASEAN ON BURMA: THAILAND TO ENGAGE BURMA ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002683 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS - LAURA SCHEIBE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH BM SUBJECT: URGING ASEAN ON BURMA: THAILAND TO ENGAGE BURMA ON 2010 ELECTIONS AT ASEAN SUMMIT REF: STATE 108210 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires a.i. James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The Charge October 20 conveyed reftel points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Americas and South Pacific Director-General Chirachai Punkrasin. Chirachai told the Charge that the RTG realized the seriousness of the new U.S. effort on Burma and would do all it could to urge the Burmese to respond seriously. Chirachai suggested that it would be beneficial if U.S. officials would stop in Bangkok after their planned visit to Burma in order to review for the RTG the outcome of the meetings. ¶2. (C) Poloff separately October 20 conveyed reftel points to Jirusaya Birananda of the MFA's Department of East Asian Affairs. Poloff emphasized USG commitment to a serious process of engagement and underscored the importance of Burma seizing the opportunity to improve its international standing by beginning real dialogue with all elements of the Burmese political spectrum. Jirusaya responded that the RTG viewed as a positive step the U.S. policy of engagement with the Burmese regime. The Thai government welcomed a planned visit to Burma by U.S. officials and the Ministry looked forward to learning the outcomes of the meetings. Noting that Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein would attend the ASEAN Summit, Jirusaya stated that Thailand planned to engage Thein on strengthening capacity building for the 2010 elections and push for more information about the readiness of the Burmese electoral infrastructure. Jirusaya commented that ASEAN was willing to assist Burma with the elections, but would need more information about the "Road Map to Democracy", election law, and whether the elections would include all political parties. Jirusaya opined that it was less likely that the elections would occur in March as the GOB had originally planned. A more likely time for the election would be after the end of the rain season in Burma. This could better allow for an inclusive political process, Jirusaya predicted. ENTWISTLE