Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK3013
2009-11-27 06:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND: PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO1295 PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #3013 3310655 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 270655Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9114 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2136 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7736 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 6009 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0208 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 7344 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003013
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAILAND: PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
REF: A. STATE 121789
B. BANGKOK 2851
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003013
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAILAND: PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
REF: A. STATE 121789
B. BANGKOK 2851
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) EAP DAS Marciel briefed Thai FM Kasit and the
Bangkok-based Burma watcher crowd of host government
officials, diplomats, journalists, and activists November 5
immediately after the November 3-4 visit of EAP A/S Campbell
and Marciel to Burma; his messages included the need for
Thailand and ASEAN in general to continue to press for
genuine dialogue in Burma (ref B). Subsequent to the
November 15 U.S.-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in Singapore, we met
with MFA Director for Burma, Laos, and Cambodia Pitchayaphant
Charnbhumidol November 18 to review results of both the
Campbell/Marciel trip and the U.S.-ASEAN meeting, reinforce
U.S. policy priorities vis-a-vis Burma, and reiterate the
points raised in Ref A.
2. (C) Pitchayaphant underscored Thai support for a dialogue
with the Burmese democratic opposition and ethnic groups -
the latter a particular long-time concern of Thailand due to
the large-scale refugee presence in Thailand near its border
with Burma for nearly 20 years, since 1990. As a sign of
Thai support for dialogue, Pitchayaphant noted that, in PM
Abhisit's recent meeting with Burmese PM Thein Sein on the
margins of the October 23-25 ASEAN summit, Abhisit had
reiterated his desire to see Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) in his
long-delayed visit to Burma. To our knowledge, Abhisit's
request to meet ASSK may be a first from an ASEAN head of
government. Pitchayaphant gave no indication when such a
trip, initially planned for June, might transpire, lamenting:
"the Burmese may have facilitated meetings for U.S. officials
with ASSK on your terms and on relatively short notice, but
they are much less accommodating to us."
JOHN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH BM
SUBJECT: THAILAND: PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
REF: A. STATE 121789
B. BANGKOK 2851
Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) EAP DAS Marciel briefed Thai FM Kasit and the
Bangkok-based Burma watcher crowd of host government
officials, diplomats, journalists, and activists November 5
immediately after the November 3-4 visit of EAP A/S Campbell
and Marciel to Burma; his messages included the need for
Thailand and ASEAN in general to continue to press for
genuine dialogue in Burma (ref B). Subsequent to the
November 15 U.S.-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in Singapore, we met
with MFA Director for Burma, Laos, and Cambodia Pitchayaphant
Charnbhumidol November 18 to review results of both the
Campbell/Marciel trip and the U.S.-ASEAN meeting, reinforce
U.S. policy priorities vis-a-vis Burma, and reiterate the
points raised in Ref A.
2. (C) Pitchayaphant underscored Thai support for a dialogue
with the Burmese democratic opposition and ethnic groups -
the latter a particular long-time concern of Thailand due to
the large-scale refugee presence in Thailand near its border
with Burma for nearly 20 years, since 1990. As a sign of
Thai support for dialogue, Pitchayaphant noted that, in PM
Abhisit's recent meeting with Burmese PM Thein Sein on the
margins of the October 23-25 ASEAN summit, Abhisit had
reiterated his desire to see Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) in his
long-delayed visit to Burma. To our knowledge, Abhisit's
request to meet ASSK may be a first from an ASEAN head of
government. Pitchayaphant gave no indication when such a
trip, initially planned for June, might transpire, lamenting:
"the Burmese may have facilitated meetings for U.S. officials
with ASSK on your terms and on relatively short notice, but
they are much less accommodating to us."
JOHN