BURMA-KNU: THAI MEDIATION EFFORTS STARTING IN EARNEST

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/3/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM TH
SUBJECT: BURMA-KNU: THAI MEDIATION EFFORTS STARTING IN EARNEST

REF: A. BANGKOK 841 (ABHISIT ADMINISTRATION)

B. BANGKOK 815 (THAI FM KASIT'S BURMA VISIT)

C. BANGKOK 770 (THAI RESPONSE TO TCG)

D. BANGKOK 721 (THAILAND'S BURMA POLICY)

E. CHIANG MAI 37 (KNU UNDER INCREASED PRESSURE)

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CLASSIFIED BY: Alex Barrasso, Chief, Pol/Econ, CG Chiang Mai.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



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Summary and Comment
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1. (C) Thailand's offer to serve as an intermediary between the
Burmese regime and the Karen National Union (KNU),which have
been waging low-level conflict for over 50 years, will start in
earnest on April 6 with a meeting between Thai FM Kasit and top
KNU leaders. According to our contact, in accordance with
Kasit's meeting with Burmese PM Thein Sein during his March
22-23 visit to Burma (Refs B-D),Kasit's goal is to broker talks
between the regime and the KNU "as soon as possible," without
preconditions.


2. (C) Comment: The April 6 meeting demonstrates Thailand's
sincerity to play a constructive role in reconciliation between
the Burmese regime and the KNU. Although Kasit's willingness to
mediate is no doubt motivated at least in part by a desire to
strengthen Thai control over the porous, troubled border region,
his personal engagement is a positive sign, as are both his and
PM Abhisit's March 27-28 comments to Burmese exiles about their
views on Thailand's priorities for Burma (para 5 below). We
will stay in touch with KNU and other exile contacts to track
the progress of the talks. End Summary and Comment.

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Exiles Meet Thai Ministers, Broker Talks
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3. (C) According to the NLDLA's (National League for Democracy
Liberated Areas) Nyo Myint, who met both PM Abhisit and FM Kasit
at the March 27 Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD --
Ref A),FM Kasit will meet two of the KNU's top three leaders on
April 6. Nyo Myint emphasized that he was sharing this
information with us at the request of the KNU's Vice Chairman,
who was unable to travel to Chiang Mai himself. According to
Nyo Myint, who brokered the April 6 meeting with the assistance
of the NCUB's (National Council of the Union of Burma -- an
umbrella organization of Burmese exile groups) Maung Maung at
Kasit's request, Kasit's main goal is to arrange direct talks
between the Burmese regime and the KNU at the earliest possible
date. These talks would take place with no preconditions in
accordance with discussions between FM Kasit and PM Thein Sein
during the former's March 22-23 visit to Burma (Refs B-D).


4. (C) On April 3, Kasit's personal assistant told Embassy
Bangkok that the meeting would take place in Bangkok and be
"private," with none of the MFA's "Burma team" in attendance.
Also on April 3, the KNU's Intelligence Chief confirmed to the
Consulate that a KNU delegation would attend the meeting, adding
that the group was still determining who would represent it at
the encounter.


5. (C) According to Nyo Myint, at the March 27 CALD event, PM
Abhisit told him he wanted ASEAN to focus on two goals for
Burma: the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners;
and the start of an inclusive political process. For his part,
FM Kasit made extensive remarks on Burma in his opening address
to the gathering. At a private March 28 follow-on meeting, Nyo
Myint said Kasit emphasized his desire to expand his mediation
role beyond the KNU, and to work toward genuine national
reconciliation.

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What About ASSK?
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6. (C) Nyo Myint related that on March 28, Kasit told him
Burmese PM Thein Sein:


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-- said the SPDC did not view Aung San Suu Kyi as an enemy; and

-- asked Kasit to "find out what she wants and needs" (though
without directly offering Kasit an opportunity to meet with her).


7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassies Bangkok and
Rangoon.
MORROW