Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR840
2009-10-22 09:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA: URGING ASEAN TO PRESS BURMA ON NEXT
how-toVZCZCXRO5586 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0840 2950945 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220945Z OCT 09 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3292 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2836 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0663 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1137
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000840
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CLASSIFIED BY AND REASON ADDED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: URGING ASEAN TO PRESS BURMA ON NEXT
STEPS
REF: STATE 108210 -- DEMARCHE REQUEST: BURMA STEPS
Classfied By: DCM Rapson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000840
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CLASSIFIED BY AND REASON ADDED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: URGING ASEAN TO PRESS BURMA ON NEXT
STEPS
REF: STATE 108210 -- DEMARCHE REQUEST: BURMA STEPS
Classfied By: DCM Rapson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) DCM Rapson conveyed reftel demarche points to MFA
Under Secretary for Southeast Asia Affairs (Burma, Cambodia,
Laos, Vietnam),Mohammed Sadik Gany, on October 22. The DCM
briefly outlined our new policy approach towards Burma and
the constructive steps we have taken over the past month to
promote a dialogue and engagement with the regime that
hopefully leads to meaningful domestic political reforms in
Burma. The DCM urged Malaysia to join its ASEAN colleagues
at this weekend,s ASEAN summit in Thailand in pressing the
regime, both publicly and privately, to initiate a genuine
dialogue with the Burmese opposition and ethnic minorities in
the run-up to the 2010 general elections. Relaxation of Aung
San Suu Kyi,s terms of confinement would be a good place to
start, he noted.
2. (C) Gany welcomed the shift in US policy towards
engagement with the Burmese, indicating that this was the
approach that Malaysia and others in the region have been
advocating for some time. The US shift, he argued, will help
bolster ASEAN,s efforts to nudge the regime on reform. He
pointed to the regime,s recent granting of permission for
ASSK to meet with western envoys as a small step forward.
The DCM concurred, but said more is needed from the Burmese.
Gany noted interest in some ASEAN circles, including
Malaysia, to ramp up economic assistance to Myanmar given the
political changes underway. The DCM reiterated that US
sanctions will remain in place for the foreseeable future
while dialogue proceeds. Gany said Malaysia and others in
ASEAN would likely be responsive to any request from the
regime for material support to help conduct next year,s
general election.
3. (C) Gany thanked the DCM for our timely intervention.
He noted that there was sufficient time to get the USG points
and demarche recommendations into the Foreign Minister and
Prime Minister,s briefing books for the weekend summit,
although he gave no indication of how they might be used. He
did refer to statements earlier this year by Prime Minister
Najib and Foreign Minister Anifah as indicative of a firmer,
higher profile stance Malaysia has taken on Burma. The DCM
said the upcoming US-ASEAN summit in Singapore will be
another opportunity to jointly prod the Burmese on political
reforms.
KEITH
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CLASSIFIED BY AND REASON ADDED)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: URGING ASEAN TO PRESS BURMA ON NEXT
STEPS
REF: STATE 108210 -- DEMARCHE REQUEST: BURMA STEPS
Classfied By: DCM Rapson for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) DCM Rapson conveyed reftel demarche points to MFA
Under Secretary for Southeast Asia Affairs (Burma, Cambodia,
Laos, Vietnam),Mohammed Sadik Gany, on October 22. The DCM
briefly outlined our new policy approach towards Burma and
the constructive steps we have taken over the past month to
promote a dialogue and engagement with the regime that
hopefully leads to meaningful domestic political reforms in
Burma. The DCM urged Malaysia to join its ASEAN colleagues
at this weekend,s ASEAN summit in Thailand in pressing the
regime, both publicly and privately, to initiate a genuine
dialogue with the Burmese opposition and ethnic minorities in
the run-up to the 2010 general elections. Relaxation of Aung
San Suu Kyi,s terms of confinement would be a good place to
start, he noted.
2. (C) Gany welcomed the shift in US policy towards
engagement with the Burmese, indicating that this was the
approach that Malaysia and others in the region have been
advocating for some time. The US shift, he argued, will help
bolster ASEAN,s efforts to nudge the regime on reform. He
pointed to the regime,s recent granting of permission for
ASSK to meet with western envoys as a small step forward.
The DCM concurred, but said more is needed from the Burmese.
Gany noted interest in some ASEAN circles, including
Malaysia, to ramp up economic assistance to Myanmar given the
political changes underway. The DCM reiterated that US
sanctions will remain in place for the foreseeable future
while dialogue proceeds. Gany said Malaysia and others in
ASEAN would likely be responsive to any request from the
regime for material support to help conduct next year,s
general election.
3. (C) Gany thanked the DCM for our timely intervention.
He noted that there was sufficient time to get the USG points
and demarche recommendations into the Foreign Minister and
Prime Minister,s briefing books for the weekend summit,
although he gave no indication of how they might be used. He
did refer to statements earlier this year by Prime Minister
Najib and Foreign Minister Anifah as indicative of a firmer,
higher profile stance Malaysia has taken on Burma. The DCM
said the upcoming US-ASEAN summit in Singapore will be
another opportunity to jointly prod the Burmese on political
reforms.
KEITH