Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR98
2009-02-12 10:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA MFA COMMENTS ON BURMA AT ASEAN SUMMIT
how-toVZCZCXRO9958 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0098 0431051 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121051Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2336 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000098
SIPDIS
FOR EAP, PRM AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA MFA COMMENTS ON BURMA AT ASEAN SUMMIT
Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 b and
d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000098
SIPDIS
FOR EAP, PRM AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA MFA COMMENTS ON BURMA AT ASEAN SUMMIT
Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 b and
d.
1. (C) Polcouns met with Malaysian Foreign Ministry Deputy
Director General for ASEAN Sudha Devi on February 12 and
raised the issue of Burma at the upcoming ASEAN summit.
Sudha told Polcouns that Burma was not a formal agenda item
for the ASEAN summit, as ASEAN won't "shame" members this
way. However, Sudha indicated that Burma could be the
subject of bilateral discussions. Sudha said that ASEAN
members would likely focus on post-Nargis relief and
rehabilitation efforts, which provided a good example of
ASEAN's ability to facilitate Burma's cooperation with the
rest of the outside world. He noted that a Thai proposal for
a side meeting on the Rohingya will be discussed first in the
Senior Officials Meeting, but that Malaysia had no position
and was not yet committed to this idea. Sudha confided that
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim's evasion of a direct question on
the Rohingya in a recent media interview was an indication of
the sensitivity of this matter in Malaysia.
ASEAN Human Rights Body
--------------
2. (C) Sudha said that with regards to the ASEAN human rights
body, the terms of reference would be discussed at the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers meeting. ASEAN members intended to
finalize the TOR by July 2009. Sudha explained that the
human rights body would be a product of compromise and
consensus. As a result, its mandate would not be intrusive
and would not include a monitoring function. The human
rights body would remain in the "comfort zone" of all
members, an approach Malaysia fully endorsed.
KEITH
SIPDIS
FOR EAP, PRM AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA MFA COMMENTS ON BURMA AT ASEAN SUMMIT
Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 b and
d.
1. (C) Polcouns met with Malaysian Foreign Ministry Deputy
Director General for ASEAN Sudha Devi on February 12 and
raised the issue of Burma at the upcoming ASEAN summit.
Sudha told Polcouns that Burma was not a formal agenda item
for the ASEAN summit, as ASEAN won't "shame" members this
way. However, Sudha indicated that Burma could be the
subject of bilateral discussions. Sudha said that ASEAN
members would likely focus on post-Nargis relief and
rehabilitation efforts, which provided a good example of
ASEAN's ability to facilitate Burma's cooperation with the
rest of the outside world. He noted that a Thai proposal for
a side meeting on the Rohingya will be discussed first in the
Senior Officials Meeting, but that Malaysia had no position
and was not yet committed to this idea. Sudha confided that
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim's evasion of a direct question on
the Rohingya in a recent media interview was an indication of
the sensitivity of this matter in Malaysia.
ASEAN Human Rights Body
--------------
2. (C) Sudha said that with regards to the ASEAN human rights
body, the terms of reference would be discussed at the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers meeting. ASEAN members intended to
finalize the TOR by July 2009. Sudha explained that the
human rights body would be a product of compromise and
consensus. As a result, its mandate would not be intrusive
and would not include a monitoring function. The human
rights body would remain in the "comfort zone" of all
members, an approach Malaysia fully endorsed.
KEITH