BURMA DOMINATES ASEAN-EU MINISTERIAL DISCUSSIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000363

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL CB
SUBJECT: BURMA DOMINATES ASEAN-EU MINISTERIAL DISCUSSIONS
IN CAMBODIA


1. (SBU) Summary: Cambodia hosted the 17th ASEAN-EU
Ministerial meeting held in Phnom Penh May 27 ) 28, in which
a strong statement was issued calling for the release of Aung
San Suu Kyi (ASSK). Although a wide range of issues were
discussed, to include climate change, infectious diseases,
terrorism and human trafficking, ASSK and Burmese human
rights violations monopolized news conferences, informal
meetings, and even formal discussions during the two day
meeting. Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister addressed critics
and spoke out for the first time on ASSK's trial. Prime
Minister Hun Sen, who spoke at the opening ceremony, steered
clear of the controversy. However, by carefully worded
statements to the press as well as the issuance of a joint
ASAN-EU statement, Cambodia and other ASEAN countries have
taken what appears to be a tougher stance against their rogue
neighbor. End Summary.

Mounting Pressure
--------------


2. (SBU) Twenty-seven European and ten Southeast Asian
foreign ministers gathered together in Phnom Penh this week
for the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial. The ministerial was
intended to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the EU in
areas such as trade, transnational crime, health and the
environment. However, the atmosphere was described by
foreign diplomats as exceptionally tense due to the looming
question of ASSK's future, which has served to highlight the
long history of human rights abuses by the Burmese
government. Although peaceful overall, local news sources
reported approximately 100 demonstrators gathered outside the
Burmese embassy in Phnom Penh May 27 to demand the release of
ASSK and the end of repression in Burma, urging ASEAN leaders
to expel Burma from the regional alliance.


3. (SBU) In conversations with Poloff, EU diplomats called
the discussions on Burma, which began with a strong statement
by the UK, as "quite hard." The UK and other EU ministers'
use of "Burma" and refusal to refer to it as "Myanmar"
provoked repeated objections by the Burmese Deputy Foreign
Minister Maung Myint. For the first time since ASSK's
arrest, Maung Myint reacted to mounting international
pressure by speaking at length on the topic. He stated that
his country does not accept pressure and interference from
abroad and went on to accuse the junta's critics of
threatening "Myanmar's sovereignty," stating that ASSK's
trial "is an internal legal issue, and it is not a human
rights issue."

ASEAN Reaction
--------------


4. (SBU) Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told local
reporters that it was the EU, not ASEAN members, who insisted
on focusing on Burma. He nevertheless expressed his hope
that Burma would move ahead in the democratization process.
Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong previously
stated that "the stand of our government is that it hopes
Mrs. Suu Kyi will be found innocent of these accusations and
that she will not receive any additional punishment, because
she has been punished already." Thai Foreign Minister Kasit
Piromya said he respected Burma's insistence on
non-interference. According to a Western diplomat at the
meeting, Singaporean delegate Zainul Abidin Rasheed stated
that "EU is a union of values ) but ASEAN is not. Instead,
diversity is, if not encouraged, at least agreed." The
Singaporean delegate later stated that ASEAN prefers
engagement as opposed to sanctions and isolation when dealing
with Burma. However, nine ASEAN ministers stood alongside
their EU counterparts to urge Burma to free all political
prisoners including ASSK at the end of the ministerial. In a
discussion with Poloff, opposition Sam Rainsy Party MP Son
Chhay praised ASEAN for the stance it took on Burma, calling
the ASEAN-EU statement "strong and clear."

Objection
--------------


5. (SBU) A nine-page joint statement was released at the
close of the meeting which called on the Burmese government
to conduct the multi-party general election in 2010 in a free
and fair manner. It also called for the early release of
those under detention and the lifting of restrictions on
political parties. Western diplomats stated that Burma
rejected portions of the statement and "adamantly refused any
text related to the EU envoy Mr. Fassino whatsoever." Burmese
officials demanded their objections, which were added as a
footnote to the final declaration, be officially recorded.

PHNOM PENH 00000363 002 OF 002




6. (SBU) Comment: Cambodia sees itself as a potential bridge
to Burma, should ASEAN ever be tapped to play a more central
role in Burma's reform and democratization. Until then, the
RGC will go along with joint ASEAN statements calling for the
Burmese junta to free prisoners and hold open elections. End
Comment.
RODLEY