OFFICIAL BURMA EWSPAPER ON U.S. ENGAGEMENT THEME

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000483

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DEPT PASS TO USAID, BANGKOK FR USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2019
TAGS: EAD PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL BURMA EWSPAPER ON U.S. ENGAGEMENT THEME

Classified By Charge d'Affaires Larry Dinger for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

Summary
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1. (C) The regimenewspaper "The New Light of Myanmar" ran
a July 1 op-ed suggesting that the Obama Administration's
approach to Burma -- particularly its focus on Aung San Suu
Kyi (ASSK) and its continued endorsement of sanctions -- has
been counter-productive. The op-ed prefers an alternate
course, drawn from a recent article by Ella Gudwin in the
Christian Science Monitor, emphasizing the usefulness of the
USG engaging with the regime, including via humanitarian
assistance intended to relieve suffering and contribute to
"social development." We comment that, in the Burma
political environment, the op-ed's endorsement of engagement
and USG assistance aimed at social-development is worth
noting. End summary.

Critique of Obama Administration Approach toward Burma
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2. (U) A July 31 op-ed in The New Light of Myanmar (NLOM),
the Burma regime's media mouthpiece, is titled "Two different
American views about Myanmar." The author notes Secretary
Clinton's remarks in Phuket seeking positive changes in the
military government, in particular to release ASSK, which
would permit the USG to strengthen bilateral relations,
including by resuming permission for U.S. investment. The
op-ed notes, however, that President Obama on July 25
endorsed a law "to extend the provision to embargo all the
goods from Myanmar. It is disappointing that President Obama
said that he always welcomes those with clenched fists to
shake hands with them, but did sign the extension of the
sanctions designed to deepen the abject misery being faced by
Myanmar people."

Encouragement of USG Engagement, HA for Social Development
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3. (U) The op-ed then turns to an article by Ella Gudwin, a
director at AmeriCares and a member of the Council on Foreign
Relations, in the July 22 Christian Science Monitor. The
NLOM op-ed sketches, selectively, Ms. Gudwin's arguments (we
are e-mailing the full op-ed text to EAP/MLS),and concludes
it is an opportune time for the USG to adopt a new policy
since Cyclone Nargis illustrated that collaborative work with
the regime can be productive. The op-ed notes three of Ms.
Gudwin's prescriptions for a new USG approach: "to encourage
U.S. humanitarian organizations to provide aid for
rehabilitation and social development in Myanmar; to build
trust with medium-ranking officials in favor of reforms
through discussions; and to lay down appropriate programs in
cooperation with the countries interested in Myanmar's
future" such as the PRC, India, and the ASEANs. The op-ed
concludes: "a drop of honey could attract more flies than a
gallon of a certain liquid...."

Comment
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4. (C) In the skewed political environment of Burma, this
op-ed strikes us as a tentative olive branch, publicly
indicating a regime willingness to engage to a certain extent
with the USG if Washington would only stop fixating on the
ASSK issue and would please resist renewing sanctions
policies. The seeming endorsement of USG humanitarian
assistance for "rehabilitation and social development" is
worth noting. Embassy Rangoon sees USG humanitarian
assistance to the people of Burma via the NGO community as a
very important tool for building capacities that can, over
time, contribute to a more democratic future here.
DINGER