SINGAPORE SENIOR MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS IMPLICATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000566

SIPDIS

EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE SENIOR MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS IMPLICATIONS
TO BURMESE IF AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS CONVICTED

Classified By: CDA Daniel Shields for Reasons 1.4 (B and D)


1. (C) Summary: Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
pointed out to Burma Senior General Than Shwe during a June
8-11 visit to Burma that there would be negative foreign
policy implications should Burma convict Aung San Suu Kyi
(ASSK),according to a Singapore MFA briefing. Goh, noting
his "personal relationship" with Than, said he hoped to use
his visit to impress upon Burma's leadership the seriousness
with which the outside world views the ASSK trial. Goh told
Than that Singapore hoped Burma's 2010 elections would be
fair, transparent and inclusive. He added that Singapore
hoped the Burmese government would allow all political
parties to participate in the election and that ASSK would be
allowed to lead her party during the elections. Goh also met
with, and was unimpressed by, the Regional Commanders of
Rangoon, Mandalay and Taunggyi. During a visit to the
Irrawaddy Delta, Goh urged that Burma allow the Tripartite
Core Group (TCG) to continue to conduct post-Nargis
humanitarian relief efforts. End Summary.

No Bad News Allowed
--------------


2. (C) Singapore speculates that Burma's leaders may
sometimes be unaware of international criticism of Burma, as
lower ranking officials may water down the presentation of
negative news so as to avoid upsetting Burma's leadership,
MFA Southeast Asia Deputy Director Foo Chi Hsia told Poloff
and several Western diplomats in a June 16 briefing on Goh's
visit to Burma. (Note: Post requested a readout from MFA
Second Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan, who asked that
Post get the readout from Foo, who accompanied Goh on the
trip. End Note.) Goh viewed his visit to Burma as a means
to open a direct line of communication with Burma's top
leaders. Than Shwe and the next four highest ranking leaders
of the Burmese State Peace and Development Council all
attended the Goh meeting, Foo said. Goh told Than that many
countries are closely watching ASSK's trial and "despite the
issue being a Burmese internal matter, a conviction could
have negative foreign policy implications for Burma," Foo
said. Goh told Than the United States is currently reviewing
its policy towards Burma, likely with an eye towards greater
U.S. engagement with the regime, but an ASSK conviction could
preclude a positive U.S. policy shift. Goh suggested that
even if ASSK is convicted, Burma might find it advantageous
to "make a gesture."


3. (C) Goh told Than Singapore hopes that Burma's 2010
elections will be fair, transparent and inclusive. Goh said
that regardless of the result of ASSK's trial, Singapore
hopes the Burmese government will allow ASSK to lead her
party during the elections and that all political parties
will be allowed to participate in the process.


4. (C) Than reacted fairly well to Goh's frank statements,
Foo said. Than listened intently and "did not get up and
walk out," she said. Than assured Goh that the 2010
elections would be free and fair. He labeled ASSK as
"obstructionist" and blamed her for the international
sanctions against Burma. He said that if ASSK called for the
international community to lift sanctions, Burma's leadership
might be willing to engage in discussions with her. Goh
repeated for Than the message ASSK gave to Singapore's
Ambassador to Burma in which she called for national
reconciliation, Foo said.


5. (C) Than said Burma would continue with its plan to carry
out the Seven-Step Roadmap. Goh suggested that an eighth
step be added to rescind the requirement that one quarter of
the parliament be represented by the military. Than replied
that once elected, the parliament would have the power to
enact such changes if it deemed them necessary.

Don't Worry, the Swimmer was Disturbed, but Probably Not CIA
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Foo said Goh also took the opportunity to suggest to
Than that the American who swam to ASSK's house was likely
just a disturbed individual and not part of any CIA plot, as
had been rumored in the Burmese press.


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A New Generation of Uninspiring Leaders
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7. (C) In an effort to court Burma's next (potential)
generation of leaders, Goh sought out and received meetings
with the Regional Military Commanders of Rangoon, Mandalay
and Taunggyi, Foo said. The Commanders were an unimpressive
group, focused only on "maintaining peace and security," Foo
said. The commanders had almost no experience with the world
outside Burma (although one had previously traveled to the
United States) or life outside the Burmese military, Foo
lamented.


Pitch for TCG
--------------


8. (C) Goh took the opportunity, at the commemoration of a
Singapore-funded hospital in the Irrawaddy Delta, to publicly
highlight the importance of Tripartite Core Group's (TCG)
work in providing post-Nargis humanitarian relief to Burma
and to call for a continuation of the TCG's humanitarian
effort there.

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
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