ASSK VERDICT: SINGAPORE TEMPERS DISAPPOINTMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000753

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM SN
SUBJECT: ASSK VERDICT: SINGAPORE TEMPERS DISAPPOINTMENT
WITH NOD TO "SIGNIFICANT GESTURES."

REF: A. SECSTATE 83598

B. SINGAPORE 566

Classified By: EP Counselor Joel Ehrendreich for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (C) Economic-Political (EP) Counselor urged Singapore to
publicly express deep concern over Aung San Suu Kyi's (ASSK)
conviction and to press the Burmese government to release
ASSK without conditions (Ref A),during a meeting August 12
with MFA Southeast Asia Director Peter Tan. Tan immediately
referred to MFA's press statement on the verdict, noting that
while Singapore is disappointed in the guilty verdict, it is
heartened by the "significant gesture" of the Burmese
leadership to loosen the restrictions placed upon ASSK as
part of her house arrest. The junta's decision to continue
ASSK's house arrest while loosening her restrictions is a nod
to the concerns of the international community, Tan said. On
the other hand, the leadership does not want ASSK to contest
their authority and keeping her out of the public until the
elections are over is a way to alleviate that concern, he
added. Tan inquired as to whether the verdict would have a
negative impact upon the USG's policy review towards Burma.
EP Counselor replied that while the policy is still under
review in Washington, clearly we were disappointed by this
verdict. Referring to Senior Minister Goh's visit to Burma
in June, where he reportedly delivered a frank personal
message to the junta that emphasized the seriousness with
which the international community views the situation (Ref
B),Tan intimated that Singapore will continue to press Burma
privately for more significant progress.


2. (C) Tan suggested that the junta's "gesture" may be an
opportunity for the international community to nudge Burma
along the road towards allowing fair and transparent
elections in 2010. The Europeans' call for more sanctions
would not have a positive affect upon the junta, who are
unlikely to respond to increased pressure, Tan said. Tan
suggested that the end result of the ASSK trial and verdict
is a return to the status quo. Had the incident not
occurred, the junta would have still found a way of extending
ASSK's house-arrest, and the current outcome is likely the
best that we could hope for, he said. He added that it is
unreasonable to hope the junta would unconditionally release
ASSK, although he suggested the possibility that after the
2010 elections, by which point the junta will have
consolidated its power, the remainder of ASSK's sentence may
be commuted.


3. (C) EP Counselor also expressed support for the Malaysian
Foreign Minister's call for an "urgent" meeting of ASEAN
Foreign Ministers to present the Burmese with a strong,
unified message from ASEAN about the damaging effects of
their actions. Tan replied that while the ASEAN Chair had
already issued a statement expressing deep disappointment
with the verdict, he thought it unlikely ASEAN would issue
any strong condemnations of the verdict. ASEAN statements
require consensus, he said, and Vietnam and Thailand for
example, would not likely support anything other than a weak
statement.


4. (C) An example of the tightrope Singapore walks on the
Burma issue is illustrated in an Op-Ed published in today's
government-influenced Straits Times. The Op-Ed subtly mocks
the theater of the ASSK trial, and suggests that the junta
allow ASSK to participate in the 2010 election process,
saying her participation is necessary for the vote to be
taken seriously both in Burma and abroad. However, the Op-Ed
then emphasizes that the "National League for Democracy and
exile groups have to acknowledge that the military will be a
big part of a future participatory form of government. This
is not negotiable."


5. (U) The text of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement
on the ASSK verdict is included below:

Begin text
--------------

"We are disappointed to learn that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was
found guilty and sentenced to three years' hard labour. Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi did not plan to violate the terms of her
house arrest, and the intrusion into her house was by a
person who appears to be of unsound mind.

We are however happy that the Myanmar Government has
exercised its sovereign prerogative to grant amnesty for half

SINGAPORE 00000753 002 OF 002


her sentence and that she will be placed under house arrest
rather than imprisoned.

We are heartened that Minister of Home Affairs Major General
Maung Oo had announced that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be
allowed to see doctors and nurses, communicate with her
party, watch local television channels, read local newspapers
and journals, and can receive visitors with the government's
permission and that there is a possibility that she could
receive amnesty for the remainder of her sentence.

These are significant gestures by the Myanmar Government. We
hope that the Myanmar Government will allow Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi to participate in the political process as soon as
possible.

A meaningful dialogue between the Myanmar Government, Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political groups in an open
and inclusive process of national reconciliation is the only
hope for the long-term political stability of the country."
End Text.

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