THAI PERMREP DISCUSSES BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000373 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH BU SUBJECT: THAI PERMREP DISCUSSES BURMA ¶1. (C) Summary: In an April 6 meeting with Ambassador Rice, Thai PermRep Pramudwinai urged intensified engagement with the Burmese regime and said the regime is awaiting the outcome of the U.S. policy review of Burma. He said Burma would be more comfortable with the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) if it could be sure the TCG would not overwhelm them, and said international monitors are unlikely to be allowed for Burma's upcoming elections, but ASEAN monitors could be a possibility. He said the Thai-Cambodian border is calm now, and stressed that Thailand does not want the situation to escalate. He also confirmed that Thailand will support the U.S. bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In an April 6 meeting with Ambassador Rice, Thai PermRep Don Pramudwinai agreed that while Thailand and the U.S. share the same goals in Burma, Thailand believes in a different approach to achieving those goals. He suggested that the international community try to draw Burma "into the world" more, saying "We haven't tried to lure them out." Pramudwinai encouraged more intensive engagement with the Burmese regime, rather than only imposing sanctions, saying that a gradual approach might help bring change. However, he acknowledged that engagement has not been terribly successful in the ASEAN context, but ascribed that to the fact that it is the Burmese Prime Minister who attends the ASEAN meetings, and he is not the one who really runs the country. "He's number three," Pramudwinai said. He recommended aiming for engagement with the two top generals, especially Than Shwe. He admitted that it might not work, but argued that it is worth trying. He said the Burmese leaders need to work with people who make them feel at ease, and commented that in that respect the U.S. actually has an advantage over the Europeans, especially the British, because the U.S. has no colonial history to overcome in Burma. ¶3. (C) Pramudwinai said he had the sense that the Burmese regime is very interested in the U.S. policy review of Burma and is waiting to see what will come of it. He believes the Burmese regime is putting off Secretary General Ban's proposed visit to Burma because it is waiting for the outcome of the policy review. Burma's leaders want to see what the new Administration might offer, Pramudwinai said, adding that they also know that the Secretary General "isn't the figure to turn things around." They know that such power rests with the U.S., he concluded. Rice pointed out that offering engagements and inducements to the Burmese regime allows them to drive the process and said the U.S. believes that any incentives would have to be accompanied by serious pressure. ¶4. (C) Rice raised the question of the Tripartite Core Group's (TCG) ability to continue its work in Burma unimpeded. Pramudwinai said the Burmese would be more comfortable with the TCG if they were sure it would not overwhelm them. They know they need it for its humanitarian work, but they are suspicious of activities backed by the West. He added that whenever Thailand engages with Burma, it urges the Burmese to "deal with the reality of the world." That would include being inclusive in the upcoming elections, he said. Pramudwinai did not think international monitors would be allowed in for the elections, but thought that ASEAN monitors might be acceptable to the Burmese, and said ASEAN was considering that possibility. ¶5. (C) In response to Rice's query about the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border, Pramudwinai said the situation is now calm and that it arose from a small incident when Thai soldiers stepped on new landmines in a previously-cleared area. When Thai soldiers returned the next day to check the area, they encountered Cambodian soldiers who opened fire. Thailand had no reason to start this, he emphasized, and does not want it to escalate. He added that Thailand and Cambodia need to speak more frequently on a bilateral basis, and noted that other countries' border issues have taken decades to resolve. ¶6. (C) Pramudwinai confirmed that Thailand will support the U.S. bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, adding that Thailand plans to run for a seat next year. There are four seats to be filled in Thailand's regional group, and thus far only three countries are running: Thailand, Malaysia, and Iran. Pramudwinai also commented that although it is a long way off, Thailand intends to run for a Security Council seat in 2017. He added that Thailand was last on the Council in 1985. USUN NEW Y 00000373 002 OF 002 Rice