LAOS REACTION TO ASSK VERDICT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENTIANE 000399


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: LAOS REACTION TO ASSK VERDICT

REF: STATE 83598


Classified By: Classified by Charge d'Affairs a.i. Peter M.
Haymond for Reasons 1.5(b) and (d)


Summary
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1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs ASEAN Department's Deputy
Director General Kham-Inh Khitchadeth told Poloff that the
ASEAN Charter's principle of non-interference in internal
affairs of member countries precluded ASEAN from engaging
Burma on the outcome of the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK).
He expected the upcoming ASEAN SOM would discuss the
situation in Burma, but the GOL would not support a special
meeting of ASEAN. Kham-Inh acknowledged Poloff's point that
international reaction to Burma's action has negative effects
for ASEAN and Burma and undertook to pass the message to his
superiors. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Poloff met August 17 with Kham-Inh Khitchadeth, Deputy
Director General, ASEAN Department, MFA, to discuss points in
reftel and to follow-up on discussions between Senator Jim
Webb and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun
Sisoulit (reported septel).


3. (C) In response to Poloff's request for support of
Malaysia's call for an urgent meeting of ASEAN on the ASSK
conviction, Kham-Inh said he personally understood the
international reaction to the conviction of ASSK, but the
ASEAN Charter's principle of non-interference in internal
affairs of member countries precluded ASEAN from engaging
Burma on the trial's outcome. Although not supportive of a
special meeting on Burma, Kham-Inh presumed the previously
scheduled ASEAN SOM in Jakarta this weekend would discuss the
situation in Burma. He lamented that seemingly every meeting
of ASEAN now dealt with Burma and North Korea.


4. (C) Poloff explained that ASEAN could play a productive
role by helping Burma understand the negative effects of its
actions on ASEAN and Burma, and stressed the importance of a
united ASEAN voice in this regard. Kham-Inh accepted this
point and undertook to report it up the chain of command,
though he gave no indication any future public statements
would on this issue would be forthcoming.


5. (SBU) On ASSK's role in upcoming elections and the need to
free all political detainees, Kham-Inh noted the complexity
of the situation in Burma and the problems associated with
governing the multiple ethnic groups that make up Burmese
society.

Comment
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6. (C) Kham-Inh's response that ASEAN does not interfere in
internal affairs closely tracked the August 14 press
statement issued by the MFA spokesperson in reaction to
ASSK's conviction. The GOL clearly worries about instability
in Burma, and Kham-Inh echoed the statements made by Deputy
Prime Minister Thongloun to Senator Webb about the complexity
of the multi-ethnic make-up of Burmese society. The press
release underscored ASEAN's principle of non-interference,
claimed the trial of ASSK followed Burmese judicial
procedure, and expressed confidence in Burma's implementation
of its roadmap to democracy. It was very brief and contained
none of the nuance of DPM Thongloun,s discussion with
Senator Webb.


HAYMOND