Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BANGKOK86
2010-01-12 10:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND TO PUSH FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO5540 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #0086 0121012 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121012Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9546 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7866 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0298 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 5897 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 6097 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2228 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0258 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000086
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2020
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF TH BM
SUBJECT: THAILAND TO PUSH FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000086
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2020
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF TH BM
SUBJECT: THAILAND TO PUSH FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. During a meeting with MFA Permanent
Secretary Theerakun Niyom, the Ambassador reviewed U.S.
policy towards Rangoon and emphasized the important role the
RTG could play in encouraging broad and inclusive political
dialogue in Burma. The Permanent Secretary expressed
agreement, and signaled that the RTG would work closely with
the U.S. to press for inclusive, free, and fair elections in
Burma this year. Septel will address other topics discussed
in the meeting. End Summary.
2. (C) During a January 12 introductory call on
newly-appointed MFA Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom, the
Ambassador emphasized the importance of ASEAN engaging Burma
on the upcoming elections. In particular, the Ambassador
expressed U.S. hope that the RTG would encourage the Burmese
government to engage in constructive dialogue with the
political opposition, including the National League for
Democracy and ethnic minority groups, in order to ensure that
elections were as free and fair as possible, the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners would be part
of this. He further emphasized that the U.S. policy review
should not be viewed as a conclusion to the issue of
democracy in Burma, which might be interpreted as permitting
a slackening of ASEAN's and the RTG's efforts to bring
substantial change in Burma, but rather as the beginning of a
more meaningful engagement with Rangoon.
3. (C) Permanent Secretary Theerakun ensured the Ambassador
that the RTG would do its best to engage the Burmese regime
to ensure that elections in Burma were free and transparent.
Theerakun said the RTG had been hearing from its sources that
the elections would be held in October after the announcement
of election laws in April. The Permanent Secretary noted
that the RTG could better analyze the situation and determine
next steps once the announcement of election laws had been
made, and that the RTG would do this in close consultation
with the U.S. He also acknowledged that the political
situation in Burma could not continue on its present course
as doing so "would present an obstacle to the advancement of
Thailand and the ASEAN community as a whole."
4. (C) The Ambassador suggested that the approach of
consulting regularly that the U.S., South Korea, and Japan
have taken towards North Korea could be a model for how the
U.S. and key regional partners approach dialogue with Burma.
Theerakun agreed that an integrated approach like this would
be essential to avoid sending Burma mixed messages and
assured the Ambassador that the RTG was ready to cooperate
closely with the U.S.
5. (C) Theerakun stated that the January 13-14 ASEAN
Ministers retreat in Danang, Vietnam would be an excellent
opportunity for the ASEAN community to emphasize the
importance of meaningful political dialogue in Burma.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2020
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF TH BM
SUBJECT: THAILAND TO PUSH FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. During a meeting with MFA Permanent
Secretary Theerakun Niyom, the Ambassador reviewed U.S.
policy towards Rangoon and emphasized the important role the
RTG could play in encouraging broad and inclusive political
dialogue in Burma. The Permanent Secretary expressed
agreement, and signaled that the RTG would work closely with
the U.S. to press for inclusive, free, and fair elections in
Burma this year. Septel will address other topics discussed
in the meeting. End Summary.
2. (C) During a January 12 introductory call on
newly-appointed MFA Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom, the
Ambassador emphasized the importance of ASEAN engaging Burma
on the upcoming elections. In particular, the Ambassador
expressed U.S. hope that the RTG would encourage the Burmese
government to engage in constructive dialogue with the
political opposition, including the National League for
Democracy and ethnic minority groups, in order to ensure that
elections were as free and fair as possible, the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners would be part
of this. He further emphasized that the U.S. policy review
should not be viewed as a conclusion to the issue of
democracy in Burma, which might be interpreted as permitting
a slackening of ASEAN's and the RTG's efforts to bring
substantial change in Burma, but rather as the beginning of a
more meaningful engagement with Rangoon.
3. (C) Permanent Secretary Theerakun ensured the Ambassador
that the RTG would do its best to engage the Burmese regime
to ensure that elections in Burma were free and transparent.
Theerakun said the RTG had been hearing from its sources that
the elections would be held in October after the announcement
of election laws in April. The Permanent Secretary noted
that the RTG could better analyze the situation and determine
next steps once the announcement of election laws had been
made, and that the RTG would do this in close consultation
with the U.S. He also acknowledged that the political
situation in Burma could not continue on its present course
as doing so "would present an obstacle to the advancement of
Thailand and the ASEAN community as a whole."
4. (C) The Ambassador suggested that the approach of
consulting regularly that the U.S., South Korea, and Japan
have taken towards North Korea could be a model for how the
U.S. and key regional partners approach dialogue with Burma.
Theerakun agreed that an integrated approach like this would
be essential to avoid sending Burma mixed messages and
assured the Ambassador that the RTG was ready to cooperate
closely with the U.S.
5. (C) Theerakun stated that the January 13-14 ASEAN
Ministers retreat in Danang, Vietnam would be an excellent
opportunity for the ASEAN community to emphasize the
importance of meaningful political dialogue in Burma.
JOHN