US embassy cable - 04RANGOON1375

UNCLAS RANGOON 001375 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL, PRM 
BANGKOK FOR POL HONNOLD 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PGOV, BM, Human Rights, Ethnics 
SUBJECT: UNHCR CAUTIOUS OF SPDC CHANGES 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 1372 AND PREVIOUS 
     B. RANGOON 1136 AND PREVIOUS 
     C. STATE 184298 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: UNHCR officials took the opportunity of a 
senior-level visit to Burma to stress that the time was not 
right for repatriation of Burmese refugees from Thailand. 
However, they said that roving missions and assessments in 
the eastern border regions were very important and would 
continue.  UNHCR is waiting to see if there will be any 
impact of the SPDC's power shift on UNHCR's nascent efforts 
in the East.  End summary. 
 
UNHCR Visitors Not Encouraging Repatriation 
 
2. (U) UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Kamel Morjane and 
UNHCR Director for Asia and the Pacific Janet Lim visited 
Burma from October 18-21 to assess UNHCR's longstanding 
operations in northern Rakhine State and some tentative new 
operations along the eastern border with Thailand.  The two 
officials traveled to Tanintharyi Division (near the Thai 
border), met with GOB interlocutors and a dozen partner NGOs, 
and briefed the Chief of Mission and other Rangoon diplomats 
on October 20. 
 
3. (SBU) Mr. Morjane stressed repeatedly that despite the 
agency's expansion into eastern Burma (pursuant to a February 
agreement with recently ousted PM Khin Nyunt; ref B) UNHCR 
was not encouraging the return to Burma of some or all of the 
estimated 133,000 refugees in Thailand.  He said that surveys 
by UNHCR's local staff, and his own trip, reinforced the fact 
that the region was not ready socio-economically and the 
logistical infrastructure was not in place for the return of 
"even 1,000" refugees.  The Chief of Mission noted these were 
crucial topics to explain clearly to donors, and lauded local 
UNHCR staff for getting the message across well over the last 
several months. 
 
4. (SBU) Mr. Morjane said, however, that it was important for 
UNHCR to continue its "roving missions" to Karen and Mon 
States and Tanintharyi Division to provide some basic 
assistance and prepare a more in-depth assessment of the 
region should the political conditions for return improve 
suddenly.  He indicated that UNHCR's NGO implementing 
partners, after a "frank exchange of views," urged the UN 
agency to continue its activities in Rakhine State and in the 
eastern border area. 
 
Worrisome Changes? 
 
5. (SBU) Mr. Morjane did express some concern regarding the 
recent power shift in the SPDC, which saw the ouster of 
former Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt (ref A).  Because 
the UNHCR's access to the Thai border regions is based on an 
accord signed with Khin Nyunt, there is some uncertainty 
whether the agreement will outlive his prime ministership. 
Mr. Morjane said UNHCR intended to lie low for the moment and 
not press the issue. 
Martinez