US embassy cable - 05RANGOON77

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000077 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, PHUM, KN, BM 
SUBJECT: BURMA: INPUT FOR REPORT TO CONGRESS ON NORTH 
KOREAN REFUGEES 
 
REF: A. 04 SECSTATE 275820 
     B. 04 SECSTATE 275712 
 
Classified By: DCM Ronald K. McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (U) NORTH KOREANS ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE 
PROTECTION IN BURMA:  Burma is not a signatory to the 1951 UN 
Convention on Refugees and cannot be considered as hospitable 
for any individuals seeking refugee protection.  To the 
contrary, the regime's egregious human rights practices, 
military operations directed at ethnic minority insurgents 
and populations, and economic mismanagement have created a 
decades-long outflow of Burmese persons seeking refuge in 
neighboring and other countries. 
 
2. (SBU) Our discussions with relevant UN agencies in 
Rangoon, including the UNHCR and UNDP, have revealed that 
these institutions do not believe they would be in a position 
to provide refuge or substantial protection for North Korean 
asylum seekers.  UNHCR, in particular, has a limited MOU with 
the GOB that only covers repatriation issues.  UNHCR staff 
view the GOB in general as unsympathetic toward North Korean 
asylum seekers. 
 
3. (C) UN agencies and several diplomatic missions in Rangoon 
have an informal understanding with the South Korean embassy 
to direct bona fide North Korean asylum seekers to the South 
Korean chancery for assistance.  The South Koreans maintain 
several safe houses in Rangoon for this purpose and have 
successfully assisted numerous North Koreans with onward 
travel to South Korea.  Note: The South Korean embassy treats 
this information as highly sensitive.  End Note. 
 
4. (U) CHALLENGES POSED WHEN NORTH KOREANS PRESENT 
THEMSELVES:  Post has no direct experience with North Korean 
asylum seekers or refugees.  Standard procedures are in place 
to handle potential cases and post has recently reissued 
walk-in instructions to all relevant staff members and plans 
to undertake mock exercises in the near future.  However, an 
influx of North Korean asylum seekers could pose a security 
challenge, given a myriad of separate facilities spread 
throughout Rangoon that comprise the U.S. mission (including 
the chancery; the official residence and other mission-owned 
housing units; an American Center (housed in the former North 
Korean embassy); a GSO facility; a medical unit; a 
residential compound and American Club; a former residential 
compound and the site of the future chancery; and a U.S. 
mission-sponsored international school). 
 
5. (C) In 2004, a small number of North Koreans were known to 
have entered Burma seeking opportunities for asylum, 
including the following: 
 
--In June, a group of 11 North Koreans entered Burma from 
China at Muse, were caught by border officials, and forced 
back into China.  The North Koreans sneaked back into Burma, 
were picked up by military intelligence authorities and 
eventually handed to South Korean embassy officials who 
assisted them with onward travel to South Korea. 
 
--In October, a 35 year-old North Korean woman crossed into 
Burma from China and presented herself at the local office of 
a French NGO working with UNODC.  NGO officials brought the 
women to the local UNODC field office; however, GOB border 
affairs officials learned about the case and took custody of 
her.  UNODC officers, who were able to visit the North Korean 
woman but not provide protection, contacted the UN resident 
coordinator, the South Korean Embassy, ICRC, and UNIAP. 
South Korean embassy officials then met with GOB officials to 
gain access to her with hopes of winning her release into 
their custody and facilitating onward travel to South Korea. 
The case remains unresolved. 
 
--In December, a group of six North Koreans allegedly entered 
Shan State, their travel reportedly facilitated by a private 
American citizen of Korean origin who planned to seek 
assistance on their behalf from the South Korean embassy. 
The group was apparently unsuccessful in Burma and reportedly 
left for Laos to seek other asylum opportunities. 
 
6. (SBU) GOB ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A U.S. 
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, OR USG-FUNDED HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE, FOR NORTH KOREANS:  The United States has in 
place comprehensive sanctions that target the Burmese regime 
(SPDC) for its severe human rights violations and its failure 
to facilitate political reconciliation with the democratic 
opposition.  The GOB in turn maintains a highly antagonistic 
posture toward the United States.  Consequently, we do not 
believe the GOB would under any circumstances support the 
establishment of a U.S. refugee resettlement program, or 
facilitate USG-funded humanitarian assistance, for North 
Koreans in Burma.  Ironically, Burma severed diplomatic 
relations with the DPRK in 1983, following a bombing in 
Rangoon, perpetuated by North Korean agents, that killed four 
visiting members of the South Korean cabinet.  However, North 
Korea is a source of arms and other military supplies for the 
SPDC. 
 
Martinez