US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK1578

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001578 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, TH, BM, BURMA, ASEAN 
SUBJECT: ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY BURMA CAUCUS VISITS 
BANGKOK 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert J. Clarke.  Reason 1.4 (d) 
 
 
1. (U) Summary.  Several members of the informal Association 
of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar 
Caucus visited Thailand this week, hosted by Senator Kraisak 
Choonhavan, Chairman of the Thai Senate Foreign Relations 
committee.  In a March 2 press conference, the Caucus called 
for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and a more open 
and democratic National Convention process in Rangoon.  The 
Caucus also stated that Burma should not be allowed to assume 
the rotational chairmanship of ASEAN next year, unless 
significant progress is made on democratic reforms.  Caucus 
members met with Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who 
told the group that their concerns and suggestions for change 
in Burma should be taken seriously by ASEAN member 
governments.  Surakiart also confirmed that the Royal Thai 
Government (RTG) would continue its policy of "constructive 
engagement" with the Burmese regime, although he said 
privately that the RTG did not object to the 
parliamentarians' public criticism of the military government 
in Burma.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U)  Thai Senator Kraisak Choonhavan, chairman of the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hosted a meeting on March 
2-3 of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar (formerly Burma) 
Caucus, which was formed in 2004.  Parliamentarians from 
Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines 
met in Thailand to discuss strategies for promoting 
democratic change in Burma.  The informal Caucus consists of 
elected representatives from five of the 10 ASEAN member 
states.  In the case of Malaysia, participation is from both 
government and opposition members of parliament (MPs). 
 
3. (U) At a press conference on March 2 attended by poloff, 
Caucus Chairman Datuk Zaid Ibrahim of Malaysia admitted that 
the group had encountered some skepticism about its chances 
for changing the Burmese regime's dictatorial ways.  But 
Datuk stated that he and other ASEAN parliamentarians felt 
that it was time for ASEAN to move past its stated policy of 
strict "non-interference" in the internal political affairs 
of member states in the case of Burma.  Many of the Caucus 
members acknowledged that each of their countries have 
significant domestic problems, but Burma truly stands out in 
ASEAN since there is not even a hint of democratic governance 
or a free press, to say nothing of its egregious human rights 
abuses.  Rather than focus on the many abuses of the Burma 
Army and the military government, Datuk said, the Caucus 
hoped to focus on two issues first:  unconditional release of 
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and a complete review of 
the upcoming ASEAN chairmanship of Burma.  Other members of 
the visiting Caucus delegation included Lim Kit Siang of 
Malaysia, Nursyahbani Katjasu-gakana and Mulfahri Harahap of 
Indonesia, Loretta Rosales of the Philippines, and Son Chhay 
of Cambodia. 
 
4. (SBU)  Caucus members expressed their desire to visit 
Rangoon as a group in the future. Some members, however, 
speculated privately to poloff that they might not be able to 
get a visa for Burma or at best be met with a polite, "not 
now, we're too busy" from the generals.  Son Chhay of 
Cambodia said if the group did not go together, he would try 
to visit alone and see ASSK.  Son Chhay also threw out the 
idea of having Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen help 
negotiate with the SPDC in Burma.  "Sometimes it takes 
another dictator to talk to a dictator," he said, noting that 
Hun Sun would benefit from being seen in a good light as a 
negotiator with the Burmese junta, if progress were made. 
 
5. (C) On March 3, Caucus members met with Thai Foreign 
Minister Surakiart.  Sunai Phasuk, advisor to Senator 
Kraisak, described the 90-minute meeting as "very open". 
Participants included Thai MFA Permanent Secretary Krit (whom 
Surakiart recently designated as his lead official for 
exchanges with Burma), and representatives from ASEAN Affairs 
and the International Organizations Departments.  Surakiart 
suggested to the group that they submit formal 
recommendations to the ASEAN foreign ministers "retreat" that 
will take place in Cebu, the Philippines next month. 
Surakiart encouraged the Caucus to visit the regime in 
Rangoon, but indicated that he thought a visit by Thai MPs 
might be too sensitive at this time.  Sunai revealed that 
Senator Kraisak and Datuk met privately with the FM after the 
formal meeting with the larger Caucus group.  Damrong 
Kraikruan, Burma desk officer at MFA, was present at the 
larger meeting.  When contacted by poloff afterwards, he 
described the exchanges as "constructive and 
non-confrontational."  He reported that the MPs had presented 
their case for a more active role of ASEAN member countries 
in pressing for the release of ASSK, for a more open and 
participatory National Convention, and for review of the 
qualifications of Burma for the ASEAN chairmanship. 
According to Damrong, FM Surakiart argued that it is 
important not to give deadlines to the Burmese regime, as 
this might prove counterproductive.  Surakiart also said that 
the ASEAN governments and the Caucus should agree on a 
"division of labor", with the Caucus doing the public work of 
pressuring the regime and the RTG and others working behind 
the scenes with the SPDC. 
 
6. (C)  Comment. The RTG is usually very sensitive about 
press conferences at which foreign critics blast a 
neighboring country, especially Burma, which it is trying to 
cultivate.  Perhaps in this case the relatively high 
political stature of the visiting Caucus members kept the RTG 
from interfering and opened the door at MFA for a meeting 
with FM Surakiart.  Clearly Surakiart and the Caucus were not 
really in agreement, but the Thai MFA may see value in 
facilitating the Caucus' public pressure on the SPDC (as 
outlined by Surakiart).  MFA may regard this as a means of 
strengthening the Thai image of openness with the SPDC and 
thus further its own search for new interlocutors in Rangoon 
to replace ousted PM Khin Nyunt, who had been a key Thai 
contact.  End Comment. 
BOYCE