US embassy cable - 05MANILA1893

S E C R E T MANILA 001893 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, RP 
SUBJECT: ARROYO ON ASEAN BURMA STRATEGY 
 
(U) Classified by Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone.  Reason 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S) In a conversation on other subjects April 26, I urged 
President Arroyo to keep up her country's leadership on 
pressing Burma on democracy and human rights.  Looking ahead 
to senior US-RP contacts in Manila and Washington, I 
suggested that this is one especially meaningful way that the 
RP can help advance the US and allied foreign policy priority 
of widening the circle of democracies.  Arroyo responded that 
"I always have to sit next to the Burmese at these events, 
and so I always press him on Aung San Suu Kyi and 
democratization."  She questioned whether losing the chair 
would "make any real difference for democracy in Burma," but 
affirmed that the GRP and ASEAN are keeping up the pressure 
nonetheless. 
 
2.  (S) I noted that GRP's public statements seemed to be 
backing away from openly opposing Burma's scheduled ASEAN 
chairmanship in 2006, ostensibly on grounds of "delicatesse:" 
 The RP is next in order of succession and would stand to 
gain the chair a year early if Burma does not assume the 
chair.  She conceded that avoiding the appearance of Filipino 
self-interest was a key factor in avoiding public opposition 
to Burma's accession to the chair.  However, she said that 
the principal reason for avoiding public pressure on this 
issue for now  was an understanding reached between Burma and 
ASEAN leaders that Burma would itself "voluntarily withdraw" 
from accepting the chair, provided ASEAN avoid public demands 
that it do so.  She was concerned, therefore, when Cambodia 
had recently broken the agreed silence and had spoken out 
publicly against Burma -- though evidently without response 
from Burma so far. 
Ricciardone