US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK4063

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004063 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, TH, BM, BURMA 
SUBJECT: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON BURMA TO SPDC: WHAT DO 
YOU WANT? 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert J. Clarke, Reason: 1.4 (d) 
 
 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  During a visit to Bangkok, Paulo Sergio 
Pinheiro, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, 
expressed frustration with Burma's ruling State Peace and 
Development Council (SPDC) and called upon the Burmese junta 
to clarify what steps they plan to take in the democratic 
reform process.   The Special Rapporteur met separately with 
the Thai Foreign Minister (FM) Kantathi Supamongkhon and the 
Bangkok diplomatic community.  The Thai FM expressed his hope 
to Pinheiro that National League for Democracy (NLD) leader 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) be freed next year when elections 
might be held following the ratification of a new Burmese 
constitution.  Pinheiro said that he hoped neither the US or 
the EU would agree to a possible ASEAN compromise with the 
SPDC which would allow Burma to assume the ASEAN chairmanship 
in 2006, but only if the meetings take place in another 
country. END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur on 
the Situation of Human Rights in Burma, visited Bangkok the 
week of June 13 to attend a workshop on Violence Against 
Children in Asia and the Pacific.  (Note:  Pinheiro also 
serves as a UN Independent Expert for the UN global study on 
violence against children.  End Note.)  On June 17, COM 
Embassy Rangoon and Embassy Bangkok Poloff attended a meeting 
with Pinheiro for the Bangkok diplomatic community organized 
by the Bangkok Regional Office of the High Commissioner for 
Human Rights. 
 
3. (C) Pinheiro opened the meeting, which was also attended 
by about 12 diplomats from Western European countries, Canada 
and Australia, by stating the he was seeking clarification 
from the GOB on what they want in order to pursue their 
so-called roadmap for democracy.   In order to engage the 
international community, the GOB needed to more clearly 
articulate what would happen at the expected end of the 
National Convention later this year.  Pinheiro commented that 
it was a shame that ASSK was still under house arrest and in 
"virtual solitary confinement."  He said that he thought her 
conditions were in some ways worse than those experienced by 
political prisoners at Rangoon's Insein prison, who at least 
had some occasional contact with visitors. 
 
4. (C) Pinheiro noted that Thai FM Kantathi had surprisingly 
shown "either a genuine interest" in Burma or "received a 
very good briefing" in their meeting on June 15.  But 
Pinheiro was surprised when Kantathi told Pinheiro that 
Kantathi believed ASSK would be released next year once 
proposed elections are announced following the ratification 
of a new constitution this year. Pinheiro said he has 
received no indications that the SPDC intends to release ASSK 
anytime soon. (Note:  Most press accounts quote Kantathi as 
stating that he "expressed hope" that ASSK would be released, 
a point confirmed by MFA when asked about Kantathi's position 
in a later telephone conversation by Poloff with MFA 
officers.  End Note.) 
 
5. (C) In reference to the assumption of the Chairmanship of 
ASEAN by Burma in 2006, Pinheiro said that it would be a 
shame if Burma was allowed to take the Chair in any way.  He 
further stated that if Burma didn't, it might be a "relief" 
to ASEAN, but still an embarrassment to have Burma as a 
member.  He noted, however, that if Burma gives up the Chair 
without conditions,  ASEAN would have no leverage to 
negotiate with Burma.  Rangoon COM noted there is talk in 
Rangoon of a "third alternative", where Burma would retain 
the Chair but the meetings would take place in another 
country, thus allowing the SPDC to save face but avoiding the 
controversial issue of ASEAN partners like the US and the EU 
traveling to Burma.  Pinheiro expressed his dissatisfaction 
with this "compromise" and said he hoped the US and the EU 
would not agree to such an arrangement. 
 
6. (C) Pinheiro claimed that the sanctions against the SPDC 
"are not working," and that the international community was 
compelled to dialogue with the regime, emphasizing the 
important role of China and India in this process.  There was 
no "Plan B" to bring reform to Burma.  The Rangoon COM noted, 
however, that even when Pinheiro himself had extended his 
hand to the SPDC in dialogue, the SPDC did not reciprocate. 
(Note:  Pinheiro last visited Burma in November 2003.  End 
Note.)  Pinheiro concluded his remarks by saying that he had 
essentially "written off" the National Convention process as 
a fait accompli.  The next step was to focus on the 
constitutional ratification process and subsequent elections. 
 But Pinheiro emphasized that the outcome of the ASEAN 
chairmanship issue should cause the EU to re-evaluate its 
position and strategy before the National Convention is 
scheduled to reconvene in November. 
 
7. (U) This message was cleared by Embassy Rangoon. 
BOYCE