US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK4784

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004784 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, TH, BM, BURMA 
SUBJECT: THAI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RAISES ASEAN 
CHAIRMANSHIP WITH BURMESE LEADERS DURING JULY 25 VISIT 
 
REF: PARTO 000015 AND 000016 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, Reason: 1.4 (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  Deputy Prime Minister Surikiart Sathiritai 
told the Ambassador on July 26 afternoon that he had made a 
strong representation to Burmese leaders during his visit to 
Rangoon the day before, telling them that their rumored 
intention to further delay their decision to forgo the ASEAN 
chair was unacceptable.  Surikiart also told the Ambassador 
that, in follow-up to his assurances to Secretary Rice 
earlier this month in Phuket, he had told Burmese leaders 
that Thailand was prepared to go public with its complaints 
if Rangoon does not show real demonstrable progress in 
democratization in Burma.  Earlier, Thai MFA officials told 
poloffs that during Surikiart's visit the two sides reached 
some agreement on bilateral issues such as drug suppression, 
migrant labor and a planned summit meeting between Than Shwe 
and Prime Minister Thaksin. End Summary. 
 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DESCRIBES RANGOON MEETINGS 
 
2.  (C)  Deputy Prime Minister Surikiart Sathiritai called at 
the Ambassador's request on July 26 afternoon,   Surikiart 
said that he had made strong representations to Burmese 
leaders during his visit to Rangoon the day before, telling 
them that their rumored intention to further delay their 
decision on forgoing the ASEAN chair was unacceptable. 
Surikiart said that he met with SPDC Chairman Than Shwe, SPDC 
Vice Chairman Maung Aye, SPDC member Shwe Mann and Prime 
Minister Soe Win.  Though the Burmese indicated to Surikiart 
that they were prepared to announce foregoing the chair at 
the Foreign Ministers meeting in Vientiane the following day, 
he refrained from announcing this to the press in order to 
allow Rangoon to appear to have made the decision on its own. 
 Surikiart said that he also waited to inform the Ambassador 
until after the announcement from Vientiane, in case the 
Burmese backed off from their earlier assurances to him. 
Surikiart told the Ambassador that, in follow-up to his 
assurances to Secretary Rice earlier this month in Phuket 
(Reftels), he had told Burmese leaders that Thailand is 
prepared to go public with its complaints if Rangoon does not 
show real demonstrable progress in democratization in Burma. 
 
MFA SAYS SOME PROGRESS IN BORDER AND DRUGS ISSUES -- LOOK TO 
SUMMIT 
 
3. (C)  During a conversation on Surikiart's trip earlier 
that day, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Burma desk 
officer Damrong Kraikruan told poloffs that Surikiart went to 
Burma because he was perceived to have a "personal 
relationship" with some of the top leadership and it was 
therefore felt that he could engage them in more meaningful 
dialogue.  He added that the Government of Burma (GOB) system 
appeared to be "broken" and that working with the SPDC at the 
foreign minister level was just not practical.  The RTG sent 
the DPM to Rangoon, therefore, with the hope of renewing 
contacts following the stalled relations that resulted from 
the ouster of former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt last year. 
Damrong added that Surikiart talked with Than Shwe about a 
summit meeting between Than Shwe and Prime Minister Thaksin 
Shinawatra.  They agreed in principle to hold such a meeting 
in the near future. 
 
4. (C)  Damrong stated that the Burmese also agreed to work 
more closely on drug suppression, particularly in the Shan 
state with an on-going crop substitution program and to 
re-energize bilateral cooperation on legalizing Burmese 
migrant workers in Thailand.  Damrong also said that Than 
Shwe agreed to help bring to justice Wa leader and drug lord 
Wei Hshekhang,   He claimed that Than Shwe said Burma would 
have no reason to keep him and would assist with handing him 
over to the RTG.  All of this discussion had helped "clear 
the air" in what had become a "cloudy" relationship, 
according to Damrong. 
 
5.  (C)  COMMENT: Surikiart clearly intends to show that 
Thailand is willing to play a stronger role in convincing the 
SPDC to change its policies.  Based on our conversations with 
Surikiart and MFA officials, the Thai feel that the Burmese 
decision to announce their forgoing of the chairmanship 
rested with Than Shwe and was not made until the last minute. 
 END COMMENT. 
BOYCE