US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK5747

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005747 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PREF, PBTS, SOCI, TH 
SUBJECT: POLOFFS MEETS WITH MFA TO DISCUSS FM'S MEETING 
WITH THAN SHWE, REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA 
 
REF: A. RANGOON010105 
     B. RANGOON000873 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reasons 1.4 (b) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY. On September 5, Political Counselor Susan 
Sutton met with Mr. Damrong Kraikuan, MFA Desk Officer for 
Burma, to discuss FM Kantathi Suphamongkhon's visit to 
Rangoon. Damrong emphasized that because this was the FM,s 
first meeting with Than Shwe, "sensitive issues" were not 
discussed. He added that the SPDC had felt slighted that 
Kantathi had visited every other capital in ASEAN before 
Rangoon. The FM told Than Shwe that Thailand had benefited 
greatly from its transition to democracy, and that the RTG 
was willing to assist GOB make a democratic transition. RTG 
officials hoped to arrange an informal "retreat" between 
Thaksin and Than Shwe before the end of the year. Poloff 
responded that there was little indication that the GOB was 
ready to make any fundamental changes in the way they ruled 
Burma. Damrong reported that Than Shwe appeared to be in good 
health, and Maung Aye was described as "more reserved" than 
usual. He added that the ASSK and the NLD were not brought up 
by either side during the meeting. Regarding the Thai Muslims 
who sought refuge in Malaysia, Damrong felt that classifying 
these people as refugees would be a "terrible blow" to 
Thailand, and would play into the hands of insurgents. END 
SUMMARY 
 
CORDIAL MEETING STEERS CLEAR OF "SENSITIVE ISSUES" 
 
2. (SBU) On September 5, Political Counselor Susan Sutton met 
with Mr. Damrong Kraikuan, MFA Desk Officer for Burma to 
discuss the visit of FM Kantathi Suphamongkhon to Rangoon, 
from August 31-September 1.  Damrong emphasized that the FM's 
meeting with Than Shwe was officially a courtesy call, and 
that "sensitive issues", including the detention of ASSK, 
were not discussed.  According to custom, new ASEAN Foreign 
Ministers call on each of their fellow ASEAN members in their 
respective capitals.  In his six months as Foreign Minister, 
Kantathi had visited every ASEAN capital except Rangoon. 
Damrong noted this had ruffled some feathers in Burma, 
apparently leading some in the SPDC to believe that Thailand 
was reluctant to remain engaged with the GOB. 
 
3. (U) Damrong told Poloffs that both sides generally seemed 
pleased with the outcome of the meeting.  He noted that the 
FM had been scheduled to meet with General Than Shwe for only 
a half hour, but that the two had continued talking for an 
additional fifty minutes.  The Burmese agreed to Thailand,s 
proposal to re-open the Joint Boundary Committee between the 
two countries after a three-year hiatus.  Thailand and Burma 
also agreed to continue working together to combat the drug 
trade.  The RTG expressed an interest in assisting Burma with 
"education and health", and made a 
"small donation" to the Myanmar University for Development of 
National Races (UDNR) which purports to help ethnic 
minorities integrate into Burmese society. 
 
4. (C) Damrong stressed that after Khin Nyunt was ousted, the 
RTG lost a major channel of communication with Rangoon.  The 
RTG feels it is imperative to establish a good rapport 
between leaders on both sides in order to have a good working 
relationship.  Once this rapport is well-established, the two 
sides will be able to discuss more substantive issues. 
Damrong added that it would be difficult for anyone besides 
PM Thaksin to have any hope of discussing sensitive issues 
with Than Shwe.  With this in mind, the RTG is in the process 
of planning a "retreat" or "informal meeting" between the two 
leaders before the end of the year. 
 
FM TALKS OF THE BENEFITS OF DEMOCRATIC REFORM; NO MENTION OF 
ASSK OR NLD 
 
5. (C) Damrong noted that the FM had brought up the issues of 
Burmese democratization in his meeting with Than Shwe. 
Kantathi noted that democracy was a gradual step-by-step 
process, and that Thailand had benefited greatly from a 
democratic system of government.  According to Damrong, he 
stated that Thailand was ready to help Burma with this 
transition in any way possible. The General responded by 
citing the National Reconciliation process that is supposedly 
underway. 
 
6. (C) Poloff acknowledged that it might be awkward to bring 
up sensitive issues during a first-time meeting, and that 
good person-to-person relationships could be an important 
factor in establishing strong bilateral relations.  However, 
the regime in Burma has a lengthy record of intransigence and 
resistance to change, making the USG very skeptical of their 
intentions.  The USG was deeply concerned about the human 
rights and living conditions of the Burmese people and would 
be very surprised if any amount of "good rapport" would be 
enough to change GOB,s positions.  Damrong, who has heard 
from us many times before on this subject, did not respond to 
these points. Poloff asked Damrong if Than Shwe had made any 
comments or reference to Aung San Suu Kyi and her National 
League of Democracy (NLD) (Reftel A). Damrong replied that he 
had not. 
 
THAN SHWE ALIVE AND KICKING 
 
7. (C) Damrong reported that Than Shwe appeared to be in fine 
health, and that if he had been sick recently, it was 
apparently "not a big deal." Although FM Kantathi had asked 
some subtle, leading questions about the General,s recent 
disappearance from public view, Than Shwe did not take the 
bait.  Damrong said that one notable change from previous 
high-level meetings was the low-key participation of Maung 
Aye, who appeared "much more reserved" than usual. 
 
CONCERNED ABOUT THAI "REFUGEES" IN MALAYSIA 
 
8. (C) Regarding newspaper reports about Thai Muslim refugees 
crossing into Malaysia,s Kelantan State, Damrong said that 
the incident threatened to "internationalize" the problems in 
the Thai South, which would be a "terrible blow" to Thailand. 
He noted that this was just what "they" wanted (presumably 
referring to Muslim insurgents) and indicated that UNHCR 
involvement would be very embarrassing for Thailand.  Poloff 
asked if Damrong was satisfied with the statements of the 
Malaysian FM. Damrong laughed nervously and said that it 
would be inappropriate to answer the question. 
 
9. (C) COMMENT. It is disappointing, but not surprising, that 
the FM did not raise human rights issues at this introductory 
meeting. The MFA is sticking to its long-held position that 
engagement with the SPDC will lead to better results in the 
long run. They also make the case that Thailand needs to work 
with Rangoon on important bilateral issues like migration and 
border demarcation. We continue to point out that their 
"constructive engagement" policy has not borne fruit, and it 
is long past time for them to reconsider. If the Thaksin-Than 
Shwe retreat does take place, however, the uninhibited PM 
might be willing to take a somewhat tougher line. END 
COMMENT. 
ARVIZU