US embassy cable - 02RANGOON1664

UNCLAS RANGOON 001664 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR INL AND EAP 
BANGKOK FOR NAS, DEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, SNAR, BM 
SUBJECT: BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTER ON GOB COUNTERNARCOTICSS 
EFFORTS 
 
 
 1. (SBU) Summary:  Taking the opportunity of remarks before 
the assembled Rangoon diplomatic corps on New Year's Eve, the 
Burmese Foreign Minister digressed for ten minutes from his 
set speech to make very reasoned comments on the  GOB's 
desire to prove the credibility of its efforts against 
narcotrafficking.  Although he is not seen as a heavyweight 
in terms of power, he is known as being close to Senior 
General Than Shwe, reportedly because he never brings 
unpleasant news to the Senior General and always "follows 
instructions".  Therefore, the FonMin's message about the 
GOB's committment to counternarcotics efforts can be judged 
as having come from the top and is a surprising change from 
the GOB's usual tactic of "deny, deny, counter-accuse". End 
Summary. 
 
2. (U) Taking the opportunity of a remarks before the 
assembled Rangoon diplomatic corps at noon on New Year's Eve, 
the Burmese Foreign Minister digressed for ten minutes from 
his set speech to comment on the  GOB's desire to prove the 
credibility of its efforts against narcotrafficking. 
Although some of the FonMin's stated goals may be 
unattainable ( i.e. reducing opium production in 2003 to 80 
per cent of the 2002 production), he sent a strong message 
that he would do everything in his power as Vice Chairman of 
the CCDAC  (Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control) to 
maintain momentum in the GOB's counternarcotics program. 
 
3. (U) He also called for regional assistance and cooperation 
with China, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia and India in combating 
ATS production, particularly with regards to controlling the 
flow of precursor chemicals.  The FonMin steered clear of the 
usual GOB tactic of claiming that Burma was the subject of a 
conspiracy or a smear campaign in regard to its 
counternarcotics efforts, saying instead that he was 
"ashamed" to see his country named in the international press 
as a major source of drugs. 
 
4. (U) The FonMin also called the situation of the farmers 
who are participating in opium substitution projects 
"tragic".  He said that the GOB knew it was the farmers that 
suffered the most and assured the audience that the GOB was 
sending additional food assistance to them to keep them from 
going back into opium production.  He said that the GOB was 
not asking for foreign assistance, but that direct foreign 
assistance to the farmers would be welcome.   He also 
mentioned the GOB's agreement with the Wa in which the Wa 
pledged to be out of opium production by 2005, saying 
"pledges were no longer enough", there had to be action and 
concrete proof that they were getting out of narcotrafficking 
 
5. (U) At the luncheon after the speech, the FonMin continued 
to talk about how intent the GOB and he, personally, was, to 
rid the country of opium production and of the importance of 
aiding farmers in crop substitution projects.  He asked the 
COM if the USG would provide assistance with crop yield 
surveys and satellite imaging to assist in eradication 
efforts (hopefully an indication that the next CNC survey 
will not be thrown off track by the probable of 
non-certification of Burma's counternarcotics efforts). 
 
6. (SBU) Comment:  The FonMin has a reputation for being 
non-controversial and it was highly uncharacteristic of  him 
to digress from the standard "roads, bridges and visits" 
speech to speak extemporaneously about the GOB's narcotics 
problem.  Although he is not seen as a heavyweight in terms 
of power, he is known as being close to Than Shwe, reportedly 
because he never brings unpleasant news to the Senior General 
and always "follows instructions".  Therefore, the FonMin's 
message about the GOB's commitment to counternarcotics 
efforts can be judged as having come from the top and is a 
surprising change from the GOB's usual tactic of "deny, deny, 
counter-accuse". End Comment. 
Martinez