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PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGO #0068/01 0350855
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 040855Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8629
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1778
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5252
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8852
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6424
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4255
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2246
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000068 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2019 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: BURMA: EXTENSIVE OFFICIAL COVERAGE OF GAMBARI VISIT 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 62 
      B. RANGOON 63 
 
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
 1.  (U)  Burmese state media carried extensive coverage of 
UNSYG Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari's January 31 - February 3 
meetings with GOB officials.  The coverage described Gambari 
as "an intimate friend of Myanmar" and reported his requests 
that the regime release political prisoners, engage in 
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, and extend the Tripartite 
Core Group (TCG).  According to press reports, Burmese 
Ministers described their views of significant progress along 
the road map towards democracy, but did not appear to provide 
Gambari with substantive information as to the timing or 
nature of the 2010 elections.  Prime Minister Thein Sein, who 
met Gambari February 3, reportedly called on Gambari and the 
UN to lift sanctions and restrictions on visas.  End Summary. 
 
Political Prisoners 
-------------------- 
 
 2.  (U)  The February 4 Burmese and English language editions 
of the regime-mouthpiece daily New Light of Myanmar newspaper 
devoted nearly five full pages of coverage to UNSYG Special 
Envoy Ibrahim Gambari's meetings with GOB officials. 
State-run TV also included extensive coverage of the visit. 
Media coverage acknowledged that Gambari urged the GOB to 
release more political prisoners, engage in dialogue with 
Aung San Suu Kyi, and extend the TCG.  Unfortunately, the 
articles provided little detail on how Prime Minister Thein 
Sein and members of the "Spokes-Authoritative Team" responded 
to Gambari's requests on political prisoners and the TCG, 
other than citing the PM's comments that the GOB would carry 
out these tasks "as much as it could."  The New Light of 
Myanmar quoted Information Minister Kyaw Hsan of the 
Spokes-Authoritative Team as telling Gambari that convicted 
prisoners could appeal their sentences in accordance with the 
law, but did not go further. 
 
Dialogue with ASSK 
------------------ 
 
 3.  (U)  According to the press, the Spokes-Authoritative 
Team was more blunt when it came to Aung San Suu Kyi, 
accusing her of having rejected several GOB overtures at 
dialogue.  Minister Kyaw San was reported to have reminded 
Gambari that in October 2007, the regime publicly invited 
ASSK to meet with Than Shwe if she would give up "her policy 
of Confrontation, Utter Devastation, and Imposing All Kinds 
of Sanctions (sic)."  The Minister lamented that she has yet 
to respond.  He also reported that, since Gambari's last 
visit in August, ASSK refused two more offers to engage in 
dialogue.  A television news broadcast reiterated these 
points just hours after Gambari's departure on February 3. 
 
Elections 
--------- 
 
 4.  (U)  On the elections, the Spokes-Authoritative Team 
praised what it characterized as Burma's progress towards 
democracy.  Prime Minister Thein Sein reportedly told Gambari 
that the GOB would emphasize the "desire of the majority who 
approved the constitution," but that those who opposed the 
constitution will still have "political doors" open when the 
party registration law is announced.  Minister Kyaw San 
avowed that the intent is a democratic election that meets 
international standards.  The New Light of Myanmar quoted the 
PM as saying that Gambari will "realize that the government 
is implementing the best way for the country according to 
prevailing conditions (sic)."  None of the officials cited in 
the press provided any information on the timing of the 
election law or vote itself, saying only that the regime has 
been taking "all necessary measures" regarding the timing and 
organization of the vote and will reveal details at "an 
 
RANGOON 00000068  002 OF 002 
 
 
appropriate time." 
 
Sanctions/visas 
--------------- 
 
 5. (U)  The PM reportedly called on Gambari and the UN to 
lift sanctions and restrictions on visas.  He claimed that 
sanctions have "damaged human rights and hindered the GOB's 
efforts to build a democratic nation."  According to news 
reports, the PM went on to compare the effect of sanctions to 
"a person who is forced to run quickly while his legs are 
tied together."  The coverage did not mention whether Gambari 
responded. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
 6. (C)  The coverage of Gambari's visit in the official media 
was extensive and included what seem to be relatively 
detailed transcripts of his meetings with both the PM and the 
Spokes-Authoritative Ministers.  Throughout the extensive 
coverage in the New Light of Myanmar, as in TV and other 
reports, the regime's message is clear:  Burma is making 
progress and should be recognized for it.  The mention of 
Gambari's discussion of political prisoners, Aung San Suu 
Kyi, and the elections is notable, as is the suggestion that 
the regime has tried twice in recent months to commence a 
dialogue with ASSK, only to be rebuffed.  We will seek more 
clarity about that, including what sorts of conditions were 
attached to any offer made. 
 
 7. (C) It would be useful to hear further details of 
Gambari's version of the conversations.  As reported Ref A, 
he suggested to the Charge that he was hearing some hints of 
possible flexibility from the regime.  He and the Charge 
agreed, however, that "the proof of a pudding is in the 
eating;" and nothing is actually on the table yet.  End 
Comment. 
DINGER