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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005127 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM KDM TH BM
SUBJECT: U.S., BRITISH AMBASSADORS PRESS GENERAL SONTHI ON 
BURMA 
 
BANGKOK 00005127  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  General Sonthi Boonyaratglin told the 
Ambassador that he hopes that the confrontation in Burma 
would be resolved by peaceful means but the situation could 
result in further bloodshed if the Burmese military does not 
refuse orders from the regime.  Sonthi explained that his 
comments September 26 indicating that the authorities had 
acted properly were made before any reports of violence and 
the declaration of martial law and agreed that military 
action against demonstrators in Burma would be wrong and that 
any resolution should be peaceful.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) The Ambassador and UK Ambassador Quinton Quayle 
September 27 jointly called on Royal Thai Army (RTA) 
Commander-in-Chief and Chairman of the Council for National 
Security General Sonthi Boonyaratglin to discuss the 
situation in Burma and Sonthi's unhelpful September 26 
comments on the situation there.  General Anupong Paojinda, 
who will replace Sonthi in the next few days, sat in.  The 
Ambassador asked General Sonthi whether the Royal Thai Army 
(RTA) had information on events in Burma.  General Sonthi 
said that even though it is difficult to get a clear picture 
of the situation in Burma, the root of the problem is the 
Burmese dictators.  Because of the unyielding stance of the 
dictatorship, it is difficult for the people to achieve their 
hope of democratic government.  Sonthi stated that the only 
way to truly resolve the situation is through the will of the 
people being expressed through democratic means.  If Aung San 
Suu Kyi were released, it would be the direct result of the 
people's efforts.  Sonthi said the situation bears close 
watching in the next two or three days. 
 
¶3. (C) Sonthi said after declaration of martial law and the 
Burmese regime's orders to prevent monks from leaving 
temples, it may be more difficult for the people to succeed. 
Despite the presence of troops in Rangoon, Sonthi said he 
does not know whether it was the Burmese military (as opposed 
to the police) that had fired on protesters and the RTA does 
not know which troops are now stationed in Rangoon.  He had 
not received any reports of split within the Burmese military 
ranks.  The RTA, however, had heard that the military 
commander in Rangoon had been replaced in recent days. 
 
¶4. (C) The Ambassador asked General Sonthi whether the RTA 
has discussed the events in Burma with their counterparts 
from India and China.  General Sonthi responded that no 
discussions have taken place but agreed that such 
communication would be helpful.  When asked by the Ambassador 
whether the RTA could influence the Burmese regime, Sonthi 
demurred and said the RTA does not have regular communication 
with the regime. 
 
¶5. (C) The Ambassadors told Sonthi that his September 26 
comments on Burma (see below) appeared to be sympathetic to 
the Burmese dictators and supportive of using violence in 
suppressing the protests.  Sonthi denied that was his intent. 
 He had made his comments before any reports of violence and 
before the regime declared martial law.  Sonthi said he was 
describing how, before the declaration of martial law, the 
Burmese people and government had been using Thai methods in 
the confrontation.  The people were using monks as the face 
of the protests and the Burmese regime had initially employed 
police to address the protests.  When asked if he will 
clarify his comments in the future, Sonthi said now that the 
RTG has formulated a public policy (septel), he will support 
that new policy as he hopes the Burmese regime will exercise 
restraint and resolve the situation peacefully. 
 
BANGKOK 00005127  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (C) Sonthi said he had not received any reports of a 
divide within the Burmese military, and the Burmese people 
and military are currently on opposing sides.  If the 
situation came to a head and there is no split within the 
military, whereby elements of the military may switch to 
support the democracy movement, a violent crackdown would 
likely follow.  Sonthi said the Burmese military would win if 
a confrontation erupts unless elements of the military refuse 
to follow orders from the regime. 
 
¶7. (U) A Human Rights Watch (HRW) official based in Thailand 
circulated the following translation of televised remarks by 
General Sonthi on the night of September 26: 
 
--------------------- 
BEGIN HRW TRANSLATION 
--------------------- 
 
"Regarding the dispersal of demonstrations, the Burmese 
government did not use military forces.  Police were 
deployed.  That was the right approach.  It has been used by 
every country -- that the military must step back to let 
police take charge.  But the actual tactics may vary from 
country to country.  However, I think there is no violence in 
the current situation.  Everything is under control.  The 
Burmese government is still in control of the situation.  On 
the reports that Buddhist monks were assaulted (during the 
dispersal of demonstrations), that cannot be concluded just 
from looking at the photos.  As it happened in Thailand, 
sometimes people used violence against officials.  So 
officials may have to defend themselves.  There has been no 
political suppression.  Burmese authorities should understand 
that it -- getting Buddhist monks involved in the 
demonstrations -- is a tactic used by demonstrators.  So 
Burmese authorities understand that they cannot use violence 
against Buddhist monks.  They must use a soft approach.  I 
was informed that Burma uses dialogue to solve the problem, 
and senior Buddhist monks have helped negotiate to end the 
problem.  I do not think Burma will care (about international 
pressure), because it does not really depend on anyone. 
Burma has been taking care of itself all along.  It does not 
accept interference from outside.  Moreover, there are many 
countries that have discretely helped protect Burma -- such 
as China and Korea.  That is because Burma has plenty natural 
resources that many major powers want to have their hand on. 
We are neighbor (of Burma).  If we get involved, that will 
undermine our relationship." 
 
------------------- 
END HRW TRANSLATION 
------------------- 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶8.  (C) We took the high road with Sonthi, rather than 
immediately jumping on his ill-advised statement, and by the 
end he was more or less saying the right things.  As noted in 
septel, Thai public pronouncements seem to be evolving in a 
better direction but the key will be what they decide to say 
in New York. 
ENTWISTLE