VZCZCXRO1565
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHVN #0297 1440723
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230723Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2027
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0194

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000297 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC, COPE) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM BM LA
SUBJECT: BURMA DONORS CONFERENCE: LAO FOREIGN MINISTER TO 
ATTEND 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 55244 
 
     ¶B. SECSTATE 53985 
     ¶C. VIENTIANE 0272 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Senior Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) officials view the Burmese government as having changed 
its attitude toward outside assistance as a result of the 
recent ASEAN meeting in Singapore.  They expressed high hopes 
the May 25 Pledging Meeting in Rangoon will be effective in 
helping establish a process to help Burma cope with the 
massive humanitarian needs faced by the Burmese people.  The 
Lao delegation to the Rangoon meeting will be led by Deputy 
Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Poloff met with MFA Asia, Pacific, and Africa 
Department Deputy Director General Viroth Sundara May 22 to 
deliver ref B demarche and provided ref A additional points 
to him on May 23.  DDG Viroth had accompanied Lao Vice 
Foreign Minister Bounkeut Sangsomsack on his visit to Rangoon 
May 7 (ref C).  Viroth called the upcoming meeting a good 
oppportunity for both ASEAN and the UN to find ways to help 
the Burmese government distribute international assistance -- 
too much of which is still stuck at the Rangoon Airport, not 
reaching the affected people.  According to Viroth, the 
Burmese only had 4-5 helicopters of their own, and there is 
no way for trucks to reach people especially in the delta 
region.  And the needs are great: when he toured Rangoon 
earlier this month, he saw 20-30 people crowding into a 
single small tent.  In response to ref B points on 
reconstruction, Viroth noted that the discussion of when to 
begin reconstruction had already begun at the May 19 ASEAN 
meeting in Singapore.  Viroth commented that the Singapore 
meeting had made good progress with the Burmese Foreign 
Minister who agreed that assistance teams from any ASEAN 
member could enter Burma to help -- earlier the Buremse had 
only accepted Thai and Lao medical teams.  When 
reconstruction does begin, he added, Burma will need a great 
deal of construction equipment. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Poloff subsequently met with MFA ASEAN Department 
DDG Phongsavanh Sisoulath and also subsequently provided the 
ref A supplemental points.  According to Phongsavanh, the May 
19 Singapore meeting agreed to think of support for the 
emergency phase of assistance to Burma as lasting three 
months -- paralleling the Indonesian experience from the 2004 
tsunami. After three months, the focus could turn to the 
reconstruction phase.  He confirmed Deputy PM/FM Thongloun, 
now in Japan, will be back in time to attend the May 25 
gathering.  Laos has already sent five flights of aid to 
Burma and has deployed a 24-member medical team.  Phongsavanh 
noted that the medical team, which had gone to Burma before 
the May 19 ASEAN meeting, only received permission to stay 
two weeks -- "too short a time."  Now that ASEAN has pressed 
Burma to be more open to assistance, Phongsavanh expects 
things will change, and the next Lao medical team -- probably 
also in the 20-24 member range -- would be allowed to stay 
longer.  He said many doctors had already volunteered to 
particpate on the next team. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Phongsavanh pointed out that Burma's response 
immediately after the cyclone was to only accept assistance 
from its immediate neighbors -- including Laos.  At the May 
19 ASEAN meeting in Singapore, the ASEAN "non-neighbors," 
including Indonesia, pressed for more opening.  Asked about 
the ASEAN "mechanism" set up in Singapore, Phongsavanh said 
that a mechanism within Burma already existed; the new 
element added in Singapore was for ASEAN to act as the 
"external mechanism" to coordinate international assistance 
for Burma.  He expressed optimism that the task force led by 
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Phitsuwan to undertake a survey 
and assessment of Burma's needs will "make a good 
contribution."  Phongsavanh accepted that the capacity of the 
Burmese regime is "not as strong as it should be" but said 
allowing ASEAN to act on behalf of Burma (in coordinating 
assistance) would help open the country more.  Another Lao 
Vice FM, Phongsavath Boupha, went to Burma on May 21 to 
examine the situation. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In the May 22 discussion, Phongsavanh called the May 
25 Rangoon meeting a "great opportunity" for the United 
States to join forty other countries.  He said it would be 
important for the United States to send a senior-level 
delegation and pledge to play a major role. 
HUSO