TNAG-2612-FCO40-3803-International-support-from-European-countries-regarding-the--1992 — Page 41

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best way of influencing Indonesia on human rights issues: as with China, they needed to be exposed to outside influences as a way of improving their approach. But he could not predict what view a new UK

government might take.

Burma

27. Herr Schlagintweit found the SLORC's approach reprehensible. They were settling old scores in a brutal way. But breaking diplomatic relations, or expelling Burma from the UN, was not the answer. Perhaps more should be done to help refugees and exiles eg through scholarship programmes?

28. Sir J Coles agreed that the SLORC's behaviour was appalling. There were encouraging signs that the ASEAN view was becoming more critical. But the key was to work on the Chinese and Japanese to use their influence. He had pressed the Chinese MFA's Director for Asian Affairs recently suggesting in particular that they try to bring about the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Behind their stock line

of "non-interference in others' internal affairs" he detected some

willingness to consider what they could do.

29. Herr Schlagintweit sought views on the prospects for internal change in Burma, citing rumours that younger officers were disaffected. He wondered how effectively the SLORC controlled the

country, given the offensives on the Bangladesh and Thai border

areas. Sir John Coles said it was difficult to assess the internal

situation. There were recurrent rumours of discontent in the

military, but the reasons were unclear. The conflicts between the regime in Rangoon and the minority peoples (Karen and others) had

been running for decades. Neither the nor the Thais wished to come

into direct conflict on their border. There would be continuing

difficulties with Bangladesh. But the SLORC's main aim was to retain and strengthen its own grip on power.

SLORC

BESAEL

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