Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04DHAKA3149
2004-09-15 02:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
FOREIGN SECRETARY THINKS INDIANS BEHIND AUGUST 21
how-toP 150222Z SEP 04 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5416 INFO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003149
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG IN
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY THINKS INDIANS BEHIND AUGUST 21
ATTACK
Classified By: POLCOUN D.C. Mccullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003149
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG IN
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY THINKS INDIANS BEHIND AUGUST 21
ATTACK
Classified By: POLCOUN D.C. Mccullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) DAS Torkel Patterson met with Foreign Secretary
Shamsheer Chowdhury on September 13 with Ambassador Thomas
and Poloff (notetaker). With renewed rains, downed trees and
flooded roads blocking traffic, Patterson noted to Chowdhury
the difficulties presented by the August flooding and
expressed the desire of the international community to help
in mitigating damage. He then pressed Chowdhury on the need
for action in the investigation of the attack of August 21.
He stated the reason for his visit was to express US and
international concern over political violence in Bangladesh,
including the attack on the British High Commissioner and
unexplained arms seizures. DAS Patterson stressed that a
government must protect its citizens and their right to speak
in opposition to the government urging the setting aside of
political differences and focusing on solving this crime.
2. (C) Chowdhury deflected Patterson's call for action. While
he agreed with the need for action he blamed the Awami League
for any inaction citing Sheikh Hasina's refusal to see Prime
Minister Zia as evidence of their lack of cooperation in the
investigation. He scoffed at the AL notion that the
government is behind the attack. "No government is foolish
enough to inflict this (attack) on itself." He criticized
the AL for any future problems saying that the politics of
blaming the government is "bound to set something off." And
as for the attack itself, he said it was an "intelligence
failure" that allowed this to happen, and that the US itself
was not immune from this sort of thing.
3 (C) In searching for a culprit, he noted that one "can't
choose your neighbors." He cited "certain reactions from
abroad" and described a recent discovery of some Indians
smuggling grenades into Bangladesh, asking rhetorically, that
in South Asian politics, "whose interest is it to have
instability in the region?"
4. (C) Noting the accusations, Ambassador Thomas raised to
Chowdhury the issue of heated remarks in the media by
officials in India and Bangladesh and hoped the rhetoric will
"cool down." Chowdhury responded that he will speak to the
Indian Secretary "tomorrow" preferring to discuss relations
"not through the media but over a table." Nonetheless,
Chowdhury decried the security situation where there are
those who want their own territory separate from Bangladesh
and who have their own weapons training, ideology and Email
addresses.
5. (C) Comment: BDG is getting inventive in explaining why
they are not able to conduct a police investigation into the
attacks of August 21. They blame the AL, they blame
"intelligence failure" and they blame the Indians for the
attack but are unable to produce evidence behind these
allegations. With the US position well known to BDG, it might
well be time to focus our position on asking if a conclusive
report will be published recounting the findings of the
investigation. End Comment.
6. (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS Patterson.
THOMAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG IN
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY THINKS INDIANS BEHIND AUGUST 21
ATTACK
Classified By: POLCOUN D.C. Mccullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) DAS Torkel Patterson met with Foreign Secretary
Shamsheer Chowdhury on September 13 with Ambassador Thomas
and Poloff (notetaker). With renewed rains, downed trees and
flooded roads blocking traffic, Patterson noted to Chowdhury
the difficulties presented by the August flooding and
expressed the desire of the international community to help
in mitigating damage. He then pressed Chowdhury on the need
for action in the investigation of the attack of August 21.
He stated the reason for his visit was to express US and
international concern over political violence in Bangladesh,
including the attack on the British High Commissioner and
unexplained arms seizures. DAS Patterson stressed that a
government must protect its citizens and their right to speak
in opposition to the government urging the setting aside of
political differences and focusing on solving this crime.
2. (C) Chowdhury deflected Patterson's call for action. While
he agreed with the need for action he blamed the Awami League
for any inaction citing Sheikh Hasina's refusal to see Prime
Minister Zia as evidence of their lack of cooperation in the
investigation. He scoffed at the AL notion that the
government is behind the attack. "No government is foolish
enough to inflict this (attack) on itself." He criticized
the AL for any future problems saying that the politics of
blaming the government is "bound to set something off." And
as for the attack itself, he said it was an "intelligence
failure" that allowed this to happen, and that the US itself
was not immune from this sort of thing.
3 (C) In searching for a culprit, he noted that one "can't
choose your neighbors." He cited "certain reactions from
abroad" and described a recent discovery of some Indians
smuggling grenades into Bangladesh, asking rhetorically, that
in South Asian politics, "whose interest is it to have
instability in the region?"
4. (C) Noting the accusations, Ambassador Thomas raised to
Chowdhury the issue of heated remarks in the media by
officials in India and Bangladesh and hoped the rhetoric will
"cool down." Chowdhury responded that he will speak to the
Indian Secretary "tomorrow" preferring to discuss relations
"not through the media but over a table." Nonetheless,
Chowdhury decried the security situation where there are
those who want their own territory separate from Bangladesh
and who have their own weapons training, ideology and Email
addresses.
5. (C) Comment: BDG is getting inventive in explaining why
they are not able to conduct a police investigation into the
attacks of August 21. They blame the AL, they blame
"intelligence failure" and they blame the Indians for the
attack but are unable to produce evidence behind these
allegations. With the US position well known to BDG, it might
well be time to focus our position on asking if a conclusive
report will be published recounting the findings of the
investigation. End Comment.
6. (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS Patterson.
THOMAS