A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH SHEIKH HASINA AND TOP AWAMI

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002265

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/13/2010
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH SHEIKH HASINA AND TOP AWAMI
LEAGUERS


Classified By: Acting Political Chief David Renz; reason: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary: Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Hasina
expressed satisfaction with the recent AL mayoral election
victory and recounted the continued deficiencies of the BNP
led government during her meeting with A/S Rocca. The AL
wants to run in the 2006/07 national elections but is
concerned about possible BNP manipulations. End Summary.


2. (U) On May 12, Assistant Secretary for South Asia
Christina Rocca, Ambassador, and poloff (note taker) met for
one hour with opposition Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina
and her executive committee: Saber Chowdhury, Abdul Jalil,
Alhaj Syed Abul Hossain (AL Secretary for International
Affairs) and former Bangladeshi Ambassadors Mohammad Ziauddin
and K.M. Shehabbuddin.


3. (C) Announcing "Well, I'm still alive," Hasina reminded
A/S Rocca that those responsible for the attack last May on
the British High Commissioner and the August 21 attack at an
AL rally have not been found. Rocca said that the US
continues to press for investigations of these incidents.
Hasina was dissatisfied with the arrests of the alleged
killers in the Kibria case; she believes the real
conspirators remain free. She further complained that the
Parliament refuses to let the AL discuss the matter, asking
rhetorically "What do they have to hide?"


4. (C) Hasina and others said that the overall law and order
situation continues to worsen, noting deteriorating respect
for human rights, extra-judicial killings by police and the
Rapid Action Battalion, and the government's failure to
arrest those behind the Chittagong arms haul. Lack of law
and order and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in
Bangladesh are related, they argued. Saber Chowdhury said
the fundamentalists are exploiting such "fault lines" for
political advantage. He accused the government of only
agreeing to conduct thorough investigations into all
unresolved killings, including cross-fire deaths, because of
A/S Rocca's visit.


5. (C) A/S Rocca asked for AL's views on the party's recent
victory in Chittagong. Saber and others complained that "they
(the BNP) tried to change the result" through intimidation,
alleging BNP supporters killed two AL election workers before
the election, slowed down the voting process so AL voters
would lose patience and go home without voting, set off
explosions, and refused to announce the AL victory. "However,
because we were alert, the people's voice was heard," Saber
asserted. Several people present indicated the AL would use
these allegations and their election victory to argue the
public supports election reform and early national elections.



6. (C) Hasina and her party leaders assured A/S Rocca that
the AL wants to participate in national elections, but
questioned whether there can be fair elections given the BNP
government's continued attempts to undermine and manipulate
the election process and influence the Electoral Commission.
To protect the process, the AL and its coalition partners
will propose a package of their electoral reforms by the end
of the month.


7. (U) Christina Rocca has cleared this message.
THOMAS