Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA2298
2005-05-17 05:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH BANGLADESH PM, MFA OFFICIALS

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM BG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 002298 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BG
SUBJECT: A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH BANGLADESH PM, MFA OFFICIALS

REF: DHAKA 2264 (EXDIS)

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 002298

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BG
SUBJECT: A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH BANGLADESH PM, MFA OFFICIALS

REF: DHAKA 2264 (EXDIS)

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


1. (C) Summary: In May 12 meetings with Prime Minister
Zia and senior MFA officials, Assistant Secretary for South
Asia Christina Rocca discussed law and order, governance,
terrorism (reftel),democracy, human rights, and religious
freedom, as well as regional issues. Alternately
downplaying USG concerns and promising stronger actions,
Bangladeshi officials sought increased USG technical
assistance and support, encouraged passage of legislation for
duty-free textile access, and sought USG support for
membership in the ASEAN Regional Forum. End summary.


2. (U) A/S Rocca held separate meetings on May 12 with
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister Morshed Khan,
Foreign Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman, and Foreign Secretary
Hemayetuddin. Ambassador and acting political/economic
counselor (note taker) accompanied the assistant secretary.

Law and Order; Governance
--------------


3. (C) On law and order, BDG officials pointed proudly to
improved security in Bangladesh, saying people were no longer
afraid to go out. A/S Rocca expressed USG concern over
extra-judicial killings and reminded her interlocutors of
potential sanctions under US law. The PM informed A/S Rocca
there would be a cabinet meeting to look into the issue.
That said, the PM and MFA all defended the actions of RAB and
the police with the oft repeated defense that the victims
were all hardened criminals, the need to address declining
law and order justified strong measures, the people supported
the government, and, in the PM's words, when you arrest
notorious criminals, gun battles are frequent and criminals
die. Police are killed too, she said, implying critics
should be more concerned about their deaths.


4. (C) A/S Rocca cited USG concern with rising political
violence, noting the effect it could have on elections. The
foundation of democracy in Bangladesh would be helped by
aggressively pursuing political violence. Ambassador Thomas
thanked the PM for the BDG's cooperation with the FBI in the
Kibria murder investigation. A/S Rocca stressed that it was
important that the investigation stand up to international

scrutiny. The PM and MFA officials noted USG concerns about
political violence but downplayed them, arguing an aggressive
free press and vested interests have distorted reality. All
sought additional training and assistance to improve police
and investigator skills, with the PM specifically requesting
forensic training and equipment, including a DNA analysis
lab.


5. (C) The Prime Minister stressed the progress she
believed Bangladesh has made in addressing governance issues.
She pointed to the formation of the Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC),explaining away its slow start as normal
organizational delays and expressing confidence that it would
produce results in the next six months. The PM acknowledged
inefficiencies in government and sought training and
assistance programs for improving government efficiency.


6. (C) A/S Rocca welcomed the formation of the ACC but
noted it must be given real authority and independence to be
effective. In all her meetings, A/S Rocca said that a
climate of corruption, uncertain law and order, and weak
governance held the potential to undermine Bangladeshi
institutions, creating opportunities for extremists to take
the country in the wrong direction.

Elections and Democracy
--------------


7. (C) A/S Rocca congratulated officials on the conduct of
the elections for the mayor of Chittagong, noting
Bangladesh's history of free and fair elections and
expressing the desire of the USG to see this tradition
continued through the next national elections. She said
democracy remains a focal point of US policy. She praised
Bangladesh's democratic traditions but said the U.S. would
continue to voice concerns whenever we see threats to
democracy.


8. (C) The PM and MFA officials reiterated their
commitment to democracy and welcomed U.S. support of
democratic institutions in Bangladesh. They uniformly
expressed their satisfaction with the conduct of the
Chittagong elections (if not the outcome; the incumbent
opposition candidate won.) Reaz Rahman was more blunt,
saying it was a wake-up call for the BNP and gave the
opposition Awami League (AL) confidence that it could win
elections, which Rahman hopes will translate into AL
participation in national elections.


9. (C) On opposition proposals for election reform, Reaz
Rahman said any attempt to change the system would create
more problems than it would solve, saying there was no common
ground on the nature of or need for reform. More broadly, he
lamented the political polarization of country, saying ways
needed to be found to strengthen parliament.

Human Rights and Religious Freedom
--------------


10. (C) A/S Rocca stressed the need to protect human rights
and religious freedom. Our concerns are not just with the
Ahmadiyas, she said. She warned that the impression overseas
of Bangladesh as a moderate, tolerant society was changing.

11. (C) PM Zia assured A/S Rocca that "we are looking
after" the issue and there is no problem. It was only a very
small group of people who had issues with the Ahmadiyas. She
suggested an active, free press creates a distorted view by
focusing on a few unfortunate incidents. She also speculated
that the AL was trying to use these incidents against the
government because they lacked any credible issues of their
own.


12. (C) The Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary expanded
on these positions, stressing the long history of tolerance
in Bangladesh and citing the peaceful, simultaneous
celebration of Eid and a major Hindu festival last fall.
Saying the BDG did not condone attacks on the Ahmadiyas, they
pointed to an April 29 statement by coalition partner
Jamaat-e Islami condemning extremist acts against the
Ahmadiya's. Acknowledging "one or two instances," of
violence against the Ahmadiyas, the Foreign Secretary assured
A/S Rocca that the BDG was determined to keep the situation
under control.


13. (C) The Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary also
asked about the May 11 recommendation of the US Commission on
International Religious Freedom to place Bangladesh on a
watch list. Without commenting on the commissions report,
A/S Rocca pointed out that government actions such as the ban
on Ahmadiya publications contributed to perceptions that
Bangladesh restricted religious freedoms. Bemoaning the ban,
the FM said it was driven by political considerations but
said the BDG did not really support it and had asked the
Ahmadiyas to challenge it in court. The Foreign Secretary
took a different tact, saying some of the publications were
incendiary and that the need to protect public security could
outweigh the limited restriction imposed by the publication
ban.

Textile Tariff Relief
--------------


14. (C) The PM and MFA officials all sought support for
passage of the Trade Act of 2005, which would grant duty free
access to Bangladesh textiles and ready made garments.
Noting this was an issue for the Congress, A/S Rocca urged
Bangladesh not to base its post- Multi-Fiber Arrangement
strategy on gaining duty-free access to the U.S., explaining
domestic political realities on textiles and the many other
competing priorities on trade. Instead, she urged Bangladesh
to address the underlying infrastructure and governance
issues that undermine Bangladesh's competitive position.

Regional Issues
--------------


15. The PM and MFA officials sought U.S. support for
Bangladesh's bid to join the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Bangladesh fits within the regional footprint and has
experience in multilateral fora and peacekeeping they pointed
out. A/S Rocca noted their request.


16. A/S Rocca's interlocutors also asked about U.S.
relations with India. A/S Rocca said the U.S. has built
strong bilateral relationships with all the countries in the
region and wants to continue to work with the region to
support democracy. We work closely with India where there
are common interests and views, just as we do with
Bangladesh, she said. A/S Rocca welcomed news that the SAARC
summit would likely be scheduled in November, citing the
untapped potential of SAARC to foster political and economic
development in the region.


17. A/S Rocca has cleared this message.
THOMAS