Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA2491
2005-06-01 08:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
RAB KILLS AWAMI LEAGUE ACTIVIST, APPARENTLY IN
how-toThis 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 DHAKA 002491
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: JUNE 1, 2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: RAB KILLS AWAMI LEAGUE ACTIVIST, APPARENTLY IN
ERROR
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002491
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: JUNE 1, 2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: RAB KILLS AWAMI LEAGUE ACTIVIST, APPARENTLY IN
ERROR
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b)
1. (SBU) On June 1, local media reported that in Rampura, a
suburb of Dhaka, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) killed Abul
Kalam Azad Sumon, a Jubo League (the student wing of the
Awami League) member. In a press release, RAB declared that
the deceased was notorious criminal Goailya Sumon, and that
he was killed in a late night "crossfire" when his criminal
colleagues opened fire as he tried to lead police to an arms
cache. Goailya Sumon, they said, was wanted on charges of
murder, rape and theft.
2. (SBU) The media, however, quoting friends and family of
the deceased, stated that he was in fact Abul Sumon, aged 22,
and had no criminal record. They noted that, according to
Abul's father, the Sumon family lives at 259 East Goran,
while police listed Goailya Sumon's address as 435 South
Goran. In addition, Sumon's rape charge occurred nine years
ago, when Abul Sumon was 13. Abul Sumon's father said that
plainclothes police picked up his son at his place of work on
May 30.
3. (SBU) Awami League leader Saber Hussain Chowdhury claimed
Abul Sumon was a minor AL activist, had no criminal record,
and that his duties consisted of distributing leaflets at a
local mosque protesting the construction of a public works
project. Local BNP politicians said that Abul Sumon was
polite and his killing was "abominable."
4. (C) Comment: The AL has claimed from the outset that a
significant number of RAB killings were politically
motivated, though Chowdhury himself has twice failed to
provide us with a promised list of such killings. There
appears to be no political or criminal motivation for Sumon's
textbook "crossfire" fate, which underscores one of the
principal problems with extra-judicial killings as a matter
of practice: when mistakes are made, they are impossible to
rectify.
CHAMMAS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: JUNE 1, 2010
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: RAB KILLS AWAMI LEAGUE ACTIVIST, APPARENTLY IN
ERROR
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b)
1. (SBU) On June 1, local media reported that in Rampura, a
suburb of Dhaka, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) killed Abul
Kalam Azad Sumon, a Jubo League (the student wing of the
Awami League) member. In a press release, RAB declared that
the deceased was notorious criminal Goailya Sumon, and that
he was killed in a late night "crossfire" when his criminal
colleagues opened fire as he tried to lead police to an arms
cache. Goailya Sumon, they said, was wanted on charges of
murder, rape and theft.
2. (SBU) The media, however, quoting friends and family of
the deceased, stated that he was in fact Abul Sumon, aged 22,
and had no criminal record. They noted that, according to
Abul's father, the Sumon family lives at 259 East Goran,
while police listed Goailya Sumon's address as 435 South
Goran. In addition, Sumon's rape charge occurred nine years
ago, when Abul Sumon was 13. Abul Sumon's father said that
plainclothes police picked up his son at his place of work on
May 30.
3. (SBU) Awami League leader Saber Hussain Chowdhury claimed
Abul Sumon was a minor AL activist, had no criminal record,
and that his duties consisted of distributing leaflets at a
local mosque protesting the construction of a public works
project. Local BNP politicians said that Abul Sumon was
polite and his killing was "abominable."
4. (C) Comment: The AL has claimed from the outset that a
significant number of RAB killings were politically
motivated, though Chowdhury himself has twice failed to
provide us with a promised list of such killings. There
appears to be no political or criminal motivation for Sumon's
textbook "crossfire" fate, which underscores one of the
principal problems with extra-judicial killings as a matter
of practice: when mistakes are made, they are impossible to
rectify.
CHAMMAS