Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA4392
2005-09-06 09:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

Media Reaction: Aftermath of Katrina; Dhaka

Tags:  KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004392

SIPDIS

FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY),SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO
USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B

CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (LCDR FLETCHER),
J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS)

USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ STYNER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Aftermath of Katrina; Dhaka

Summary: A columnist in Bangla Shamokal says that hurricane
Katrina has uncovered the racist character of the U.S.
administration.

An article in English "Daily Star" urges Bangladesh to
respond to the need of the Americans as America did for
Bangladesh in 1993.

--------------
Aftermath of Katrina
--------------

"The African-American Poor of New Orleans"
An editorial-page article in Bangla language newspaper
"Shamokal" by columnist Badruddin Umar opines (9/6):

The face of the U.S. as an imperialist nation is well known
to the people of the world. Its face became clearer with
the military aggression and occupation of Afghanistan and
Iraq. Hurricane Katrina has uncovered an important side of
the U.S. character. It is the United States' serious lack
of responsibility to its poor people. Hurricane Katrina has
uncovered its racist character, which cannot be obscured by
the black American Secretary of State.

It is clear not only to the poor people of New Orleans, but
also to the people of the world that the richest and most
powerful nation in the world did not do what was needed to
deal with hurricane-hit New Orleans.

Now the question is why the Bush administration remained
inactive instead of taking special measures to send relief
to New Orleans in this serious crisis. Meteorological
authorities issued warnings for two or three days before the
hurricane has hit. TV stations and newspapers were also
publishing reports. But the U.S. administration, in fact,
waited for the hurricane to hit without taking the warning
into account. President Bush's stooge Secretary of State
Rice said at a press conference on September 2 that
Americans do not want an American to suffer. She said, "I
do not believe that it is decided on the basis of race who
will get relief." Whatever she said things happened just
the opposite. That's why she has to address the press
conference.... It is not a big problem for a nation like
the U.S. to deal with the situation. But the reason for not
doing this is that those who were affected are Black African
American and poor people. The Bush administration and the
ruling class have no headache for them. In this respect,
there is no difference between the Republicans and the
Democrats.

--------------

"Bangladesh should offer assistance to Katrina victims"
An article in English language newspaper "Daily Star" by Dr.
Fakhruddin Ahmed from Princeton opines (9/5):

In the aftermath of the hurricane Katrina, America's Gulf
Coast has been hit by a calamity an order of magnitude worse
than the mid-western flooding of 1993. Thousands of people
have died, the historic jazz city of New Orleans, Louisiana,
is submerged in water, perhaps for years, and the residents
of the entire city have had to be evacuated. Once again, the
governors of Louisiana and Mississippi have appealed for
help. Generous Bangladeshis and the government of Bangladesh
should respond and come to the aid of our American brothers
and sisters in their time of need -- with tea, clothes, and
everything else -- as soon as possible. Let our poverty not
be an excuse.
While America looks for a leader, it sees only a tentative
politician in Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush arrived in the region
almost a week too late, and only on the day a huge influx of
troops and supplies reached the region to mitigate the
misery. He first visited Mississippi, a politically solid
ground for him. Mr. Bush steered clear of the streets of the
major disaster area, New Orleans, whose population is
disproportionately black and poor, who could not be trusted
to hail him with open arms, like the white citizens of
Mississippi. That, however, is an internal American issue,
to be sorted out by the Americans. At this time of America's
need, Bangladesh should demonstrate its well-known
generosity by stretching out a hand of friendship and by
assisting America in every way it can. Not for any quid pro
quo, but because it is the humane, charitable and the decent
thing to do.
Chammas