Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA4657
2005-09-18 01:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

CHARGE CONVOKED FOR PRESS CHARACTERIZATION OF

Tags:  PREL CASC ELAB 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 02 DHAKA 004657 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USTR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2010
TAGS: PREL CASC ELAB PHUM BG
SUBJECT: CHARGE CONVOKED FOR PRESS CHARACTERIZATION OF
AMCHAM REMARKS

REF: DHAKA 04601

Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 b.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004657

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USTR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2010
TAGS: PREL CASC ELAB PHUM BG
SUBJECT: CHARGE CONVOKED FOR PRESS CHARACTERIZATION OF
AMCHAM REMARKS

REF: DHAKA 04601

Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 b.


1. (C) Summary. MFA convoked Charge to object to the timing
and substance of her well-publicized remarks to the American
Chamber of Commerce on current, mainly economic, trends in
Bangladesh. Her references to corruption, the impact of
violence on investment, and the need for political parties
and government to cooperate for a successful election are
nothing new from U.S. officials and others, Charge replied.
She in turn raised USG concerns about the BDG's repeated
failure to notify us of detained Americans and the recent
beating by RAB of a US citizen. She also flagged as an
important issue BEPZA's reported obstruction of a potentially
landmark agreement between workers and management at an EPZ
factory with major labor unrest. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On September 15, MFA Americas DG Shameen Ahsan
convoked Charge to discuss her September 12 address to the
110 mostly businesspersons at the September monthly luncheon
of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh. Emboff
(notetaker) accompanied.


3. (C) Ahsan noted that Bangladeshi media gave extensive
coverage to Charge's speech, and her "unusual" remarks on
corruption, governance, alleged references to Bangladesh as a
failed state, and the possibility that the next general
election might be problematic. Bangladesh, he stated, has
had three successful elections, and questions about the
process should be raised in parliament. "Voices outside of
parliament do not meet the standards of concern." He also
complained that Charge's speech occurred when PM Zia was
abroad and on the verge of her meeting with Secretary Rice in
New York.


4. (C) Charge responded that some headlines had badly
mischaracterized her remarks, and that she had signed this
morning a letter of complaint to a newspaper that falsely
reported she described Bangladesh as a failed, violent state.
What she actually said was the BDG should address
governance, security, and other impediments to investment and
concerns by some about Bangladesh's stability and security.
On corruption and elections, she said nothing that has not
been said previously by US and other officials, including her
hope appeal to political parties to participate in the
electoral process and for the government to ensure a
conducive democratic environment.


5. (C) Charge then raised USG deep concerns over the beating
of an American citizen by the Rapid Action Battalion (reftel)
and over the continuing failure of Bangladeshi law
enforcement officials to provide us with consular
notification when an American is detained. Ahsan replied
that U.S. law enforcement officials are not providing
consular notification for arrested Bangladeshis. Asked if
this meant the BDG was not notifying us of detained Americans
as a matter of reciprocity, Ahsan replied this was not the
case. He claimed the MFA has raised the issue many times
with the Home Ministry, and hoped the Embassy would again
follow up directly with Home Minister of State Babar.


6. (C) Charge also flagged for Ahsan a developing problem in
the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (EPZ) which could damage
Bangladesh's reputation to foreign buyers and raise new
concerns about labor rights. On September 12, she noted, the
Taiwanese-owned Ringshine LTG ready-made garment factory came
to a potentially landmark agreement with workers to resolve
serious issues arising from the factory's implementation of
the EPZ labor law and its alleged persecution of workers and
members of its Worker Representation Welfare Committee. The
agreement followed the arrival in Dhaka of representatives of
a major Spanish buyer who threatened to pull its orders from
Ringshine and perhaps Bangladesh. Part of the agreement
includes worker and management training by the BDG, the ILO,
and the USAID-funded Solidarity Center (SC). Unfortunately,
Charge said, the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone (BEPZA),
which administers the EPZ's for the BDG, is apparently trying
to block the agreement by blocking the training, due to start
on September 19, and in particular SC's role in the training.
BEPZA is also reportedly maintaining sanctions against
Ringshine workers rehired and exonerated by management of
wrongdoing.


7. (C) Ahsan took the points, but raised doubts about the
impartiality of Solidarity Center. Many EPZ investors, he
stated, have told BEPZA that SC fuels labor unrest.

8. (C) Comment: Charge's AmCham speech covered broad but
familiar ground on economic and political issues. On
September 14, Parliamentary Speaker Sircar criticized the
speech as "unusual" and urged the MFA to pursue the matter
with the State Department. MFA can now say it did its job.
The atmosphere at the meeting was professional and cordial.
CHAMMAS