BANGLADESH SAYS NO TO WESTERN-SPONSORED ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 004849 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/26/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM BG BGD SUBJECT: BANGLADESH SAYS NO TO WESTERN-SPONSORED ELECTION CONFERENCE REF: A. 9/7/05 CHAMMAS-GASTRIGHT EMAIL ¶B. 9/14/05 CHAMMAS-GASTRIGHT EMAIL Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b) 1.(SBU) On September 26, local newspapers prominently reported MFA press guidance that the BDG has rejected the proposal by the Western "Tuesday Group" embassies to hold an election best practices conference in Dhaka early next year. Foreign Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman told Canadian High Commissioner David Sproule and Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise Nordheim that the conference would be counterproductive, interference in domestic politics, and unnecessary because Bangladesh has demonstrated, he said, that it can hold free and fair elections. The conference, he added, would give the false impression that the BDG does not want and cannot organize fair elections. ¶2. (C) Norwegian political officer Kristian Jervell told poloff that MFA had briefed the press before the meeting, which led to a "surreal" exchange between reporters and the two ambassadors before the meeting had actually taken place. The media did not report that former Filipino president Fidel Ramos had agreed to be the conference's chief guest. ¶3. (C) On September 26, the Tuesday Group ambassadors met and decided to draft a press release for September 28 that will announce a postponement of the conference, regret the lost opportunity for Bangladeshis to discuss electoral best practices. state the Group will explore other options for promoting free and fair elections, and underscore that the Group (originally set up to monitor the 2001 election) will monitor political developments closely. ¶4. (C) Comment: Rahman had previewed his negative position several hours earlier in a separate meeting with Charge, who reiterated that the USG supported the concept of a conference. It is unlikely that the BDG will relent since the political season is likely to get hotter, not calmer, as we head toward the January 2007 election. CHAMMAS