JI LEADER ASSURES CDA THAT JI HAS NO TIES TO JMB

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006356

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER BG BG
SUBJECT: JI LEADER ASSURES CDA THAT JI HAS NO TIES TO JMB

Classified By: A/Pol-Econ Counselor David Renz; reason 1.4(d)


1. (C) Summary. Jamaat-E-Islami Leader Muhammed
Kamaruzzaman called on Charge December 21 to deliver a
message that Jamaat-E-Islami Bangladesh (JIB) was not
involved with Jamiat Ul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB). The
discussion also involved Kamaruzzaman's involvement within
Islami Chatra Shibir, JIB's relationship with other parties,
and the recent bombing campaign. End Summary.

We're Not Involved with JMB
--------------


2. (C) Kamaruzzaman met with CDA Chammas and poloff
(notetaker) December 21 to deliver the message that JIB was
not involved with JMB. He had already visited the French,
the U.K., the Norwegian, and the Chinese embassies, he said.


3. (C) Kamaruzzaman said newspapers are offering three
arguments as proof of the JIB/JMB link. The first argument
was that JIB wants Islamic law, as does JMB. Kamaruzzaman
said anyone could push for Islamic law, but the method in
which they pursue the cause is different. According to
Kamaruzzaman, JIB abides by three polices: 1) social change
through should occur through the constitutional, democratic,
electoral process; 2) no one would be involved in armed
struggle; 3) the party opposes a military dictatorship.


4. (C) The second argument Kamaruzzaman said the
newspapers were presenting for the JIB/JMB link was that
relatives of JIB are members of JMB. Kamaruzzaman said the
country is densely populated and it is easy to find people
that have relations with members of the government. There
are relatives of the opposition Awami League that are also
members of JMB, he argued. When asked, Kamaruzzaman said
there were no current JIB members that are members of JMB.
He said that a member of JMB can be a former JIB member, but
will never return to the JIB party.


5. (C) Finally, Kamaruzzaman dismissed arguments that
JIB's loose ties to radical Islamic student group Islami
Chatra Shibir (ICS) "proved" that JIB supports violence and
the JMB. JIB does not actively support or control ICS, he
said, but merely offers guidance. Moreover, people join
groups for many reasons when they are young, reasons they
later abandon or renounce. Kamaruzzaman explained that there
were two types of ICS members, full members and activists.
He said that there were only about 2,500 full members, but
over 150,000 activists. He added that most of the
individuals who have been involved in ICS did not join JIB,
but pursued careers as civil servants. That said, the
leadership of JIB was based on ICS involvement. Kamaruzzaman
said he was the leader of ICS while attending Dhaka
University.

Government Will Act Forcefully
--------------


6. (C) Kamaruzzaman admitted that the government did not
have the situation under control, but that the government
would take strong actions. These actions included
encouraging rallies and awareness. Kamaruzzaman said the
government would also continue to arrest leaders/members to
stop activities.


7. (C) Kamaruzzaman said the bombings are meant to
destabilize the government. Who benefits from that, he asked
rhetorically? The Awami League, of course, he said, which
claims the BNP has failed and needs to resign. Islamists
certainly are not benefited. Islamic parties are being
blamed for the bombings, which gives the Islamic parties a
bad name. The bombings have destabilized the democratic
process, which is the opposite of what JIB advocates.
Finally, the bombings give credence to the arguments of those
who for years have claimed Bangladesh is a failed state and
extremist supporter, which only further undermines what the
government is trying to accomplish. The CDA noted that
Kamaruzzaman's comments show a continuation of the blame
game; in this sense, JIB was blaming the Awami League for the
attacks. Kamaruzzaman disagreed, his statements earlier in
the conversation notwithstanding.

No Strain between JIB and JNP
--------------


8. (C) Kamaruzzaman said the relationship between the JIB
and the BNP remained on firm grounds; it is not strained.
Nor was the JIB's relationship with BNP Joint Secretary Tariq
Rahman under strain. Kamaruzzaman had a strong relationship
with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, but did not have a strong
relationship with her son. The recent election where the
Hindi candidate won the seat in a JIB stronghold was not
viewed as a bad thing. JIB did not object to the outcome;
rather, they viewed the election as free and fair.

9. (C) CDA noted JIB's past support of the Awami League.
Shifting support to the BNP gives the impression that JIB is
opportunistic and that their loyalties are flexible to
whichever party is in power. Kamaruzzaman claimed that JIB
aligns itself with parties in the interest of the nation,
nothing more. Kamaruzzaman added that there are beliefs that
JIB should be dropped from the cabinet to end the bombings.
Kamaruzzaman added that he did not believe this was a valid
solution, nor did he advocate a national government.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Kamaruzzaman clearly wanted to rehabilitate JIB's
reputation following the recent drumbeat of press articles
linking JIB and JMB and to defuse suspicions that JIB was in
some way involved in the JMB bombing campaign. Unfortunately,
his well prepared, party-line monologue offered little of
substance or dialogue. More striking was what Kamaruzzaman
did not say. He offered no solution to end the bombing
campaign nor did he suggest any role for JIB in stopping the
violence. End comment.
CHAMMAS