Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA909
2005-03-02 08:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

BANGLADESH PONDERS FATE OF ULFA CHIEF

Tags:  PTER KCRM PGOV 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 DHAKA 000909 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015
TAGS: PTER KCRM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH PONDERS FATE OF ULFA CHIEF


Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C, McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000909

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015
TAGS: PTER KCRM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH PONDERS FATE OF ULFA CHIEF


Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C, McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary: United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)
Secretary General Anup Chetia's seven year prison sentence

SIPDIS
expired on February 25 but he remains in "safe custody,"
according to Alana Khan, Secretary General of Bangladesh
Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR). Khan said
that BSEHR petitioned the BDG to grant political asylum to
Chetia or to deport him to a safe third country. Since 2003,
BDG has maintained it would keep Chetia in "safe custody" at
the end of his prison term until a decision is made whether
to grant asylum or send him a third country. End Summary.


2. (U) Media reports state that Indian officials have
formally requested his extradition to India but requests have
been denied on the grounds that the two countries do not have
an extradition treaty. Chetia could face possible life
imprisonment in India if found guilty of alleged crimes of
killing, kidnapping and extortion according to reports.


3. (U) After his arrest in 1997, Indian national Anup Chetia,
aka Golap Baruah, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment
for illegally entering Bangladesh, possessing forged
Bangladeshi passports, and illegal possession of a satellite
phone. During his prison term, according to reports, he has
urged BDG to deport him to a neutral country when his
sentence expires.


4. (C) Khan told poloff that with the filing of the writ
petitions requesting political asylum and continued "safe
custody", BSEHR does not expect Chetia to be released from
prison until the BDG or another country decides to grant
political asylum. She admitted that neither Chetia nor BSEHR
has filed for political asylum in any other country.


5. (C) When asked the basis for Chetia's extradition, Indian
political officer in Dhaka was unable to state any of
Chetia's alleged crimes beyond saying that he has committed a
number of crimes. In response to whether India has formally
requested extradition, Indian poloff said, "We have wanted
him for some time."

6.(C) Comment: Especially in today's chilled Indo-Bangladesh
climate, it seems inconceivable that the BDG would return
Chetia to India. End Comment.
THOMAS