Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA2185
2006-04-19 00:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
OPPOSITION SIT-IN AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE COULD
how-toVZCZCXRO7111 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #2185 1090035 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 190035Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7069 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1080 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2450 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9045 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8497 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7399 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1428 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS DHAKA 002185
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SIT-IN AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE COULD
TURN VIOLENT
UNCLAS DHAKA 002185
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SIT-IN AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE COULD
TURN VIOLENT
1. (SBU) The Awami League-led opposition alliance is pressing
forward with plans to hold on April 19 a sit-in in front of
the Prime Minister's Office from 1100 to 1300 local. Their
declared objective is to trap Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
inside her office in support of their demands for electoral
and caretaker government reforms.
2. (SBU) In response, police have announced a 24-hour ban
effective midnight April 18 on any rally or demonstration
around the PMO and the BDG secretariat. Similar bans have
proved effective in the past. Local media report some
arrests of Awami League activists in Dhaka, but there have
been the arbitrary detention of thousands of young men
arriving from out of town, as we have seen before.
3. (SBU) Comment: The sit-in could spark the biggest
political violence in Dhaka since the Awami League
demonstrations in April 2004 mounted to force the BDG to quit
office by the end of the month. While neither BNP nor the AL
is known for restraint, it is unclear how actively they will
court confrontation. If the PM holds to her normal schedule
of arriving at the office around noon, her path should take
her directly through the demonstrators. If the Awami League
limits the sit-in to two hours and then disperses, conflict
might be minimized. We will monitor and report.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SIT-IN AT PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE COULD
TURN VIOLENT
1. (SBU) The Awami League-led opposition alliance is pressing
forward with plans to hold on April 19 a sit-in in front of
the Prime Minister's Office from 1100 to 1300 local. Their
declared objective is to trap Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
inside her office in support of their demands for electoral
and caretaker government reforms.
2. (SBU) In response, police have announced a 24-hour ban
effective midnight April 18 on any rally or demonstration
around the PMO and the BDG secretariat. Similar bans have
proved effective in the past. Local media report some
arrests of Awami League activists in Dhaka, but there have
been the arbitrary detention of thousands of young men
arriving from out of town, as we have seen before.
3. (SBU) Comment: The sit-in could spark the biggest
political violence in Dhaka since the Awami League
demonstrations in April 2004 mounted to force the BDG to quit
office by the end of the month. While neither BNP nor the AL
is known for restraint, it is unclear how actively they will
court confrontation. If the PM holds to her normal schedule
of arriving at the office around noon, her path should take
her directly through the demonstrators. If the Awami League
limits the sit-in to two hours and then disperses, conflict
might be minimized. We will monitor and report.
BUTENIS