BOUCHER DISCUSSES ELECTIONS, EXTREMISM AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 005025

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2016
TAGS: BG PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: BOUCHER DISCUSSES ELECTIONS, EXTREMISM AND
REGIONAL RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POLICY OFFICIALS


Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. On August 3, A/S Boucher met separately
with Acting Foreign Secretary Moniruzzman and Reaz Rahman,
the Prime Minister's Advisor for Foreign Affairs Rahman
acknowledged concerns about the Chief Election Commissioner's
performance but was upbeat on Bangladesh's relationship with
India, its struggle to combat extremism, and the fight
against corruption. End Summary.


2. (SBU) With Foreign Minister Khan and Foreign Secretary
Hemayetuddin called away to accompany Prime Minister Zia to
the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in
Malaysia, Acting Foreign Secretary A.H.M. Moniruzzman met
with SCA A/S Richard Boucher, Ambassador, and political
officer (note taker). At the just concluded South Asian
Association Conference ministerial, the United State's
request for South Asian Association Conference observer
status had been approved, Moniruzzman noted, but he regretted
the alleged U.S. view that the organization is weak and
limited. He agreed with A/S Boucher,s comment that, in
terms of potential for free trade, it was akin to the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) free trade
plans one decade ago.


3. (SBU) Moniruzzman asserted that the upcoming
elections would be free and fair, citing Bangladesh's three
previous elections as a "good history, and a National
Democratic Institute study that the voters list is
"maintainable." If the Chief Election Commissioner is
confident, we are confident, he said.


4. (C) Bangladesh has given the U.S. a "blank
check" and full cooperation in combating terrorism, he
stated. Regarding the Rapid Action Battalion's human rights
record, he claimed that inquiries and disciplinary actions
have been taken as needed, that crossfire numbers are
decreasing, and that the battalion "is highly appreciated in
the country." When A/S Boucher noted that in a very high
percentage of cases RAB officers are exonerated of any
wrongdoing and that crossfires are actually increasing,
Moniruzzman replied that Bangladeshis are "very sensitive to
any criticism about the Rapid Action Battalion."


5. (C) A/S Boucher expressed support for
religious minorities like the Ahmadiyas, and U.S. concerns
about the grave conditions in the Rohingya refugee camps.
Moniruzzman assured A/S Boucher that the Bangladeshi
government gives full protection to Ahmadiyyas, and portrayed
Bangladesh as a victim of the Rohingya situation since it is
forced to support refugees while Bangladeshis themselves are
in need.


6. (C) Moniruzzman reiterated Bangladesh's
desire for duty-free access to the U.S. garment market,
recalling promises supposedly made at Doha that duty-free
status would come
to Least Developed Countries. A/S Boucher promised that the
U.S. has not given up on Doha, and agreed that good
performance should be rewarded. He noted that Bangladesh
could take steps on its own to improve its business
environment and avoiding the sort of transparency problems
that plagued Motorola's recent tender for police radios.


7. (C) In response to questions on UN reform,
Moniruzzman stated that Bangladesh will be an active
participant in UN reform debates and that it supports good
management principles.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER
-------------- -

8.(C) Asked about relations with India, Reaz
Rahman cited Prime Minister Zia's recent visit to New Delhi,
denied that Bangladesh is "anti-Indian." There is still a
"big neighbor" syndrome, but both countries understand that
bilateral dialogue is critical and are prepared to be
pragmatic. Both sides, he commented, have a tendency to
knee-jerk reactions that need to be controlled.


9. (C) Rahman affirmed that Bangladesh is
strongly opposed to extremism and that it is moving away
from, not towards, fundamentalism, despite foreign
perceptions to the contrary. Bangladesh has five key
programs for fighting terrorism: a) passing an anti-terrorism

DHAKA 00005025 002 OF 002


law, b) passing an anti-money laundering law, c) closing down
the sources of arms and explosives, d) positioning
counter-terrorism units in key places, and e) maintaining the
political will to keep arresting terrorists. In the longer
term, poverty reduction is essential to solidify Bangladesh's
status as a modern, tolerant society.


10. (C) Corruption in Bangladesh is more than
just the two to three percent lost is annual economic growth,
Rahman said, "it is a vast hydra-headed thing" that
Bangladesh is now starting to redress in areas such as labor
relations, human rights, the judiciary, and through the new
Anti-Corruption Commission. All political parties are
committed to anti-corruption by manifesto, and while progress
is slow, the movement is in the right direction. Boucher
reiterated that pervasive corruption tends to be a great
factor in the increase of violence and terrorism, which none
would like to see in Bangladesh.


11. (C) Rahman identified the keys to democracy
as a free media, vocal opposition, and a vibrant civil
sector, all of which Bangladesh has. There is slim chance of
a true two-party dialogue, but many of the Awami League's
electoral reform proposal are either already in place or are
wildly unrealistic. The Chief Election Commissioner is not
doing a great job, but none of his predecessors were widely
accepted either. The Election Commission staff, he
maintained, are, however, doing good work.


12. (U) A/S Boucher cleared this cable.
GEORGE