Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA564
2006-02-02 00:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

SCA A/S ROCCA'S MEETING WITH AWAMI LEAGUE LEADER

Tags:  KDEM PGOV BG BGD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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 000564 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: KDEM PGOV BG BG BGD
SUBJECT: SCA A/S ROCCA'S MEETING WITH AWAMI LEAGUE LEADER

Classified By: CDA Judith Chammas, reasons para 1.4 b, d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000564

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: KDEM PGOV BG BG BGD
SUBJECT: SCA A/S ROCCA'S MEETING WITH AWAMI LEAGUE LEADER

Classified By: CDA Judith Chammas, reasons para 1.4 b, d.


1. (C) Summary: Sheikh Hasina complained that the
ruling BNP-JI coalition seeks to eliminate all opposition in
the run-up to the next election, and that given a free and
fair choice, the Bangladeshi people would naturally choose
the Awami League as their leaders. However, she declined to
make a clear commitment to participate fully in the current
session of parliament, and did not rule out boycotting the
election. End Summary.


2. (C) On January 27, Assistant Secretary for South Asia
Christina Rocca, Charge Judith Chammas, and Conoff
(notetaker) met for one hour and fifteen minutes with
opposition Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina and a
room full of AL officials.


3. (C) Hasina began with a rehash of her litany of
complaints against the current government: it is
orchestrating a campaign of &elimination, not intimidation8
aimed at the opposition, the Election Commission has been
stacked in favor of the ruling party, and investigations into
recent attacks are stalled or whitewashed to cover up the
real culprits. BNP coalition partner Jamaat Islami (JI),she
said, has ties to all the terrorist groups in Bangladesh.


4. (C) She also pointed to recent political developments to
argue that the people of Bangladesh, given the opportunity,
would repudiate terrorism and support the Awami League. In
the recent by-election in Dinajpur, she noted, the favored JI
candidate was decisively defeated by a third party candidate,
and in Bangladesh's second city, Chittagong, a mayoral
election resulted in a victory for the Awami League.


5. (C) A/S Rocca pressed Hasina to commit to participating in
the current session of parliament, as well as in the upcoming
election, without resorting to a campaign of boycotts.
Hasina demurred. Despite worrying about their own security
and whether they would be allowed to speak in Parliament,
Hasina said, &we can take that chance." She reiterated
that the single most important prerequisite for participating
in the electoral process is a reasonably level playing field.
These conditions did not currently exist, she said, because
the Electoral Commission has been staffed with political
appointees who owe their allegiance to the BNP.


6. (C) At the end of the meeting, A/S Rocca stated that the
international community expects there to be free and fair
elections in Bangladesh, that all democratic forces will
participate, and that we will support international observers.


7. (U) A/S Rocca cleared this message.
CHAMMAS