NATIONWIDE BLOCKADE CONTINUES AMID NEW TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006644

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016
TAGS: KDEM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: NATIONWIDE BLOCKADE CONTINUES AMID NEW TALKS

Classified By: DCM Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4 d.


1. (SBU) Summary. There were no reports of major violence on
the third day of the opposition's nationwide blockade. Last
night, government officials met with representatives of the
opposition coalition to discuss options for breaking the
political impasse, and will meet with the former ruling
coalition tonight. A senior caretaker government official
spoke frankly to Ambassador about current issues. End
Summary.

Blockade Continues
--------------


2. (SBU) Thousands of opposition activists across Bangladesh
today enforced the third day of the nationwide blockade
called to force the interim Caretaker Government to accept a
broad range of opposition electoral demands. The country's
two ports, its major inter-city roads, and its river and rail
networks remained shut down. In Dhaka, however, more buses
and privately owned vehicles were on the roads, and
demonstrators and police generally acted peacefully.


3. (SBU) As of 1700 local, activists of the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party and coalition partner Jamaat Islami had not
hit the streets as part of their announced anti-"anarchy"
program, which has prompted fears of major violence.

Talks
--------------


4. (SBU) Late November 13, four advisers (interim ministers)
of the Caretaker Government met for two hours with senior
leaders of the Awami League and its main coalition partners
to discuss ways to break the political impasse. Afterwards,
opposition leaders reiterated their demand for a thorough
purge of the Election Commission. The same four advisers
will meet tonight with representatives of the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party-led alliance, followed by separate sessions
with General Ershad's Jatiya party and the new Liberal
Democratic Party. Yesterday, the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party reiterated its opposition to any changes in the
Election Commission.

Military Deployment
--------------


5. (SBU) A decision by President/Chief Adviser on November 12
to deploy the military in support of civilian authorities was
reversed at the last minute when his advisers balked at not
being consulted and over the way the deployment was being
ordered, according to media and other sources.

"Virtual Coup d'etat"
--------------


6. (C) On November 14, Ambassador met privately with Planning
and Finance Adviser Ali Akbar Khan, a widely respected former
cabinet secretary who has emerged as one of the two most
active caretaker advisers. Khan described the council of
advisers meeting on November 12 that nixed a military
deployment as a "virtual coup d'etat." The advisers
vigorously protested to Chief Adviser Ahmed his decision and
his failure to consult them, he said. Ahmed reportedly
agreed to consult them on subsequent matters, but Khan
wondered how long that commitment would last.


7. (C) At last night's meeting with opposition leaders, Khan
led the caretaker government's four-person team. The Awami
League, he said, offered to withdraw its supporters from the
streets in return for three personnel changes, including the
replacement of the controversial home secretary who played a
key role in trying to organize military deployment. The
advisers subsequently recommended acceptance of the offer to
Ahmed, who is expected to make a decision on the matter very
soon. Asked if the other two changes involved the heads of
the government's two senior intelligence bodies, Khan
replied, "That will come later."


8. (C) The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,
Khan observed, remain far apart on the Election Commission.
One week ago, some Awami League leaders appeared ready to
accept the proposal of two additional commissioners, but
party hard-liners now insist on a complete purge.


9. (C) At last night's meeting, Aziz said, the Awami League
raised as key issues the status of Chief Election
Commissioner Aziz, the integrity of the voter list, and
reversing administrative appointments of "partisan" local

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officials involved with elections. The advisers, Khan said,
replied that the first and third issues pose serious
constitutional problems, and that pressuring a recalcitrant
Aziz to quit would set a bad precedent.


10. (C) The four advisers, Khan continued, asked the Awami
League to "relax" and to come up with its own suggestions for
resolving the Election Commission issue. If the Awami
Leagues fails to do so, he said, then the advisers will have
to devise their own package and sell it to Chief Adviser
Ahmed.
BUTENIS