OPPOSITION REJECTS COMPROMISE PACKAGE BUT TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006739

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: KDEM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION REJECTS COMPROMISE PACKAGE BUT TALKS
CONTINUE


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


1. (C) Summary. Opposition leaders dismissed a compromise
package and vowed to press on with their nationwide blockade
program, but talks continue to break the logjam. The
blockade is not being vigorously enforced, but inter-city
transportation arteries are blocked, and some officials fear
a prolonged blockade could produce a new crisis quite soon.
End Summary.

The Offer
--------------


2. (SBU) After a marathon six-hour meeting yesterday with
Chief Adviser Ahmed, a delegation of three Caretaker
Government advisers met with the leaders of the two major
political alliances to present a new compromise package that
would:

-- Make "inactive" Election Commissioners S.M. Zakaria and
Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury, an apparent middle ground between
"leave" and resignation.
-- The appointment of new election commissioners. (According
to one insider, the actual number would be "two.")
-- The replacement of the home and establishment secretaries,
and others related to the electoral process.
-- Modification of the election schedule to facilitate
correction of the voter list, with the polling date remaining
January 21.

The Reaction
--------------


3. (SBU) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its partners
welcomed the proposal while underscoring their main concern
that the election date not slip beyond the
constitutionally-mandated 90-day time limit for the Caretaker
Government.


4. (SBU) However, Awami League leaders, publicly and
privately rejected the proposal as inadequate and reiterated
their demands for cancellation of the election schedule, a
new voter list, a complete purge of the Election Commission,
more personnel transfers. and a new chief adviser. Party
Secretary General Abdul Jalil vowed that the renewed

SIPDIS
nationwide transportation blockade would continue until these
demands are met.


5. (C) During a meeting today with visiting SCA DAS John
Gastright (septel),Caretaker Government Adviser Ali Akbar
Khan lamented that, even if agreement were reached today on a
deal, the country is fast running out of time. "These issues
should have been dealt with one month ago," a dejected Khan
remarked.


6. (C) Several senior officials linked to the former ruling
party have speculated to us that a prolonged blockade could
force the government to call in the army under a state of
emergency, although the latest indications are that army
leaders have taken to heart warnings from a visiting UN
official that army intervention could jeopardize
international peacekeeping opportunities -- a particular
concern of mid-level officers.


7. (C) The Awami League's bottom line, senior leaders told
Ambassador over the weekend, is: resignation of Election
Commissioner Zakaria and the "vacationing" Chief Election
Commissioner Aziz; the appointment by the president in
consultation with Caretaker Government advisers of four new
commissioners, including a new chief election commissioner;
the replacement of 300 local officials involved with
elections; revision of the voter list in line with court
ruling for a new list; and changes in the election schedule.
They confirmed that while they would continue to raise the
demand publicly, they would accept Ahmed's continuation as
chief adviser, and that the blockade would again be suspended
if opposition demands were "considered."

The Situation Today
--------------


8. (SBU) As talks with the two parties continue, the renewed
nationwide transportation blockade is in its second day.
Traffic volumes in Dhaka are up, as the blockade is not being
vigorously enforced, especially between 1700 and 0900, but
people and goods are not moving between cities. At 1500,
local media reported that the acting chief election
commissioner has been summoned to the presidency.

DHAKA 00006739 002 OF 002



Comment
--------------


9. (C) The Awami League's bottom line has shifted too often
to be clear, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party seems to
have dug in its heels over the polling date, insisting it
must be before the Caretaker Government's 90-day clock
expires. As a practical logistical matter, we are nearing
the point in mid-December where the Awami League's demands
and a timely election will be mutually exclusive.
BUTENIS