AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON FOREIGN ADVISER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001011

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM BG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON FOREIGN ADVISER

REF: A. DHAKA 0955

B. DHAKA 0951

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis, reason para 1.4 d.


1. (C) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador,s June 18 farewell
call on Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftikar Chowdhury, the two
discussed human rights (including GOB efforts to address
those associated with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)),
challenges facing the government, the ongoing corruption
cases (including one involving an Amcit),US - Bangladesh
relations, and the Foreign Adviser,s views on India. The
Foreign Adviser was accompanied by MFA Americas and Pacific
Director General Shahidul Islam as notetaker. The DCM served
as notetaker for the Ambassador. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) BILATERAL ISSUES: The Ambassador said the US
supports the Government of Bangladesh and remains a key
partner on issues from avian influenza to counterterrorism.
We do, however, follow the situation closely. She stressed
the importance of a roadmap for elections, noting that
comments the election might not take place by the end of 2008
attributed to the outspoken law adviser, Mainul Hosssain,
create confusion about the intentions of the Government.
Visibly embarrassed, Chowdhury said Hossain,s comments do
not reflect the government's position.


3. (C) The Ambassador confirmed that no one has been named
yet to replace her, and the Congressional schedule and summer
recess suggest the next opportunity for hearings will come in
the fall. She said the DCM would be Charge d,Affaires, a.i.
until the arrival of the new Ambassador. Chowdhury announced
that Ambassador-designate Humayun Kabir is expected to arrive
in Washington by the end of July. He thanked the Ambassador
for her work in Bangladesh, noting that her tenure had
occurred at a very difficult and sensitive time politically.


4. (C) HUMAN RIGHTS, ARRESTS: The Ambassador repeated our
message on human rights, saying we follow human rights
closely. and expect due process and transparency for those in
government custody. In addition, in the case of case of
arrested Amcit Abdul Awal Mintoo (ref a),we have a consular
obligation to press for information on why he is being held
and to ensure that any charges filed against him have a solid
legal basis. Chowdhury described the Mintoo arrest as a
"big case," adding that his well-connected family is pursuing
his case directly with senior government officials.


5. (C) Chowdhury said his government has informed security
branches it cannot tolerate "anything that appears to be a
breach of human rights." In the Choilesh Ritchil case (ref
b),he confided the military's initial administrative inquiry
was unsatisfactory. Ritchil,s body has been exhumed, and a
judicial inquiry is underway.


6. (C) The Ambassador explained that US legislation (Leahy)
prevents us from including anyone who has served in the
paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion RAB in USG-sponsored
training. The growing numbers of military officers rotating
through RAB, coupled with the military's refusal to refrain
from nominating RAB alumni, jeopardize the future viability
of important programs like IMET. Chowdhury took the point,
while remarking that the RAB "created by the last government
to reverse rising crime" no longer has a real reason to
exist. He added that "there is no justification for
crossfires" -- extra-judicial killings. He assured the
Ambassador that a) the RAB has been instructed to investigate
and punish those engaged in human rights abuses; b) the
number of crossfire deaths is down; c) the same approach is
being used in the investigation into PKO abuses in Congo and
d) this involves changing the culture of the nation.


7. (C) LOOKING AHEAD: Chowdhury predicted the Government's
reform efforts will culminate in full-fledged pre-election
political activity by the summer of 2008. He sees a role for
a party to represent the "middle class, pro-market and
secularish" population, and opined that the next government
would be a coalition of several parties. He dismissed the
military's need for an exit strategy, claiming they are only
engaged in a very limited way. He described the military as
the best-trained and disciplined section of the middle class,
applauding their current role. As for the future of the two
ladies, he predicted the corruption cases against them will
go forward.


8. (C) INDIA: Chowdhury said that the upcoming Foreign
Secretary level talks will focus on defining the bilateral

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agenda for the next year. While Bangladesh would not tolerate
a terrorist presence in Bangladesh, it cannot accept the

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Indian request for "hot pursuit" against Indian insurgents
allegedly present in Bangladesh. (Comment: The Indian High
Commission in Dhaka tells us that New Delhi's bilateral
litmus test for the Bangladesh government is its performance
on trans-border terrorist issues, but we were unaware that
India might be asking for "hot pursuit," or a Bhutan-like
approach, for the northeast Indian insurgents that allegedly
use Bangladesh as a sanctuary. End Comment.)
BUTENIS