MFA ADVISER ASKS FOR USG PATIENCE, SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000134 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL BG SUBJECT: MFA ADVISER ASKS FOR USG PATIENCE, SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT'S REFORM AGENDA REF: DHAKA 083 Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis, reason para 1.4 d. ¶1. (C) Summary. MFA Advisor Iftikar Chowdhury asked Ambassador for patience and support for his government's broad reform agenda, which he said is essential for curing Bangladesh's acute political problems before holding elections "say in November." Ambassador stressed the importance of credible elections as soon as possible, reaching out to the political parties to involve them in the reform process, and of Bangladeshis charting their own political future. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On January 24, Ambassador and pol/econ chief (note taker) called on Caretaker Government Adviser Iftikar Chowdhury, who took his oath of office last week to oversee the ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Overseas Employment/Expatriate Welfare. MFA Americas-Pacific Director General Shahidul Islam sat in. ¶3. (C) Chowdhury said he looked forward to continuing with the Embassy the excellent relationship he had enjoyed with USUN as Bangladesh's permrep in New York. His service contract has been terminated, but he expects to return for a farewell meeting with Secretary-General Ban. Government Agenda -------------- ¶4. (C) The Caretaker Government, Chowdhury said, has embarked on a three-pronged approach for creating a healthy climate for credible parliamentary elections: reconstitution of the Election Commission and ensuring the rest of the electoral machinery is neutral and capable; depoliticizing the broader civil service; and eradicating corruption from politics and the rest of society. "We're here for the briefest possible time," but the government is determined to complete its measures to prevent a return of political chaos and confrontation. The parties must commit to a process that forgoes confrontation and boycott, especially after an election, he added. ¶5. (C) Ambassador stated that, contrary to popular perceptions, the international community did not engineer the state of emergency; rather, it urged political parties to find a compromise solution to allow credible, non-violent elections. Our position, she said, is the government should prepare the country for elections as soon as possible, with the precise time-frame being determined by Bangladeshis themselves. ¶6. (C) Ambassador stressed the importance of the government's reaching out to political parties, which are already united in demanding an early election. Delay risks eroding Bangladesh's democratic traditions and instigating new confrontation, which would seriously damage, among other things, the sterling reputation at home and abroad of the Bangladeshi military. The Caretaker Government's broad agenda, ranging from anti-corruption to economic development, is worthy and one which we support, but much of it is long term and better left for an elected regime, she said. ¶7. (C) Chowdhury reiterated the need for patience and a broad approach. If the government proceeds with elections "say in November" without a political consensus on reform, he argued, the country would soon revert to chaos and violence. The constitution, he said, must evolve to reflect the aspirations of the people. "We can't have a state of emergency every three or five years," he said. "Help us to fix this problem based on our shared, global values of democracy and the principle that nobody is above the law." Political parties, he complained, want a quick end to the Caretaker Government to pre-empt its reform agenda. ¶8. (C) Chowdhury welcomed Ambassador's observation that the international community would be developing benchmarks to measure the government's performance. "Let's brainstorm together to find solutions for each basket of our reform program." Ambassador reiterated that finding solutions for Bangladeshi problems is a Bangladeshi, not an international, responsibility. ¶9. (C) Chowdhury asked Ambassador to serve as Bangladesh's conduit to Washington to convince it that his government's actions and intentions are positive. (Note: This request DHAKA 00000134 002 OF 002 implies Ambassador Shamsher Chowdhury in Washington, Iftikar's cousin and a visible supporter of the former ruling party, may as speculated be on the verge of recall.) The USG wants stability in Bangladesh, he presumed, and must support efforts to end political confrontation. ¶10. (C) Chowdhury accepted Ambassador's offer to host him at her residence to discuss these issues further with her and her counterparts from the UK, Canadian, and Australian missions. Other Issues -------------- ¶11. (C) Ambassador presented to Chowdhury a copy of her letter to Chief Adviser Ahmed last week expressing Washington's concern over restrictions on civil liberties stemming from the State of Emergency and to urge maximum respect for basic human rights (reftel). Chowdhury took the point that Ambassador hopes her pending appointment request with Ahmed materialize soon so they could discuss this and other issues. Chowdhury also undertook to look into Ambassador's concerns over stringent new registration and exit permit procedures for American and other foreign visitors, and complaints from American journalists based in New Delhi of excessive delays in obtaining visas to Bangladesh. Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Chowdhury smoothly articulates the Caretaker Government's case that it is committed to elections, but only after creating a healthy operating environment. One early challenge is to persuade the government to engage with the political parties on elections and reform since, for better or worse, the parties are a fact of life that cannot be easily ignored. BUTENIS