DAS GASTRIGHT URGES BANGLADESH CARETAKER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001569 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017 TAGS: BG PGOV PREL SUBJECT: DAS GASTRIGHT URGES BANGLADESH CARETAKER GOVERNMENT TO STICK TO THE ROAD MAP REF: 2006 DHAKA 06782 Classified By: Charge Geeta Pasi, Reason(s):1.4(d) ¶1. (C) Summary and Introduction. On September 18-19, SCA Deputy Assistant Secretary John Gastright met with the Chief Adviser and the Foreign Adviser of the Caretaker Government, the Chief of Army Staff, the three-member Election Commission, other officials, businessmen and leading journalists. His visit received good media coverage, particularly his urging the Government to move as quickly as possible to restore democracy. Other points Gastright stressed were U.S. support for the Government,s political reforms and anti-corruption campaign, and the importance of maintaining the highest standards of human rights and due process as it pursues those policies. He also urged the government to more aggressively promote the successes of its policies, which vested interests were trying to subvert. The visit had immediate payoffs, most noticeably the Election Commission,s agreement to work with the Embassy to allow non-government organizations to monitor the massive voter registration process that has just started. He was able to advocate on behalf of Chevron in its ongoing dispute with Petrobangla. Gastright also urged the GOB not to allow others to dominate the information domain. End Summary and Introduction. -------------- ELECTION COMMISSION -------------- ¶2. (SBU) DAS Gastright commended the Election Commission for progress on its ambitious plans to register 90 million voters and enact electoral reforms in the run-up to elections scheduled by the end of 2008. He strongly encouraged reluctant commissioners to allow U.S. funded non-government organizations to monitor the voter registration campaign to boost its credibility; Chief Election Commissioner Dr. A.T.M. Shamsul Huda, who initially argued that it would be best for NGOs to review the process after it was completed, subsequently agreed to discuss with the Embassy a plan to allow NGOs to monitor ongoing registration. A follow-up meeting between USAID and the Commission is planned. Huda also asked the U.S. government to assist the Commission redraw election districts, which he said have wide disparities in population. In providing an overview of the new electoral laws, he said the Commission would introduce a requirement that all political parties register to provide transparency about how they raise and spend their money. -------------- -------------- CHIEF ADVISOR AND CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In his back-to-back meetings with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army Chief General Moeen U. Ahmed, the head of the Caretaker Government and its most powerful supporter respectively, DAS Gastright urged that Bangladeshi leaders be much more aggressive promoting their achievements in fighting corruption and instituting enduring reforms to the political system, adding that the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting would be a good forum for Bangladesh. Moeen said vested business and political interests were trying to undermine the Government by claiming it was not committed to restoring democracy. He also expressed concern that the civilian Caretaker Government was undermanned to effectively implement its ambitious reforms. ¶4. (C) Moeen said efforts were underway to address the main problems facing Bangladeshis, which he listed as inflation, lack of electricity and inefficient government administration. Neither he nor the Chief Adviser, however, articulated plans to better communicate the Government,s priorities and achievements. Moeen agreed that the ten advisers who make up the current Government are overwhelmed with work and said the group would soon expand to about 16; he also said that underperforming advisers would get the boot. ¶5. (C) The Chief Adviser emphasized that the Government,s role was to prepare Bangladesh for free and fair elections and to establish lasting institutions that were strong and transparent. He said credible institutions were important to keep Bangladesh on a path of better governance and noted the DHAKA 00001569 002 OF 002 reform of the Election Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Service Commission as examples. In response to a question about Bangladesh,s business climate, the Chief Adviser outlined ways the Government is working to bolster investor confidence, including a regular government-business dialogue, initiatives to address Bangladesh,s power shortage, and a plan to reform business regulations. He promised to look into Chevron's ongoing dispute with Petrobangla over natural gas fees after DAS Gastright, noting that such disputes can affect investor confidence, urged speedy resolution. Gastright noted that an effective strategic communications plan could help the caretaker regime capitalize upon the good will that they inherited on January 11. ¶6. (C) DAS Gastright encouraged Moeen to meet with U.S. officials if he visits Washington in October as part of a planned U.S. trip to speak at Harvard. Moeen said he would be happy to do so. They agreed that this visit was a good opportunity for Moeen to explain how the army was supporting the Caretaker Government,s reform agenda. -------------- -------------- FOREIGN AND HOME SECRETARIES -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain made a number of requests, including additional financial assistance for flood relief, which DAS Gastright said he would explore with Congress. The Foreign Secretary also asked for frequency jamming- equipped vehicles for VIP convoys and human rights training for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB),which is Bangladesh,s premier counterterrorism force. DAS Gastright said the U.S. would consider how it could help the RAB in a manner consistent with existing legislation and in light of our human rights concerns. On trade, the Foreign Secretary requested duty-free access for garment exports, noting concerns about Chinese competition and the harm a slowdown in garment trade would do to the Bangladeshi economy. As to the U.S. Trade Representative,s upcoming review of the AFL-CIO labor rights petition to suspend Bangladesh,s Global System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility, the Foreign Secretary highlighted progress on labor rights legislation and implementation. The Foreign Secretary also reiterated Bangladesh,s interest in qualifying for Millennium Challenge Account assistance. ¶8. (C) DAS Gastright raised with the Home Secretary and Foreign Adviser concerns over human rights and due process; among the cases Post is following that of Abdul Awal Mintoo, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Bangladesh and longtime Embassy contact who has been jailed since May on graft allegations. The Foreign Adviser confided that Mintoo is suspected of large-scale tax evasion and that the government has strong, incontrovertible evidence against him. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) DAS Gastright received a warm welcome from senior Bangladeshi officials who repeatedly emphasized their determination to bring sustainable democratic reform to the country. "We are a bridge from one democratic government to another," the Chief Adviser said. The media coverage was positive. DAS Gastright made the front pages of most Bangla- and English-language newspapers with his emphasis on an early restoration of democracy and the Caretaker Government's sure progress toward that goal. DAS Gastright,s visit also underscored the important role that the army plays in supporting the Caretaker Government. This visit came at an important time, and was helpful to our efforts to keep Bangladesh,s government moving forward along the electoral roadmap. ¶8. (U) DAS Gastright has cleared this message Pasi