AWAMI LEAGUE LED NATIONWIDE BLOCKADE OBSERVED WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000025 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM BG SUBJECT: AWAMI LEAGUE LED NATIONWIDE BLOCKADE OBSERVED WITH MINOR SKIRMISHES REF: A. DHAKA 0017 ¶B. DHAKA 0013 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (U) Summary: As of 1800 local, the first day of a planned three-day Awami League led nationwide blockade forced shops and businesses in Dhaka to close and stopped intra-city traffic, but triggered only sporadic clashes with police, limited injuries and no deaths. Chittagong port was operational although the transportation blockade hindered operations. Throughout the country, the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were out in force. The army was deployed but played only a limited, supporting role. No major injuries were reported but a few buses and private cars were set ablaze during the early morning hours in Dhaka. Almost all of the activity occurred in downtown Dhaka, approximately 11 km. from the diplomatic enclave where the U.S. official and residential facilities are located. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The Awami League (AL) and its alliance partners called a three-day nationwide blockade for January 7-9 to press their demands for postponement of the January 22 parliamentary elections, a new election schedule and related procedural demands, and the resignation of President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed as Chief Advisor. The initial two-day blockade was extended by a day to protest an indefinite order by the Dhaka Metropolitan police banning processions and rallies on the city's streets. Media report that the AL-led grand alliance will lay siege to the President's residential and office compound at Bangabhaban on January 9 and announce additional protest programs on January 10 at a rally at nearby Paltan Maidan in downtown Dhaka. Alliance partner Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has announced an agitation program from January 10 through election day on January 22, which other alliance partners will likely support. ¶3. (U) In Dhaka, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse AL supporters at several key intersections. At Shyamoli Ring Road to the west of Dhaka, stone throwing demonstrators pushed back police in a three hour clash before Army troops helped restore police lines. At Russell Square (near the home of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina) police clashed with marchers and assaulted AL leader and former Home Minister Mohammed Nasim. After the army took up defensive positions, the police cleared the area of demonstrators. LDP Secretary General Major Mannan told poloff that he led 500 supporters on a "peaceful march" in Moghbazar but clashed with 100 police using clubs and 80 BNP supporters. He said his supporters prevented him from being seriously injured. As of 1800 local, media had reported other minor skirmishes at junctions throughout the city with scattered arrests and injuries but no fatalities or major acts of violence. ¶4. (U) In Chittagong, the army, the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR),the RAB, and police were out in force. As of 1600 local, sources reported no clashes between AL-led alliance activists and security forces. Sources in Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet reported the AL-led alliance blockade was peacefully observed. ¶5. (U) According to the media, on January 5 police began arresting potential demonstrators and by the morning of January 7 police reportedly had arrested 1,300 people. Awami League officials claimed police targeted AL rank and file and indiscriminately arrested innocent bystanders. The AL passed to the Embassy a list of 3,000 AL activists they claimed were arrested. ¶6. (C) Comment: Given the high-stakes political posturing of both major political alliances, today's actions have been restrained and nowhere near the levels experienced at the end of October, which resulted in 15 dead and hundreds injured. Embassy continues to press the Caretaker Government and political parties to avoid violence and provocation during these demonstrations. End comment. BUTENIS