Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DHAKA1138
2008-10-30 11:27:00
SECRET
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

ELECTION COMMISSION TO REJECT IDP REGISTRATION

Tags:  PTER PREL PGOV PINR PINS KDEM ASEC BG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8997
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1138 3041127
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 301127Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7643
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 8687
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2414
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0122
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9927
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1835
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0903
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1525
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0139
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
S E C R E T DHAKA 001138 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/CT AND SCA/PB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR PINS KDEM ASEC BG
SUBJECT: ELECTION COMMISSION TO REJECT IDP REGISTRATION

REF: A. DHAKA 1117

B. DHAKA 1108

C. DHAKA 1078

D. SECSTATE 114426

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

------
SUMMARY
-------

S E C R E T DHAKA 001138

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/CT AND SCA/PB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR PINS KDEM ASEC BG
SUBJECT: ELECTION COMMISSION TO REJECT IDP REGISTRATION

REF: A. DHAKA 1117

B. DHAKA 1108

C. DHAKA 1078

D. SECSTATE 114426

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (S) Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retired)
Sakhawat Hossain told the Embassy on 10/30 the Commission
would reject the Islamic Democratic Party's attempt to
register for Parliamentary elections in December. The party
was formed earlier this year by senior members of Harakat
ul-Jihad-Islami-Bangladesh (HUJI-B),which is designated a
Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Government. The
rejection comes after Post relayed to a number of senior
Bangladeshi government and military officials strong USG
opposition to the creation of the IDP. The Embassy will keep
an eye out for indications of a violent HUJI-B response to
the rejection of the party.

--------------
NO TO THE IDP
--------------


2. (S) Election Commissioner Hossain told the Embassy's
locally engaged political staff the Commission would reject
the IDP's request to register for the December 18
Parliamentary vote. He cited the party's vow to run the
country based on the "Medina charter," a political document
dating from the Prophet Mohammad, as the reason for
disqualification. In effect, the Commission ruled the party's
consitution called for creation of an Islamic state,
contravening the national Constitution that states Bangladesh
is a republic. His comment came one day after media reports
quoted the Election Commission Joint Secretary Nurul Islam
Khan as saying the IDP would be disqualified. Hossain noted
any disqualified party can challenge a Commission decision in
the High Court; the Commission itself does not have an
appeals process. Local news reports confirmed on 10/30 that
the IDP had received a letter from the Chief Election
Commissioner rejecting the party's application for
registration.

-------------- --
DECISION FOLLOWS STRONG USG CONDEMNATION OF IDP
-------------- --


3. (S) In recent weeks, Post spoke to several top Bangladeshi
military and political leaders to express strong USG
opposition to the IDP (reftels A and B). The Ambassador
delivered the message in private to Foreign Affairs Adviser
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Home Affairs Adviser Gen. (retired)
M.A. Matin, Chief of Army Staff General Moeen Uddin Ahmed,
and Director General of the Directorate General of Forces
Intelligence (DGFI) Major General Golam Mohammad. (Note: The
DGFI drove the formation of the IDP in an effort to bring the
HUJI-B above ground. HUJI-B also is banned by the Bangladeshi
government. End note.) After hearing the USG objections,
Moeen and Mohammad vowed to do what they could to thwart the
IDP's registration.

--------------
COMMENT: WHAT WILL HUJI-B DO NEXT?
--------------


4. (S) Despite the effort to join the political process
through the IDP, the HUJI-B has not renounced the use of
violence. The HUJI-B will no doubt be angered by the Election
Commission decision. The Embassy will maintain close contact
with Bangladeshi law enforcement and intelligence services to
determine whether the HUJI-B plans to violently vent its
displeasure toward the Election Commission decision,
including possibly targeting the U.S. Mission or U.S.
interests.
Moriarty