BANGLADESH ASKS FOR USG HELP WITH BURMA

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001316

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/PB AND EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018
TAGS: PREL PINR MASS MARR PGOV BG BM
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH ASKS FOR USG HELP WITH BURMA

REF: A. DHAKA 1157

B. DHAKA 1147

Classified By: JAMES F. MORIARTY, CHIEF OF MISSION. REASONS 1.4 (B) AN
D (D)

Summary
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1. (S) Bangladesh is extremely concerned about a Burmese
military buildup along the land border between the two
countries. While professing Bangladesh's desire for peace
with its neighbor, Army Chief General Moeen Uddin Ahmed asked
the Ambassador for assistance to assess the buildup,
specifically requesting satellite imagery to assist the
Bangladesh Army see the scope of the Burmese military
presence and track further developments. Moeen told the
Ambassador Bangladesh had no desire for conflict with Burma,
but cautioned Bangladesh would defend itself against Burmese
misbehavior. Separately, Bangladesh's Foreign
Adviser told the Ambassador there had been no substantive
discussions with the Burmese since the earlier naval
confrontation. The Foreign Advisor said his Burmese
counterpart was powerless and argued that the only answer to
Rangoon's misdeeds at home and abroad was concerted ASEAN
pressure on Burma to modify its behavior. End Summary.

Face-off in the Bay of Bengal
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2. (C) On the margins of a December 13 meeting on another
topic, Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff, General Moeen Uddin
Ahmed shared serious concerns about Burma and alleged the
Burmese were building up troops near the land border with
Bangladesh. Reviewing what he described as a successful
visit by General Maung Aye in October, Moeen called the
subsequent actions by the Burmese unwarranted. Burma and
Bangladesh had dealt with a face-off over drilling in a
contested area in November (reftels). The General assured
the Ambassador that the drilling issue was on hold for now
but the Bangladesh Navy continued to monitor the area where
the Burmese allowed Daewoo, a Korean company, to station a
drilling rig. Under Bangladeshi pressure, Daewoo had
withdrawn the rig and its personnel. Bangladesh had
maintained a naval presence at the site ever since.

Burma Seeks Revenge
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3. (C) The Army Chief worried, however, that the Burmese
Government was seeking revenge against Bangladesh for the
offshore rig incident. Moeen described the Burmese military
establishment as "slow and logistically weak," but Moeen
believed Burmese forces were increasing their presence near
the border, about 30 kilometers in on the Burmese side.
Moeen reminded the Ambassador that the Burmese military lived
off the land as opposed to operating out of more easily
identifiable fixed camps. Reports from arriving refugees had
underscored the increasing desperation of the under-funded
Burmese soldiers. Although refugee numbers had not increased
in the recent months, their tales of treatment at the hands
of Burmese soldiers reflected an increasingly frustrated
Military, Moeen asserted.


4. (S) General Moeen called Burma one of the richest
countries in the region (in terms of natural resources) but
one of the most opaque. Moeen recalled the shifting of the
capital from Rangoon to Naypyidaw -- a decision made at the
recommendation of a Buddhist monk and executed with no notice
in a few hours time. Moeen believed Burma wanted to get back
the Indian rights to some oil exploration blocks in the Bay
of Bengal. Moeen opined that cash-strapped Burma might sell
these blocks to China instead in the hope that China would
develop the blocks more quickly. Moeen concluded it was
unlikely India would agree to give up their rights to the
exploration blocks.

Moeen Requests US Assistance for Satellite Imagery to Assess
Threat
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5. (S) Moeen asked the Ambassador for satellite imagery on
several ports inside Burma and at the land border, Bangladesh

DHAKA 00001316 002 OF 002


had gleaned information that the Burmese had unloaded a
boatload of weapons at the Burmese port of Sitwe. Mongdu was
the other port where the Bangladeshis suspect some sort of
buildup was taking place. Moeen provided no details on the
numbers of troops he believed were massing inside Burma or
exactly where this might be. According to Moeen, Bangladesh
has "no interest in a conflict" with Burma. That said, "if
they try to be smart, we can't let them have a free run," he
warned.

Foreign Adviser Urges ASEAN Involvement
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6. (C) During a December 17 meeting, Foreign Adviser Dr.
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Bangladesh had been unable to
re-establish contact with the Burmese junta since General
Maung's visit. Chowdhury said his counterpart, the Burmese
Foreign Minister, was powerless and argued that the military
called all the shots in Burma. Chowdhury claimed Daewoo had
removed its rig in November solely because of pressure from
the Korean Government. Chowdhury said the only way to induce
the Burmese Regime to change its policies at home and abroad
was through concerted pressure from its ASEAN neighbors. To
this end, Chowdhury had taken advantage of a recent
Ministerial meeting in Bali to build support for Bangladesh's
position on the maritime boundary dispute. He said that
Singapore, in particular, was interested in Bangladesh's
views on Burma. Chowdhury also believed Indonesia was fed up
with Burmese actions, and cited Jakarta's recent delay in
granting agrement to Rangoon's Ambassador-designate as proof.
Speaking personally, Chowdhury reiterated his interest in
serving as the UN Secretary General's Special Representative
for Burma, claiming his contacts in the region made him
better suited for this role than the current incumbent,
Gambari.

Comment
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7. (S) We are at a key juncture in the U.S. - Bangladesh
relationship with the possibility of a real change in
direction (for the better) on a number of fronts, including
information sharing. The maritime dispute with Burma, and
the unexpected increase in military tension, took Bangladesh
by surprise. It appears that the issue will remain
unresolved through Bangladesh's upcoming December 29
parliamentary election and transition. Dhaka's negotiators
tell us they have little hope of progress in the next round
of technical bilateral talks with Burma. We think it would
be useful to be forward leaning in sharing information as
well as passing satellite imagery to Bangladesh regarding
Rangoon's intentions. In addition, we should work with the
GOB and others in the region to moderate Burmese behavior at
home and abroad.
MORIARTY