TWO U.S. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ADVOCATES VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000250

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: TWO U.S. ANTI-TRAFFICKING ADVOCATES VISIT
BANGLADESH, MEET WITH SIGMA HUDA


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reasons 1.4(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Two representatives from the Coalition
Against Trafficking in Women (CATW),a U.S.-based
anti-trafficking organization, visited Bangladesh February
7-10 to discuss the case of Sigma Huda, the former UN
Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons who is currently serving
a prison sentence for her conviction on corruption charges.
They met with Sigma at the courtroom where she is being tried
on additional corruption charges and also held discussions
with the Embassy, human rights organizations and other
groups. END SUMMARY.

ADVOCATES VISIT DHAKA TO DISCUSS SIGMA HUDA CASE
============================================= ===


2. (SBU) Dr. Janice Raymond and Dorchen Leidholt, two board
members of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW),
a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organization, visited Dhaka
from February 7 to 10. The purpose of their trip was to
visit Sigma Huda, the former UN Rapporteur on Trafficking in
Persons who has been jailed on corruption charges along with
her husband, former Communications Minister Nazmul Huda.


3. (C) During the visit, Raymond and Leidholt met with the
Charge d,Affaires a.i. and other Embassy officers to discuss
CATW concerns about Sigma's health. We informed Raymond and
Leidholt the Embassy was monitoring Sigma's condition closely
and had weighed in several times with the government to
ensure Sigma received proper treatment. We noted that Sigma
had been convicted already on one set of corruption charges,
and we emphasized we could not prejudge the other cases
against Sigma. We observed that the government has informed
us it has strong grounds for holding and charging Sigma and
her husband. Nevertheless, we assured Raymond and Leidholt we
were concerned about Sigma's health and would raise the issue
with the government again. We also facilitated a meeting for
them with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

SIGMA'S HEALTH "VERY POOR"
==========================


4. (C) Raymond and Leidholt were able to see Sigma briefly in
the court chamber where her second trial is taking place.
They also spoke at length with Sigma's primary physician and
her sister. Raymond and Leidholt said they were shocked by
the deterioration in Sigma's health since they last saw her
in October 2006. They described Sigma's condition as very
poor; according to her private physician, she was retaining
fluid, a sign of impending congestive heart failure and renal
failure; and when they visited her she was wheelchair bound
and visibly weak. The prison was feeding her starches which
aggravated her diabetes, and refused to grant permission for
her family to bring her food from the outside. Despite her
numerous ailments, prison authorities recently moved Sigma
from the jail facilities at Dhaka University Medical College
back to the main central jail. Sigma's doctor told them he
believed if Sigma did not receive constant monitoring and
proper medical care, "she could die any day."

CONCERNS ABOUT DUE PROCESS, TAINTED COURT PROCEEDINGS
============================================= ========


5. (C) Raymond and Leidholt also shared with POLOFF their
discussions with human rights activists and Sigma's family.
Leidholt, an attorney, expressed skepticism Sigma was
receiving due process, saying she had been shown the case
documents by one of Sigma's lawyers and the court case
appeared flimsy. She also said they were told plainclothes
military officers were present in the courtrooms issuing
instructions to the judges and prosecutors.


6. (SBU) Before leaving the country, Raymond and Leidholt
held a press conference where they expressed "grave concern"
over Sigma's deteriorating health condition and urged the
authorities to transfer her to a hospital or to her home so
she could get proper medical care. The event was widely
covered in the local media.


DHAKA 00000250 002 OF 002


INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS AGREED TO LOOK INTO SITUATION
============================================= =============


7. (C) After Raymond and Leidholt departed, POLOFF raised
Sigma's case with the Inspector General of Prisons. The IG
did not dispute Sigma was ill, but did say that due to the
lack of secure space in government hospitals, he had to
prioritize sick prisoners based on the seriousness of their
condition, and there were several prisoners in the system
sicker than Sigma. Nevertheless, he said he was trying to get
Sigma moved back into the hospital. Moving her to a private
hospital would not be possible, however, since it would
require too many of his scarce supply of guards and was
simply not practical. A court would have to grant her bail
for her to be sent home to convelesce. Regarding the issue
of her diet, the IG said no prisoners were permitted outside
food for security purposes, but he would see how he could
ensure she received meals more appropriate to her medical
condition. (NOTE: A more detailed account of our discussion
with the IGP on prison conditions and medical needs of
prisoners will be provided septel.)

COMMENT: GOVERNMENT PRESSED TO TAKE POSITIVE MEASURES
============================================= ========


8. (C) The Charge d,Affaires a.i. raised Sigma's case with
Home Adviser MA Matin, Law Adviser Hassan Ariff, and senior
officials of the Directorate General-Forces Intelligence
(DGFI). They seemed to take our message seriously, and
agreed to look into the matter. Apart from the concern we
have about the lack of medical care made available to
seriously ill prisoners, we have also emphasized to the
government the international attention to human rights in
Bangladesh, noting the damage to the caretaker government's
reputation should individuals detained in corruption cases
die in custody for want of medical care.
Pasi