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