SEDITION TRIAL OF JOURNALIST RESUMES, PROMISING TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000882 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR BG SUBJECT: SEDITION TRIAL OF JOURNALIST RESUMES, PROMISING TO DRAG ON REF: DHAKA 374 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY ======= ¶1. (C) The trial of Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shohaib Choudhury resumed on August 6 after a motion to dismiss the charges of sedition, treason and blasphemy was rejected. A witness for the State testified before the court and was cross examined by the defense. In a private meeting with PolOff, Choudhury expressed some concern about his situation but seemed at ease. The next court date for the trial is August 31. LEGAL WRANGLINGS ================ ¶2. (SBU) On June 18, the Dhaka District Judge,s Court announced the Appellate Division,s ruling on the Defense,s &quashment8 (i.e. dismissal) petition. The court rejected Choudhury,s appeal to drop the charges on the basis of the evidence presented by the State and set a trial date for July ¶3. This hearing was later postponed until August 6. In the interim, counsel for the defense filed another unsuccessful appeal. Two Embassy observers were present at the court for the July 3 hearing, which lasted approximately 5 minutes. ¶3. (SBU) In the August 6 court appearance the prosecution sought to prove that the accused had published an article entitled &Hello Tel Aviv;8 had attempted to communicate by fax with individuals in Israel; and had possessed a roundtrip ticket from Dhaka to Tel Aviv. During cross examination, the defense refuted these charges and pointed out that no such article was ever written and that direct phone communication or travel between Bangladesh and Israel would not have been possible. NO RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT =========================== ¶4. (C) POLOFF met with Choudhury twice before his most recent trial date. He appeared in good spirits and confirmed he is still in possession of his passport and can move freely both inside and outside the country. Choudhury noted, however, his 24-hour police protection was lifted in May and he travels with an unarmed bodyguard. He speculated the Home Ministry removed the police protection in order to appease Islamist groups. COMMENT ======= ¶5. (C) Like many others in Bangladesh,s overstretched judicial system, Choudhury,s court case seems likely to drag on. Even the accused is uncertain when the trial will end. Local interest in Choudhury,s case has died down, but it remains very sensitive for some religious groups. Post will continue to monitor the case closely and urge the Government of Bangladesh to respect international standards of justice and human rights. Moriarty