AMBASSADOR REVIEWS HUMAN RIGHTS, REFUGEES, CLIMATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000447 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, S/CT, INR, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER SENV PREF BG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS HUMAN RIGHTS, REFUGEES, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WAR CRIMES ISSUE WITH FOREIGN MINISTER DHAKA 00000447 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b&d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern about recent deaths during interrogation of border guard personnel implicated in the February 25-26 border guard mutiny, at a May 4 meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. The Ambassador also raised concerns about the human rights situation of Rohingya refugees in southeast Bangladesh. FM Moni said the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) was preparing high-level participation in the December UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen. She also discussed the GOB's decision to prosecute those guilty of war crimes in the country's 1971 independence struggle and provided a readout of her recent trip to Saudi Arabia with the Prime Minister. End summary. ROHINGYA REFUGEES -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern about the plight of the Rohingya refugees, both registered and unregistered, residing in southeast Bangladesh, at a May 4 meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. Noting that he was planning to visit the area this week with UNHCR, he encouraged the GOB to work with NGO partners to improve the refugees' situation and allow them freedom of movement, education and access to livelihoods. FM Moni acknowledged the plight of refugees as a serious problem. She said she was afraid third country resettlement might only exacerbate the problem (by encouraging additional refugees to migrate),adding that it would be easier to come up with a solution once the incoming flow of refugees stopped and the GOB could deal with a finite number of refugees. She noted that Burma had committed to allowing donors to undertake some development projects in north Burma, which might discourage some individuals from migrating, but she seemed pessimistic about any overall positive effect. One positive regional development was that since Thailand and Indonesia were both affected, "there is now a regional understanding about the importance of this issue," she said. DEATHS IN CUSTODY OF BDR PERSONNEL -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern about recent reports of the deaths in custody of at least 18 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers during interrogations related to the February 25-26 BDR mutiny. He shared our understanding of the situation, namely that the army was removing BDR troopers from BDR headquarters for interrogation at a separate location. The Ambassador also noted post was pushing for investigation of the cross-fire killing of an alleged criminal by the Rapid Action Battalion, adding that he hoped all suspicious deaths would be investigated and that international standards would be met. FM Moni agreed that "each and every death should be thoroughly investigated," but then went on to relate how an interrogation process convened under the previous BNP government known as "Operation Clean Heart" had resulted in 58 deaths in the murkiest of circumstances. "The culture of impunity is engrained here and to get rid of it completely will take time," she admitted. CLIMATE CHANGE -------------- ¶4. (C) Moni said the GOB was currently preparing to participate in the December UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, and hoped that all countries would participate "at the highest levels." Bangladesh would be one of the countries worst affected by global warming, between melting ice caps in the Himalayas in the north and rising sea levels in the south, she stated. "The world should take into account now that there will be a huge number of environmental refugees as a result. Not now, but in fifty years, and the world has to plan for it," she said. The Ambassador noted he had recently met in Washington with U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern and had encouraged him to meet with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmoud when the DHAKA 00000447 002.2 OF 002 latter visited Washington this month. Moni welcomed the suggestion, and the Ambassador noted it would be a good opportunity to give Stern more detail on what developing countries could bring to the table to make an eventual climate change agreement more appealing to developed countries like the US. WAR CRIMES PROCESS SHOULD MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) The culture of impunity had a lot to do with Bangladesh's failure to try war criminals from the 1971 war of independence, Moni continued. Bangladesh needed closure on this bloody chapter in its history which had resulted in three millions deaths and millions of displacements, she said. "We must be very, very sure that the process meets international standards, that there's absolute transparency and that there is no vengeance." Individuals should not be targeted because they are members of a political party, nor should anyone use "spin" about targeting a political party to derail the process, she added. The Ambassador reiterated the USG position that accountability was very important but that international standards should be met during any accountability process. VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA: WENT WELL -------------- ¶6. (C) Moni said the Prime Minister's recent trip to Saudi Arabia (in which she participated) "went very well." Key successes were resolving issues related to the 2.2 million Bangladeshi migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. These included new permission to amend a work permit once in-country and agreements on the powers and obligations of manpower agencies, including an obligation to provide orientation and training. The GOB would establish an Expatriate Welfare Bank which would facilitate controlling migration costs and earnings repatriation, she added. The Ambassador noted that the USG had Trafficking in Persons concerns related to the role of manpower agencies and emphasized the importance of good oversight and regulation in this area. In response, Moni stressed the GOB's determination to tackle abuses both in Bangladesh and in labor-receiving countries. She noted she had already begun talking to the Filipino Foreign Minister to discuss best practices in the field. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) The Foreign Minister has spent much of the past month traveling and still appears to be mastering the details of her portfolio. This meeting reinforced our perception that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is beginning to regain its footing after the February BDR Mutiny. The GOB's first 100 days was dominated by political considerations. It now appears that Hasina and her Cabinet have begun to focus on the task of governing, and as they do, are adopting a more pragmatic approach. The good news for the USG is that we continue to enjoy excellent access and influence with the Awami League, which credits us, as the FM noted, with ensuring that the December 2008 elections took place. We need to take advantage of the current window of opportunity to advance USG objectives. MORIARTY