MEDIA REACTION: GAZA VIOLENCE AS SEEN IN DHAKA

UNCLAS DHAKA 000051 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/PB AND NEA STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OREP KPAO PGOV PREL OVIP BG SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: GAZA VIOLENCE AS SEEN IN DHAKA ¶1. Summary and Comment: Media coverage of the situation in Gaza retains front page prominence in both mainstream English and Bangla-language newspapers. The local coverage, a mixture of wire reports, reports on local protests, and commentary, increased with Sheikh Hasina's January 5 criticism of Israeli action in Gaza. Commentary continues to be critical of Israel and of the U.S. position. A January 11 editorial in the main English-language newspaper, The Daily Star, calls for pressure on Israel - including specifically U.S. pressure - to accept the UN ceasefire proposal and end the violence. Recent parliamentary elections and subsequent cabinet announcements, however, dominate media attention diverting potentially stronger interest in the Gaza to events closer to home. End summary and comment. ¶2. A selection of media reaction follows: ¶A. "DHAKA PROTESTS," a front page article in the January 11 issue of the fairly neutral main English-language daily THE DAILY STAR: "Bangladesh has condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza as a flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws. "These atrocities are medieval carnage in modern times," said Debapriva Bhattacharya, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the U.N. Offices in Geneva." ¶B. "ISRAELI ATROCITIES IN GAZA, HEINOUS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY," an editorial in the January 11 pro-Awami League Bangla daily SHAMOKAL: "Israeli soldier's atrocities in Gaza continue to violate all international norms. They are killing children and women indiscriminately. ...We urge the international community to immediately press Israel to stop war in Gaza. This continued attack will only breed disrespect towards the civilization and the UN human rights organization." ¶C. "GENOCIDE IN GAZA: PART OF U.S. WAR PLAN!" editorial in the January 11 pro-Bangladesh National Party Bangla daily AMAR DESH: "Israel continues air and tank attacks ignoring the UN resolution. Israel previously showed disrespect to the UN resolution but this time it dares to reject it outright. Barack Obama is silent on the Gaza issue. He repeatedly said that his target is Afghanistan, not Iraq. He will be sworn in as president on January 20 and following the swearing in, if he begins all-out attacks on Afghanistan and Pakistan, there will be fury around the world. In order to divert focus on other issues, is the Gaza carnage a 'cover shooting'? Things will be clear soon." ¶D. " CONDEMNATION AGAINST ISRAELI ATTACK CONTINUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY," front page reporting on January 10 in a pro-Islamic, anti-American Bangla daily NAYA DIGANTA: "Separate demonstrations [in Bangladesh] state that Israeli forces continue to inflict their barbarism on the Palestinians with direct help from the U.S." The January 10 issue of Naya Diganta also carried a front page photo of Jamaat Chief Maulana Motiru Rahman Nizami signing the condolence book at the Palestine Embassy in Dhaka. ¶E. Additional headlines follow. "DOUBLE STANDARD OF THE U.S. TOWARDS ATTACKS OF MUMBAI AND GAZA," reporting in the January 10 Bangla daily INQUILAB "BUSH'S HATEFUL AND OBAMA'S SURPRISING BEHAVIOR IN GAZA CARNAGE," a commentary in the January 11 Bangla daily INQUILAB MORIARTY