(U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ARMY WITHDRAWAL

S E C R E T STATE 087259 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2034 TAGS: PINR MOPS BG SUBJECT: (U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ARMY WITHDRAWAL FROM CHT TO IMPLEMENT PEACE TREATY (C-ME9-01713) REF: A. SAP20090730499001 ¶B. SAP20090811499007 Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE INTERESTED IN CONFIRMING THE VALIDITY OF RECENT NEWS ITEMS STATING THAT THE BANGLADESH ARMY PLANS TO VACATE SOME 300 "TEMPORARY SECURITY CAMPS" IN THE CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS (CHT) AS STIPULATED UNDER THE 1997 CHT ACCORD THAT THE AWAMI LEAGUE GOVERNMENT SIGNED WITH TRIBAL INSURGENTS. ACCORDING TO THE 30 JULY DAILY STAR (SAP20090730499001),THESE PHASED WITHDRAWALS ARE IN ADDITION TO SOME 200 SUCH CAMPS THAT WERE ALREADY VACATED UNDER THE ACCORD. ANOTHER STAR ARTICLE (SAP20090811499007) INDENTIFIES THREE SUCH CAMPS. WE REQUEST CONFIRMATION THAT THESE PRESS ARTICLES ARE CORRECT; IF THEY ARE FACTUAL, WE REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ON LOCATIONS, LAYOUT, AND FUTURE DISPOSITION OF THESE OUTPOSTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN OR COULD BE USED BY OTHER GROUPS. ¶A. (SBU) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE TEMPORARY SECURITY CAMPS IN CHT AFTER THE PHASED WITHDRAWAL? WHAT FACILITIES DO THESE CAMPS HAVE? WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? ¶B. (SBU) WHAT OTHER GROUPS, IF ANY, COULD POSSIBLY BE USING THESE FACILITIES WITH OR WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S KNOWLEDGE? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-ME9-01713 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON