US embassy cable - 88DHAKA2166

UNCLAS DHAKA 02166 
 
S/CT FOR WHARTON 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, BG 
SUBJECT:  BANGLADESH: 1987 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 42378 
 
1.  BANGLADESH. 
 
2.  RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PALESTINE LIBERATION 
ORGANIZATION: 
 
THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE 
PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION, WHICH MAINTAINS A 
DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN DHAKA.  FOUR PLO REPRESENTATIVES 
APPEAR ON THE DIPLOMATIC LIST, AND APPARENTLY HAVE 
FULL DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES, INCLUDING IMMUNITY AND USE 
OF THE POUCH.  AN ASSOCIATION OF APPROXIMATELY TWENTY 
PALESTINIAN STUDENTS IS ACTIVE IN THE PORT CITY OF 
CHITTAGONG.  THE ASSOCIATION IS REPORTEDLY AFFILIATED 
WITH THE AL-FATAH GROUP OF THE PLO.  THE STUDENTS HAVE 
DEMONSTRATED AGAINST U.S. POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST 
AND HAVE BURNED EFFIGIES OF PRESIDENT REAGAN AND ISRAELI 
LEADERS. 
 
 
DOMESTIC INSURGENCY - THE SHANTI BAHINI: 
 
A SIMMERING INSURGENT MOVEMENT IS ACTIVE IN THE 
CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS REGION WHERE SOME 600,000 TRIBAL 
PEOPLE LIVE.  THE MOVEMENT REFLECTS CONCERN THAT THEIR 
TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE IN THE HILL AREAS WAS BEING 
UNDERMINED BY SETTLERS WHO MOVED THERE FROM THE 
OVERPOPULATED PLAINS.  THE INSURGENTS ARE DEMANDING 
AUTONOMY FOR THE CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS WITHIN THE 
BANGLADESH STATE.  ARMED CLASHES HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN 
GOVERNMENT FORCES AND A GROUP OF TRIBAL INSURGENTS KNOWN 
AS THE SHANTI BAHINI ("PEACE FORCE").  THE SHANTI 
BAHINI HAVE CONDUCTED HIT-AND-RUN RAIDS AGAINST MILITARY 
PERSONNEL AND BENGALI SETTLEMENTS.  OFFICIAL SOURCES 
CLAIM THAT IN 1987, 122 PERSONS WERE KILLED, 68 PERSONS 
WERE INJURED, AND 21 PERSONS WERE KIDNAPPED IN SHANTI 
BAHINI VIOLENCE. 
 
 
3.  MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN: 
 
THE BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT HAS NO  SPECIFIC RESPONSE 
CAPABILITY BEYOND EXISTING POLICE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE 
PROCEDURES.  THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE IS AN ADJUNCT 
OF SPECIAL BRANCH, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNAL 
SECURITY MATTERS.  THERE ARE NO DESIGNATED ANTI- 
TERRORISM POLICE.  ANY ARMED RESPONSE TO A TERRORISM 
SITUATION WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE HANDLED BY THE 
MILITARY, WHICH HAS NO KNOWN ANTI-TERRORIST CAPABILITY. 
 
 
4.  RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM: 
 
POST IS UNAWARE OF ANY ACTION TAKEN BY THE BANGLADESH 
JUDICIAL SYSTEM WITH RESPECT OF MATTERS RELATING TO 
TERRORISM AFFECTING AMERICAN CITIZENS OR FACILITIES. 
 
 
5.  POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL FORA: 
 
THE BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED 
MEASURES TO PREVENT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.  IN 
INTERNATIONAL FORA, BANGLADESH HAS CONDEMNED AS CRIMINAL 
ALL ACTS, METHODS, AND PRACTICES OF TERRORISM WHEREVER 
AND BY WHOMEVER COMMITTED.  TO POST'S KNOWLEDGE, THE 
BDG HAS ENDORSED INTERNATIONAL ANTI-TERRORISM 
CONVENTIONS.  BANGLADESH HAS SUPPORTED EFFORTS WITHIN 
THE SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION 
(SAARC) TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM.  BANGLADESH'S UNGA VOTING RECORD ON TERRORISM 
IS UNAVAILABLE AT POST. 
 
 
DE PREE