US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1149

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/15/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, BG, BGD Elections 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PARTIES PUSH ELECTORAL PROCESS REFORMS 
 
 
Classified By: P/E  Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 d 
 
1. (SBU) On March 15, the Awami League (AL) and its 
opposition partners held a roundtable seminar on "Democracy 
and Election: necessity of reforming the caretaker government 
system"  to promote "reforms" to guarantee free and fair 
elections.  Participants argued for a consensus 
"non-partisan" head for caretaker governments first used in 
1991 to provide impartial administration during an election 
period, and argued against the current system of designating 
as caretaker head the immediate past chief justice.  Critics 
charged that the BDG has amended and manipulated the process 
to ensure that an openly pro-BNP person will lead the next 
caretaker government. 
 
2. (SBU)  Other proposed changes included ensuring a 
financially independent Election Commission with the 
authority to pick its own staff, preventing the caretaker 
government from issuing ordinances before the election, and 
preventing loan defaulters and extremist religious parties 
from contesting the elections.  Participants formed an 
all-party committee to develop concrete proposals by May 15. 
 
3. (C) When asked how such proposals could be enacted into 
law, AL Organizing Secretary Ahktar Ahktaruzzaman said only, 
"Hopefully, the proposals would be put into effect by the 
will of the people."  He noted that the BNP government has 
refused to accept any changes in the electoral process and 
cited as worrisome its recent refusal of electoral assistance 
from a foreign donor.  Ahktaruzzaman said that the AL had no 
immediate plan to submit legislation or constitutional 
changes but that this would come after concrete proposals are 
published. 
 
4. (C) Comment: AL leaders know there is virtually no way the 
BDG would accept caretaker or other major electoral 
"reforms."  Instead, their aim is to project the BDG as 
corrupt and undemocratic and thereby lay the groundwork for a 
possible boycott of the next general election.  AL leaders 
privately threaten a boycott if the BDG leaves it with "no 
choice," but political pressures within the AL and elsewhere 
against a boycott without a supportive mass movement would be 
huge. 
THOMAS