US embassy cable - 05DHAKA2298

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 002298 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, BG 
SUBJECT: A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH BANGLADESH PM, MFA OFFICIALS 
 
REF: DHAKA 2264 (EXDIS) 
 
Classified By: Economic Chief David Renz; reason 1.4(d) 
 
1.    (C) Summary:  In May 12 meetings with Prime Minister 
Zia and senior MFA officials, Assistant Secretary for South 
Asia Christina Rocca discussed law and order, governance, 
terrorism (reftel), democracy, human rights, and religious 
freedom, as well as regional issues.   Alternately 
downplaying USG concerns and promising stronger actions, 
Bangladeshi officials sought increased USG technical 
assistance and support, encouraged passage of legislation for 
duty-free textile access, and sought USG support for 
membership in the ASEAN Regional Forum.  End summary. 
 
2.    (U) A/S Rocca held separate meetings on May 12 with 
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister Morshed Khan, 
Foreign Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman, and Foreign Secretary 
Hemayetuddin.  Ambassador and acting political/economic 
counselor (note taker) accompanied the assistant secretary. 
 
Law and Order; Governance 
------------------------- 
 
3.    (C) On law and order, BDG officials pointed proudly to 
improved security in Bangladesh, saying people were no longer 
afraid to go out.  A/S Rocca expressed USG concern over 
extra-judicial killings and reminded her interlocutors of 
potential sanctions under US law.  The PM informed A/S Rocca 
there would be a cabinet meeting to look into the issue. 
That said, the PM and MFA all defended the actions of RAB and 
the police with the oft repeated defense that the victims 
were all hardened criminals, the need to address declining 
law and order justified strong measures, the people supported 
the government, and, in the PM's words, when you arrest 
notorious criminals, gun battles are frequent and criminals 
die.  Police are killed too, she said, implying critics 
should be more concerned about their deaths. 
 
4.    (C) A/S Rocca cited USG concern with rising political 
violence, noting the effect it could have on elections.  The 
foundation of democracy in Bangladesh would be helped by 
aggressively pursuing political violence.  Ambassador Thomas 
thanked the PM for the BDG's cooperation with the FBI in the 
Kibria murder investigation.  A/S Rocca stressed that it was 
important that the investigation stand up to international 
scrutiny.  The PM and MFA officials noted USG concerns about 
political violence but downplayed them, arguing an aggressive 
free press and vested interests have distorted reality.  All 
sought additional training and assistance to improve police 
and investigator skills, with the PM specifically requesting 
forensic training and equipment, including a DNA analysis 
lab. 
 
5.    (C) The Prime Minister stressed the progress she 
believed Bangladesh has made in addressing governance issues. 
 She pointed to the formation of the Anti-Corruption 
Commission (ACC), explaining away its slow start as normal 
organizational delays and expressing confidence that it would 
produce results in the next six months.  The PM acknowledged 
inefficiencies in government and sought training and 
assistance programs for improving government efficiency. 
 
6.    (C) A/S Rocca welcomed the formation of the ACC but 
noted it must be given real authority and independence to be 
effective.  In all her meetings, A/S Rocca said that a 
climate of corruption, uncertain law and order, and weak 
governance held the potential to undermine Bangladeshi 
institutions, creating opportunities for extremists to take 
the country in the wrong direction. 
 
Elections and Democracy 
----------------------- 
 
7.    (C) A/S Rocca congratulated officials on the conduct of 
the elections for the mayor of Chittagong, noting 
Bangladesh's history of free and fair elections and 
expressing the desire of the USG to see this tradition 
continued through the next national elections.  She said 
democracy remains a focal point of US policy.  She praised 
Bangladesh's democratic traditions but said the U.S. would 
continue to voice concerns whenever we see threats to 
democracy. 
 
8.    (C) The PM and MFA officials reiterated their 
commitment to democracy and welcomed U.S. support of 
democratic institutions in Bangladesh.  They uniformly 
expressed their satisfaction with the conduct of the 
Chittagong elections (if not the outcome; the incumbent 
opposition candidate won.)  Reaz Rahman was more blunt, 
saying it was a wake-up call for the BNP and gave the 
opposition Awami League (AL) confidence that it could win 
elections, which Rahman hopes will translate into AL 
participation in national elections. 
 
9.    (C) On opposition proposals for election reform, Reaz 
Rahman said any attempt to change the system would create 
more problems than it would solve, saying there was no common 
ground on the nature of or need for reform.  More broadly, he 
lamented the political polarization of country, saying ways 
needed to be found to strengthen parliament. 
 
Human Rights and Religious Freedom 
---------------------------------- 
 
10.   (C) A/S Rocca stressed the need to protect human rights 
and religious freedom.  Our concerns are not just with the 
Ahmadiyas, she said. She warned that the impression overseas 
of Bangladesh as a moderate, tolerant society was changing. 
11.   (C) PM Zia assured A/S Rocca that "we are looking 
after" the issue and there is no problem.  It was only a very 
small group of people who had issues with the Ahmadiyas.  She 
suggested an active, free press creates a distorted view by 
focusing on a few unfortunate incidents.  She also speculated 
that the AL was trying to use these incidents against the 
government because they lacked any credible issues of their 
own. 
 
12.   (C) The Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary expanded 
on these positions, stressing the long history of tolerance 
in Bangladesh and citing the peaceful, simultaneous 
celebration of Eid and a major Hindu festival last fall. 
Saying the BDG did not condone attacks on the Ahmadiyas, they 
pointed to an April 29 statement by coalition partner 
Jamaat-e Islami condemning extremist acts against the 
Ahmadiya's.  Acknowledging "one or two instances," of 
violence against the Ahmadiyas, the Foreign Secretary assured 
A/S Rocca that the BDG was determined to keep the situation 
under control. 
 
13.   (C) The Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary also 
asked about the May 11 recommendation of the US Commission on 
International Religious Freedom to place Bangladesh on a 
watch list.  Without commenting on the commissions report, 
A/S Rocca pointed out that government actions such as the ban 
on Ahmadiya publications contributed to perceptions that 
Bangladesh restricted religious freedoms.  Bemoaning the ban, 
the FM said it was driven by political considerations but 
said the BDG did not really support it and had asked the 
Ahmadiyas to challenge it in court.  The Foreign Secretary 
took a different tact, saying some of the publications were 
incendiary and that the need to protect public security could 
outweigh the limited restriction imposed by the publication 
ban. 
 
Textile Tariff Relief 
--------------------- 
 
14.   (C) The PM and MFA officials all sought support for 
passage of the Trade Act of 2005, which would grant duty free 
access to Bangladesh textiles and ready made garments. 
Noting this was an issue for the Congress, A/S Rocca urged 
Bangladesh not to base its post- Multi-Fiber Arrangement 
strategy on gaining duty-free access to the U.S., explaining 
domestic political realities on textiles and the many other 
competing priorities on trade.  Instead, she urged Bangladesh 
to address the underlying infrastructure and governance 
issues that undermine Bangladesh's competitive position. 
 
Regional Issues 
--------------- 
 
15.   The PM and MFA officials sought U.S. support for 
Bangladesh's bid to join the ASEAN Regional Forum. 
Bangladesh fits within the regional footprint and has 
experience in multilateral fora and peacekeeping they pointed 
out.  A/S Rocca noted their request. 
 
16.   A/S Rocca's interlocutors also asked about U.S. 
relations with India.  A/S Rocca said the U.S. has built 
strong bilateral relationships with all the countries in the 
region and wants to continue to work with the region to 
support democracy.  We work closely with India where there 
are common interests and views, just as we do with 
Bangladesh, she said.  A/S Rocca welcomed news that the SAARC 
summit would likely be scheduled in November, citing the 
untapped potential of SAARC to foster political and economic 
development in the region. 
 
17.   A/S Rocca has cleared this message. 
THOMAS