US embassy cable - 05DHAKA2407

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 002407 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, BG, BGD Elections 
SUBJECT: OUTGOING CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER FRETS ABOUT 
THE FUTURE 
 
 
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reason 1.4 (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Just retired Chief Election Commissioner 
Syed says reforms are critical for the next general election 
because of the unprecedented bitterness in Bangladeshi 
politics.  His reform proposals focus on strengthening the 
integrity of the Election Commission and the voting process, 
as opposed to consensus caretaker appointments, but, he said, 
the "underdog" Awami League's calls for consultations reflect 
a broad Bangladeshi desire for change.  Regarding the 
Chittagong mayoral election, there were minor problems but no 
last-minute BNP push to subvert the vote count as alleged by 
the AL.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On May 21, his penultimate day as Chief Election 
Commissioner, MA Syed presented to President Iajuddin Ahmed a 
six-point electoral reform program: an independent, 
financially autonomous secretariat for the Election 
Commission (EC); the introduction of electronic voting 
machines and an electronic voter roll; army deployment in 
city corporation and municipal polls; and the creation of an 
electoral inquiry committees for local government elections. 
"The reforms in the election commission should be brought in 
through a consensus of the political parties," he told 
reporters. 
 
3. (C) On May 24, Syed discussed with us his five-year tenure 
as CEC and his outlook on the next election. 
 
WHAT WERE YOUR MAIN ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS CEC? 
 
Elections are nothing new in Bangladesh.  The British left us 
a pretty good system, but there's still a lot left to do.  We 
must strive and learn from countries like the U.S. 
Bangladeshis love elections, but there is a group of powerful 
people with a hidden agenda who want to win by hook or by 
crook.  In the 2001 election, I convinced the president that 
he had to send out the army.  That was very important.  My 
dream is better, more acceptable, free and fair elections. 
 
WHAT WERE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS AS CEC? 
 
Number one, it's what all people talk about, law and order. 
Nobody can hide that.  This used to be a peaceful country. 
Terrorism is a new problem.  I shouted myself hoarse calling 
for army for the local parishad elections.  If the government 
had cooperated, those elections would have been much cleaner. 
 
IT'S NO SECRET YOU HAD PROBLEMS WITH EC SECRETARY SM ZAKARIA. 
 
I brought him in because he had good experience, even though 
he was under a cloud at his old ministry.  But I learned I 
couldn't trust him.  He altered corrections I made on a 
document.  You have to be able to trust your right hand man. 
Twice I wrote to the PM asking her to remove him.  She 
refused, and he is now in their books. 
 
ANYTHING YOU'D DO DIFFERENTLY IN HINDSIGHT? 
 
Assert more independence.  Election is a very sensitive 
matter in Bangladesh.  I tried to set an example for 
correctness, to inspire confidence by action. 
 
WHAT ABOUT THE MAY 9 MAYORAL ELECTION IN CHITTAGONG? IS IT 
TRUE, AS THE AWAMI LEAGUE SAYS, THAT THE BNP TRIED TO HIJACK 
THE VOTE COUNT AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR? 
 
We had quite a lot of concerns, but we ensured law and order, 
and generally everyone accepted the election.  This should be 
the model.  It wasn't perfect, we have many deficiencies. 
Some people said the vote count was slow, but that's why I 
propose using electronic voting machines.  The election was 
widely watched.  Both parties are strong, which is itself a 
safeguard.  There were media reports of attempted 
manipulation, but these were only stray incidents. 
 
WHAT HAPPENED AT LAST SUMMER'S DHAKA 10 BY-ELECTION?  WAS IT 
AS BLATANTLY RIGGED AS PEOPLE SAID?  WHAT DOES IT SUGGEST FOR 
THE GENERAL ELECTION? 
 
It was a disgrace.  I was in the U.S. at the time attending 
the marriage of my son, but the party in power applied all 
means, fair and foul, to win.  There's an old saying: winning 
or losing is the least part of the battle, it's how you fight 
that counts.  This was a prestige matter for the BNP.  You 
need a firm, determined government to be neutral to stop 
things like this.  The BNP will face one big obstacle at the 
general election: a caretaker government, not them, will be 
in the saddle. 
 
WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR YOUR REFORM PROPOSALS?  WHAT ABOUT 
AL DEMANDS FOR CARETAKER/ELECTORAL CHANGES? 
 
We hope for the best, prepare for the worst.  The need for 
change is general and felt by all Bangladeshis.  I'm more 
concerned with my proposals because good governance is key, 
and a fully independent Election Commission should have the 
authority to decide what is doable and acceptable.  Measured 
steps give people hope and confidence in the process. 
CAN THE GENERAL ELECTION SUCCEED WITHOUT THESE REFORMS? 
 
No.  The reforms are very critical.  The government has to 
demonstrate goodwill by bringing in wholesome reforms.  The 
U.S. has a lot of influence and credibility.  It would not be 
interfering but helping our process if you ensured good 
governance and credible elections.  The U.S. is an old friend 
of Bangladesh with no ax to grind here. 
 
The constitutional amendment that added two years to the 
Chief Justice's service was very frustrating and immoral. 
Transparency is very important in today's world.  Whoever the 
authority is, it should sit down with the major parties and 
accept proposals that are doable, like making the EC truly 
independent of the Prime Minister's Office.  Honest people 
can do a lot if the structure is right.  It's bothersome that 
the two parties don't talk to each other.  The adversarial 
attitude is so deep, who will ensure a level playing field? 
 
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR SUCCESSOR AS CEC, JUSTICE MA AZIZ? 
 
I don't know him.  But why the hush hush in appointing him at 
the last minute?  Who is he?  When the Awami League chose me, 
the BNP complained, but then the BNP won the 2001 election 
with a thumping majority.  Does he have the integrity and 
guts to do this job?  The opposition wanted consultation, and 
it would have been gracious of the government to do that 
because of the current situation.  The political situation 
has never been so bitter and adversarial. 
 
4. (C) Comment: Bangladesh badly needs a CEC maverick like 
India's T.N. Seshan to instill verve and confidence in its 
electoral management, but neither Syed nor his successor 
(septel) fits that mold. 
 
THOMAS