US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3042

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003042 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Under Secretary Nicholas Burns' 
visit and U.S. legislators' letter to Secstate; Dhaka 
 
 
Summary: Commenting on Under Secretary Nicholas Burns' 
comments and U.S. legislators' letter to Dr. Rice, 
newspapers said that Bangladesh must hold credible 
investigations into political murders, stop atrocities 
against minority people and curb extremism with a heavy hand 
to win confidence of the international community. 
 
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Under Secretary Nicholas Burns' Visit 
------------------------------------- 
 
"Political Murders: Senators' proposal significant" 
Independent Bangla language newspaper "Samakal" editorially 
comments (6/29): 
 
Bangladesh cannot ignore the proposal made by four Senators 
and eight congressmen to raise the Kibria murder case to the 
U.N. Security Council.  This is perhaps the first time U.S. 
legislators have made such a proposal on a political murder 
in Bangladesh. 
 
At present, our administration has taken a flexible stand on 
involving FBI and Interpol in investigations.  Previously, 
the British administration tried hard to investigate the 
grenade attack on the British High Commissioner.  All these 
investigations point to the fact that if there is a lack of 
efficiency in local law enforcement agencies and if 
cooperation is not forthcoming, then there is little chance 
for foreign agencies to achieve anything.  Bangladesh faces 
a hostile situation and its position regarding August 21 
grenade attack and the murder of former finance Minister 
Kibria is controversial.  The U.S. legislators' letter 
seeking Dr. Rice's intervention will undoubtedly harm 
Bangladesh's image further.  In their letter, they praised 
the government's commitment to identifying perpetrators of 
the attacks.  We think the government should take the issue 
seriously and take appropriate measures. 
 
----------------- 
 
"The United States' concern, Bangladesh's Reply and 
Consequences" 
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Sangbad" 
editorially comments (6/29): 
 
U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns met with the 
Prime Minister, opposition leaders and government ministers 
during his visit to Bangladesh.  According to press reports, 
he expressed concern over extra-judicial killings and the 
security of religious minorities, especially atrocities 
against the Ahmadiyya community.... The letter given by four 
Senators and Eight Congressmen to Secretary of State Rice on 
the Kibria murder case proves that donor countries do not 
have confidence in the standard reply from the government, 
although it may hoodwink the people.  They urged the 
Secretary of State to take all possible measures to ensure 
 
SIPDIS 
an investigation of international standard. 
 
The letter gives an indication of what the consequences may 
be.  The entire international community may express, through 
the U.N., its lack of confidence in the measures taken by 
the government. The government must put the perpetrators of 
grenade attacks and the Kibria murder on trial through 
credible investigations.  It must stop extrajudicial 
killings and punish criminals under due process of the law. 
There is no other way to gain the confidence of the 
international community. 
 
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"Nicholas Burns' concern" 
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Janakantha" 
editorially comments (6/29): 
 
The U.S. State Department has been expressing concern over 
Bangladesh in various ways.  Previously, the American 
Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command expressed similar 
concerns.  Remarks made by U.S. Under Secretary of State 
Nicholas Burns are the latest in the series.  He commented 
on minority issues, extremism and the state of democracy in 
Bangladesh.  He spoke on holding a free and fair election 
and also did not forget to remind us of the consequences if 
a proper election is not held. 
It is clear from Burns's comments that Bangladesh will have 
to overcome its crisis of democracy.  Those who are involved 
in atrocities against religious minorities and are 
encouraging extremism must be dealt with seriously. 
Otherwise, the people will have to face a worse situation. 
 
Thomas