US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3060

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003060 
 
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: Visit of Nicholas Burns and 
Gastright, Iraq; Dhaka 
 
 
Summary: Independent English language newspaper "Bangladesh 
Observer" commends the U.S. for its stand in favor religious 
minorities, especially the Ahmadiya community in Bangladesh. 
 
On Iraq, centrist English "News Today" says that there 
cannot be any real transfer of sovereignty in Iraq unless 
occupation forces leave the country. 
 
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1. The Visit of Nicholas Burns and Gastright 
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"US Policy And Ahmadiyas" 
Independent English language newspaper "Bangladesh Observer" 
editorially comments (6/30): 
On  the  heels  of  US Under Secretary for  Foreign  Affairs 
Nicholas  Burns'  visit to Dhaka comes the visit  by  Deputy 
Assistant  Secretary  of  State  for  South  Asia   John   A 
Gastright.  In the second week of May last Christina  Rocca, 
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, was also  on  a 
diplomatic  tour  to Bangladesh. Their visits  plus  the  US 
Ambassador  Harry  K  Thomas's  departure  certainly  signal 
reorganization,  if not changes, in the  US  policy  towards 
Bangladesh. Nicholas Burns is the highest official after ex- 
Foreign  Secretary Collin Powell who came to Dhaka in  2003, 
to  have  flown  to Dhaka on a diplomatic tour.  During  his 
stay,  the  Under Secretary raised most of  the  issues  the 
alliance  government  is ill at ease to  confront.  But  the 
message  that emerged from reports carried in our  press  is 
his  expression of hope for a free and fair general election 
to be held next year. It is believed his was a kind of fact- 
finding mission which will enable him to prepare a report on 
Bangladesh.  His report and those submitted  by  others  who 
have visited or are visiting Bangladesh will be the basis of 
the US government's policy towards Bangladesh 
If  Nicholas Burns has focused in general all the irritating 
issues along with the positive developments now taking place 
in  our country, Gastright has taken up specific issues  for 
immediate  addressing. It is good to know  that  he  held  a 
meeting  with  the  Ahmadyia leaders and did  some  straight 
talks. We have time and again appealed to the government  to 
effectively address the problem facing the community but  to 
no  avail.  Neither  criticism nor constructive  suggestions 
could  move  the  government to act decisively  against  the 
zealots  spearheaded  by an extremist outfit  called  Khatme 
Nabuat.  The government, moreover, gave the impression  that 
it  has a tacit support for the fanatic movement against the 
sect. It made a blunder (or was it part of its policy?) when 
it capitulated to the Khatme Nabuat's demand for banning the 
Ahmadiya  publications. That was an  encouragement  for  the 
religious  bigots to press for their more outrageous  demand 
for declaring the Ahmadiyas non-Muslims. 
The  government did not-or better say could not-give  in  to 
the  demand in the face of growing criticism from the press, 
civil  and  human  rights groups, diplomats  from  different 
embassies   and   high-commissions   in   Dhaka   and    the 
international community. The Khatme Nabuat also pushed ahead 
more aggressively with their agenda. Their movement grew  so 
violent  that  the police had to pull down the  sign  boards 
from  the  Ahmadyia mosques to be replaced by ones on  which 
'place  of worship' is written. What prompted the government 
to   follow   the   policy   of  pampering   the   religious 
fundamentalists  is  best known to it,  but  it  has  caused 
irreparable  damage to the country's secular  character  and 
image abroad. 
We  are  happy  that the US Deputy Assistant  Secretary  has 
called  the  spade a spade and by doing so, he has  given  a 
message to the Bangladesh government. Although belated,  yet 
it is likely to have some effect on the alliance government. 
We  can  surely  expect Gastright to take  a  similar  stand 
during  his  official meetings with government functionaries 
here.  The  ban  on  the  Ahmadiya  publication  should   be 
withdrawn  immediately. Will the Deputy Assistant  Secretary 
make an issue of it? He has made known his feeling by saying 
that  the  'government  has  the  ability  to  protect'  the 
Ahmadyias.  His  intention is clear. If he presses  for  the 
withdrawal of the ban on Ahmadyia publications, he will know 
how  serious the government is to uphold the rights  of  the 
minority people, including the Ahmadyias. He will have  done 
a much-needed service for an oppressed community. 
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2. Iraq 
------- 
"The fairy tale of power transfer in Iraq" 
Centrist English language newspaper "News Today" 
editorially comments (6/30): 
 
By the time this appears in print, President George W. Bush 
would have delivered his "important" speech marking the 
first anniversary of "transfer of sovereignty" in Iraq. One 
year ago this day, a new group of indigenous Iraqis had 
taken over following an election which many across the 
world considered as selection by the occupying powers. Not 
really to hand over power to the Iraqis but to hoodwink 
world opinion in the name of democracy. The transition from 
Allawais to Jaffaris meant no real change because power 
still lies with the occupiers. How a country can be 
sovereign with tens of thousands of alien troops occupying 
it? In exchange of some crumbs of power all that the new 
leaders do is signing on the dotted lines. Decisions are 
made in Washington. So much for the fairy tale of transfer 
of sovereignty. 
 
 
That the United States under President Bush would be a 
bully was never in doubt but what is amazing is the way the 
rest of the world allows itself to be bullied. Iraq 
continues to bleed. 
 
 
It is clear that the Bush administration is now clueless 
about what to do in Iraq. President Bush himself admits 
that the situation is difficult but he has no solution to 
offer. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld thinks it would be 
years before insurgency in Iraq can be wiped out. All these 
perhaps point to an indefinite occupation of that oil-rich 
country. And with the election of a hardliner President in 
neighboring Iran the situation is much more complicated and 
dangerous now. 
 
 
There cannot be any real transfer of sovereignty until 
occupation forces leave Iraq. So observing the anniversary 
is a joke. Heavyweights in Washington may not feel ashamed 
but what is shocking is the world reaction. The UN has 
washed its hands off as if it has no role in protecting 
human lives. All we can do is expressing our solidarity 
with valiant Iraqis who are fighting a heroic war of 
resistance. 
 
 
Thomas