US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4849

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 004849 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, BG, BGD Elections, Conferences 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH SAYS NO TO WESTERN-SPONSORED ELECTION 
CONFERENCE 
 
REF: A. 9/7/05 CHAMMAS-GASTRIGHT EMAIL 
     B. 9/14/05 CHAMMAS-GASTRIGHT EMAIL 
 
Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b) 
 
1.(SBU)  On September 26, local newspapers prominently 
reported MFA press guidance that the BDG has rejected the 
proposal by the Western "Tuesday Group" embassies to hold an 
election best practices conference in Dhaka early next year. 
Foreign Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman told Canadian High 
Commissioner David Sproule and Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise 
Nordheim that the conference would be counterproductive, 
interference in domestic politics, and unnecessary because 
Bangladesh has demonstrated, he said, that it can hold free 
and fair elections.  The conference, he added, would give the 
false impression that the BDG does not want and cannot 
organize fair elections. 
 
2. (C) Norwegian political officer Kristian Jervell told 
poloff that MFA had briefed the press before the meeting, 
which led to a "surreal" exchange between reporters and the 
two ambassadors before the meeting had actually taken place. 
The media did not report that former Filipino president Fidel 
Ramos had agreed to be the conference's chief guest. 
 
3. (C) On September 26, the Tuesday Group ambassadors met and 
decided to draft a press release for September 28 that will 
announce a postponement of the conference, regret the lost 
opportunity for Bangladeshis to discuss electoral best 
practices. state the Group will explore other options for 
promoting free and fair elections, and underscore that the 
Group (originally set up to monitor the 2001 election) will 
monitor political developments closely. 
 
4. (C) Comment: Rahman had previewed his negative position 
several hours earlier in a separate meeting with Charge, who 
reiterated that the USG supported the concept of a 
conference.  It is unlikely that the BDG will relent since 
the political season is likely to get hotter, not calmer, as 
we head toward the January 2007 election. 
CHAMMAS