Cablegate: Kibria Family Tells a/S Boucher Only Military

VZCZCXRO3386
RR RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #4973 2200417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080417Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0544
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7518
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1219
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8635
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9253
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA

UNCLAS DHAKA 004973

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: KIBRIA FAMILY TELLS A/S BOUCHER ONLY MILITARY
INTERVENTION CAN DECREASE POLITICAL VIOLENCE

1. On August 3, SCA A/S Richard Boucher met for 40 minutes
with the family of slain political leader A.M.S. Shah Kibria
at their residence to reiterate USG condolences and receive
an update on their efforts to bring Kibria's killers to
justice. Present were Mrs. Kibria, son Reza, his wife and
their son, in addition to Ambassador, SCA Senior Adviser
Caitlin Hayden and Resident Legal Attache (note taker).

2. The Kibrias stated that the "real" killers will have less
leverage to cover up their role if the trial of the Kibria
murder suspects takes place during the Caretaker government.
When A/S Boucher asked how to decrease political violence,
Reza stated that "only through strong military intervention"
could the problem be stopped. The military could make sweeps
to collect unauthorized weapons and explosives, he said. He
also stated that for free and fair elections, there must be
vigorous investigation of money laundering because the vast
amount of money earned by politicians through corruption or
other illegal conduct will bias the elections. Reza noted
that the top 20 richest people are politicians or those
linked to politics.

3. Reza noted that people are dissatisfied with the two
parties which have a "stranglehold" on the political process
and that the Awami League's process for selecting candidates
based on people meeting the party leader "was not a
transparent system." Reza then handed Boucher and Ambassador
brochures on a new group, Bangladesh First, which he has
formed with Dr. Kamal Hossain to suggest practical ideas to
change the political landscape.

GEORGE

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