Margaret P.

Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

Message Text
CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 DACCA 05801 241119Z 10 ACTION NEA-10 INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 EA-07 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-04 H-02 INR-07 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 OMB-01 AID-05 /082 W --------------------- 004926 R 241045Z NOV 75 FM AMEMBASSY DACCA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8859 INFO AMCONSUL CALCUTTA AMEMBASSY COLOMBO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KABUL AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI AMEMBASSY RANGOON USLO PEKING CINCPAC C O N F I D E N T I A L DACCA 5801 CINCPAC FOR POLAD E.O. 11652: GDS TAGS: PINS, PINT, PFOR, BG, IN SUBJ: ZIA'S APPEALS TO PEOPLE MAY OFFEND INDIA REF: DACCA 5557 1. LATE SUNDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 23, MAJOR GENERAL ZIAUR RAHMAN, DEPUTY CHIEF MARTIAL LAW ADMINISTRATOR, IN AN ADDRESS OVER RADIO BANGLADESH INSISTED THAT THE ARMED FORCES, ADMINISTRATION, AND PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY WERE UNIFIED, AND CALLED UPON ALL BANGALEES TO HELP SUPPRESS THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENEMIES OF THE COUNTRY. MUCH OF ZIA'S SPEECH REPEATED THEMES OF HIS FIRST ADDRESS ON NOVEMBER 11 (REFTEL) -- THE INTERIM NATURE OF CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 DACCA 05801 241119Z THE GOVERNMENT, THE NONPOLITICAL NATURE OF THE ARMY, AND THE

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

PROMISE OF EARLY ELECTIONS. 2. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, HIS INTENTION WAS TO DIRECT PUBLIC ATTENTION TO WHAT HE CALLED THE ENEMIES OF THE COUNTRY. ZIA NEVER SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FORCES HOSTILE TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF BANGLADESH; INSTEAD, HE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE "ARE QUITE AWARE OF THEIR IDENTITY," THAT THE PEOPLE KNOW WHO ITS FRIENDS ARE AND WHO ITS ENEMIES, WHO ARE WORKING IN THE INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY AND WHO ARE WORKING AGAINST IT. 3. SEVERAL TIMES IN HIS BRIEF ADDRESS, ZIA APPEALED TO THE PEOPLE TO ACT IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ARMED FORCES: (1) TO "PUNISH" HOLDERS OF ILLEGAL ARMS WHOM HE CHARACTERIZES AS PPE BIGGEST ENEMIES OF PEACE AND ORDER; (2) TO "KEEP A WATCH ON THOSE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE AND SABOTAGE AND THOSE EXTERNAL FORCES TRYING TO DESTROY US"; AND "TO FIND OUT THE MIRZAFAR (I.E., TRAITORS) AND FOREIGN AGENTS AND COOPERATE IN INFLICTING ADEQUATE PUNISHMENT ON THEM." IN CONCLUSION HE TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT IF "WE REMAIN UNITED... NO EXTERNAL FORCE OR FOREIGN INFLUENCE CAN HARM US." 4. COMMENT. MUCH OF GENERAL ZIA'S REMARKS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AGAINST THE JATIYO SAMAJTANTRIK DAL (JSD), ALTHOUGH THERE REPORTZWLY ARE OTHER ANONYMOUS LEAFLETS CIRCULATING WHICH TAKE A MUCH LESS CONCILIATORY LINE THAN HAS JSD OF LATE TOWARD THE MLA AND THE SCHEDULE SET FOR ELECTIONS. THE DOMESTIC OPPONENTS OF THE REGIME, HOWEVER, TAKE SECOND PLACE IN ZIA'S SPEECH TO THEIR FOREIGN MASTERS. ZIA'S ATTACK ON "FOREIGN INSPIRATION" AND ON THE MALIGN MACHINATIONS OF EXTERNAL FORCES WILL BE READ HERE AS MEANING ONLY INDIA. THE DCMLA'S BRIEF REAFFIRMATION OF BANGLADESH'S FOREIGN POLICY OF "FRIENDSHIP FOR ALL AND MALICE TOWARD NONE" HARDLY SERVES TO OFFSET THE CLEARLY IMPLIED CRITICISM OF INDIA. 5. THE CALL TO THE PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE AGAINST ANTICONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 DACCA 05801 241119Z STATE ELEMENTS IS SOMEWHAT CURIOUS FOR AN ADMINISTRATION DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH LAW, ORDER, AND DISCIPLINE. IT CAN AND MAY WELL BE READ BY SOME AS AN INVITATION TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS, TO SETTLE REAL, PERSONAL OR PERCEIVED NATIONAL SCORES. GENERAL ZIA'S SPEECH IS IN THE BANGALEE TRADITION OF IDENTIFYING POLITICAL ENEMIES BY INNUENDO. IT IS TYPICAL, BUT WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE TO THE PRESENT SITUATION AND

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

CONDUCIVE TO CALMING FEARS IS DEBATABLE. CHESLAW

CONFIDENTIAL

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Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

Message Attributes
Automatic Decaptioning: X Capture Date: 01 JAN 1994 Channel Indicators: n/a Current Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Concepts: INTERVENTION, SPEECHES, ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL SITUATION Control Number: n/a Copy: SINGLE Draft Date: 24 NOV 1975 Decaption Date: 01 JAN 1960 Decaption Note: Disposition Action: RELEASED Disposition Approved on Date: Disposition Authority: ShawDG Disposition Case Number: n/a Disposition Comment: 25 YEAR REVIEW Disposition Date: 28 MAY 2004 Disposition Event: Disposition History: n/a Disposition Reason: Disposition Remarks: Document Number: 1975DACCA05801 Document Source: CORE Document Unique ID: 00 Drafter: n/a Enclosure: n/a Executive Order: GS Errors: N/A Film Number: D750408-0781 From: DACCA Handling Restrictions: n/a Image Path: ISecure: 1 Legacy Key: link1975/newtext/t19751116/aaaaaoel.tel Line Count: 117 Locator: TEXT ON-LINE, ON MICROFILM Office: ACTION NEA Original Classification: CONFIDENTIAL Original Handling Restrictions: n/a Original Previous Classification: n/a Original Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a Page Count: 3 Previous Channel Indicators: n/a Previous Classification: CONFIDENTIAL Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a Reference: 75 DACCA 5557 Review Action: RELEASED, APPROVED Review Authority: ShawDG Review Comment: n/a Review Content Flags: Review Date: 17 JUN 2003 Review Event: Review Exemptions: n/a Review History: RELEASED <17 JUN 2003 by BoyleJA>; APPROVED <30 OCT 2003 by ShawDG> Review Markings: Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006 Review Media Identifier: Review Referrals: n/a Review Release Date: n/a Review Release Event: n/a Review Transfer Date: Review Withdrawn Fields: n/a Secure: OPEN Status: NATIVE Subject: ZIA'S APPEALS TO PEOPLE MAY OFFEND INDIA TAGS: PINS, PINT, PFOR, BG, IN, (RAHMAN, ZIAUR) To: STATE Type: TE Markings: Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006

Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006