May 6, 2008
Congressional Human Rights Caucus
Task Force for International Religious Freedom
Invite you to a symposium on
Getting Democracy Back on Track in Bangladesh:
Sustaining Human Rights and Freedoms for All
Friday, May 9, 2008
10:30-12:00 p.m.
Room: 2168 Rayburn, Gold Room
Dear Colleague,
Please join the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Task Force for International Religious Freedom (TIRF) for a symposium on getting democracy back on track in Bangladesh. This symposium is open to the public.
In the past year, Bangladesh's unique democratic political system has undergone significant challenges and the upcoming elections continue to test the long-term viability of democracy in Bangladesh. Elections organized under the caretaker government that took power during the interim election period in late 2006 and early 2007, were severely criticized by many in the United States and international community. Criticism of the elections led to a military intervention by the army, which created a state of emergency and a military-backed caretaker government with elections postponed until December 2008.
The military-backed caretaker government, led by Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed, has taken steps to rid the government of corruption and return Bangladesh to democracy. However, reports indicate that their success has been inconsistent with no guarantee that reforms they have implemented can be sustained in the long-term. Some now fear that the military-backed caretaker government may be undermining the very democratic system it is seeking to reform.
The last national election of October 2001 was marred by violence, particularly targeted at Hindus, and led to a coalition government that included religiously based parties, including Islamist parties that advocated for the adoption of Sharia law and reportedly had ties to terrorists. Since the 2001 elections, religious extremists have increased attacks on religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, and other human rights have deteriorated with government impunity.
In addition to concerns over democracy and human rights created by the military-backed caretaker government and rising Islamic extremism, the recent substantial increase in food prices has also contributed to greater political instability in Bangladesh. The current period of reform by the military-backed caretaker government and elections planned for December 2008 will serve as a litmus test for the sustainability of democracy and human rights for people of all faiths in Bangladesh.
This symposium will address the following important issues with expert witnesses:
- U.S. Policy and Foreign Assistance: Richard Sacks, Acting Director for the Office of Pakistan and Bangladesh at the U.S. State Department Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs;
- Elections, Islamist Parties, and Political Reform: Terry Hoverter, Senior Program Manager for the National Democratic Institute's Bangladesh programs, and Maneeza Hossain with the Hudson Institute; and
- Human Rights and Religious Freedom: Rosaline Costa with Hotline Bangladesh, and Sitangshu Guha, Director of Bangladesh Human Rights Watch and Director of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
For more information about this briefing or to RSVP, please contact Tina Ramirez with Representative Trent Franks (5-4576) or Cassandra Young with Representative Emanuel Cleaver (5-4535).
Sincerely,
s/Trent Franks s/Emanuel Cleaver, II
Co-Chair, TIRF Co-Chair, TIRF
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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
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http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
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MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
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http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
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http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
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http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
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http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
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