… and 'WikiLeaked' Bangladesh!
Pervez Ahmed
If the WWIII, as it has already been predicted, would befall for the
paucity of 'potable water', then it may be considered as possible that
the WWIV would take place for acquiring 'information'. This may seem
imminent eventually as concealed and classified 'facts' unveiled by
the WikiLeaks have become a matter of headache for the big powers
along with the Superpower. Julian Assange, the internet's freedom
fighter's endeavor to shift regime behavior and to reveal 'unjust
systems' has unleashed diplomatic cables consist of embarrassing
'confidentials' that did concern the related regimes and the entire
diplomatic world. In conjunction with this, the exposé includes the
'tale of woe' for Bangladesh as well, and disclosed secrets that would
question the statecraft, political posture, intelligence, security
issues, human rights situation, and predominantly, the sovereignty of
the country.
As WikiLeaks published 'secrets' on Bangladesh, albeit claimed
'cynical' by some, these leaked diplomatic cables delineated that they
are not that much far from the truth in some points of facts or just
confirmed the occurrences. At the outset, the allegations in the leaks
on RAB of being favored as a counter-terrorism partner and
'Bangladeshi FBI' by the governments of the US and the UK point
towards the security and human rights issues of Bangladesh. RAB has
now been a concern to the human rights organizations for its
extra-judicial killings and criticised as the British trained
'accredited government death squad'. It has also been published in the
cables that DGFI was responsible for promoting extremists (Huji-BD)
and for bringing them into the mainstream politics through a new
political party (IDP) that certainly shows the decadence in the
intelligence system. Also, cable derived from the US mission in New
Delhi showed that the preceding Caretaker Government had taken
'Minus-2 Theory' to push the two major leaders out of politics with
the instigation of different foreign embassies which phased in
'Bangladesh at Crossroads' and the whole political posture under
serious question mark concerning the democratic system of the country.
Then again, cables revealed that British officials along with the US
and development agencies like DFID and USAid are working on promoting
a curriculum reform of Madrassas in Bangladesh to prevent the
'radicalization of Muslim youth', which indicates that the
government's education policies are not much free from foreign
pressures whatsoever. Moreover, cables posted by WikiLeaks on the US
diplomats' pressure on the government for reinstating Phulbari coal
mine which was closed after violent protests and also for engaging
Asia Energy again to the project with the prescribed 'open-pit
mining', and on newer leaks, for insisting on to hire US-based Conoco
Philips and Chevron for working on the gas sector. These clearly
depicted the weaknesses in major policy implications in terms of
taking the decisions by the government itself. Another leaked
diplomatic cable suggests to keep an eye on 'Bangladesh's attempt to
gain influence' in different regions via UN peace keeping operations
which comprehends the deficiency of the US's confidence in the
international position and participation of Bangladesh.
Consequently, these contentions and revelations evidently define the
'tale of woe' and defenselessness of the sovereignty along with the
governance of the country, which provides no alternative but to merely
sit on the fence. The government has to concentrate more on attaining
'self-determination' given that the foreign embassies and big powers
have long been the mentors of every government of Bangladesh in terms
of formulating national policies and strategies, and also other
pertinent issues. Whether the cables are authentic or erroneous, they
could be helpful for emancipating from the 'unjust systems' and for
getting on the road to reality in this era of 'Right to Information'.
In general, it cannot be denied that the leaked incidents
coincidentally harmonized the existing concerns with the exposé,
likewise in case of Bangladesh too. Not surprisingly, who knows, the
reality behind the revelations could be more intense than the
labyrinth itself.
The writer is a Masters in IR and works for an NGO.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=177358
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[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
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