http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=3D33232
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Published On: 2008-04-22 Front Page
Polls Under Emergency
New US envoy says task to be very difficult
New US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty yesterday said the
state of emergency should be lifted as it will be 'extremely
difficult' to hold an election under emergency rules.
At a news conference in the American Club just hours after presenting
his credentials to President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday morning,
Moriarty said the emergency does not allow political parties to
campaign for elections and hinders other electoral preparations.
"I will tell the government=85that the United States believes credible
elections would be extremely difficult under a state of emergency and
it should be lifted," said Moriarty in his first news conference since
arriving on April 10.
He said it will be 'impossible' for political parties to campaign
under the state of emergency.
Earlier, the President's Guard Regiment had given Moriarty a guard of
honor before he submitted his credentials to the president. They
discussed bilateral relations, when the president told Moriarty about
government plans to hold the stalled ninth parliamentary election by
the year end.
At the news briefing, Moriarty said his objective 'is to see elections
occur at the end of this year', adding, "My hope is that those
elections will result in a more stable and deeply rooted democracy."
"This is a critical time for Bangladesh a country in transition in a
region of the world vital to US interests," he said.
He quoted US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as saying, "We look
to increased partnership as Bangladesh takes its rightful place as a
country that can help to bring stability and strength to South Asia."
The new envoy said, "Promoting democracy, ensuring development, and
denying space to terrorism are the key challenges Bangladesh faces,
and are vital to the future of the relationship between our
countries."
He said the US is encouraged by the commitment of Chief Adviser
Fakhruddin Ahmed to holding elections and by the assurance from Army
Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed that the army has no intention of usurping
power.
The US envoy also said 'further role of the army will isolate
Bangladesh from the region and from others around the world', reported
UNB.
"Much has been accomplished in a short period of time, but with less
than eight months remaining of this government's tenure, there is much
work that remains to be done," he said.
He said corruption in Bangladesh needs to be addressed and the winner-
take-all approach needs to be discarded by political parties.
Asked about his observations on trials of the two detained former
prime ministers BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President
Sheikh Hasina Moriarty said 'they should be released if the
allegations against them are insubstantial'.
He however hoped that due process will be followed and fair, free and
transparent trials will be held as soon as possible if there are
substantial allegations.
He also said if there are signs that the trials are not transparent,
free or fair, that will undermine efforts to re-establish democracy.
On terrorism, Moriarty said, "The biggest problems here in regard to
terrorism are lack of good governance and lack of prosperity."
Moriarty said human rights will be 'one of the major issues' in his
discussions with government officials, adding, "The human rights
report from last year was not a good one."
He also said there are 'obvious concerns' with the anti-corruption
trials, which he hoped will follow due process.
The new envoy said rising food prices and food shortages will be his
other main concerns here as the US is looking to release further
stocks of wheat.
The US has provided around $5 billion in aid to Bangladesh since
independence, with an annual average of $100 million.
Moriarty was the US ambassador to Nepal between 2004 and 2007.
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