Washington keeps option open to impose visa restrictions on other individuals if and when the administration believes "it's appropriate", a US mission spokesperson says about their hold-all sanctions policy.
"The United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions under the policy known as 3C against members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition who we believe to be responsible for or complicit in undermining free and fair elections in Bangladesh," Brian Schiller told the FE on Friday, as confusions confound many in Bangladesh.
"And as we made clear when we announced this policy in May, it could be applied to ANY Bangladeshi individual who we believe was responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic process," he explains.
"So we retain the option to impose visa restrictions on other individuals if and when we believe it's appropriate."
He makes it clear that the U. S. Department of State relies on extensive, well-resourced, and fact-checked case-by-case review of credible information about those undermining the democratic process in Bangladesh to determine whether to apply visa restrictions.
"We will not preview any future announcements about visa restrictions, but rest assured that the U.S. government has looked very closely at incidents since we announced this policy," he says.
"Actions that undermine democratic elections could include vote rigging, voter intimidation, the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their rights to freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from participating in the electoral process or expressing their views," he mentions.
"The United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions under the policy known as 3C against members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition who we believe to be responsible for or complicit in undermining free and fair elections in Bangladesh."
"And as we made clear when we announced this policy in May, it could be applied to ANY Bangladeshi individual who we believe was responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic process," he explains.
"So we retain the option to impose visa restrictions on other individuals if and when we believe it's appropriate."
Mr Schiller makes it clear that the United States seeks to build a closer partnership with Bangladesh, grounded in support for democracy and human rights. And they believe this policy will support the efforts of the Bangladeshi people, its government, political parties, civil society, and media to ensure free and fair elections.
"The United States will continue to support the freedom of the press. We will also speak out against, and apply our visa policy to, those who seek to undermine the democratic election process in Bangladesh," he says.
Meanwhile, to a question whether the State Department takes security concern of the Dhaka Embassy seriously, the State Department spokesperson told a State Department media briefing that of course the safety and security of their diplomatic personnel is of the utmost importance to the US.
"And as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, every host country must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic mission premises and take all diplomatic steps to prevent any attack on personnel," spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The United States values its relationship with Bangladesh, and "we expect that the government will take all necessary actions to maintain the safety and security of all foreign missions and personnel in the country, including ours", he added.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
