Butenis for reform in parties but against imposing it from above
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis Monday said political parties need to change, but the changes cannot be imposed from above, reports UNB.
"I think political parties are part of democratic environment. Parties need to change and they can discuss it among themselves. You can't impose changes from above. It has to come from parties themselves and obviously that's the position of my government," she told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.
Butenis said she was reassured by the Adviser that the timeframe of the parliamentary elections has not changed and the elections will be held before the end of 2008.
Describing Bangladesh as friend and ally of the US, she said both the countries have cooperation in many areas including counter-terrorism, development issues and fostering democracy.
Butenis said she expressed satisfaction that investigation into the death of a Garo leader is going forward.
The Foreign Adviser said the goals set by the caretaker government, including holding of the elections, must be implemented within the set time period. He sought cooperation from Bangladesh's development partners, including USA, to implement the reforms undertaken by the government.
He assured the envoy that the government would take action against any person found violating human rights. Besides, he said the National Human Rights Commission would be set up to establish the desired values in society.
In another interview with the news agency and VOA same day, the US envoy said that Washington did not want to see any sort of military involvement in Bangladesh politics, as they think it would be a mistake.
The envoy said people may be interested in forming third, fourth or fifth political party. Prof Yunus had also tried to float a party and still may be group of people up there to bring together a new party, that is fine. " But certainly it should not be under any kind of pressure."
Replying to a question, Butenis said she takes the army chief at his word as he said publicly and in meetings that he had no political ambitions.
Butenis would not comment on a 'minus-two' formula of reform through excluding the two top leaders -Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. She said that is not her job to make comment on a particular proposal.
"But everybody agrees that parties have to change, perhaps part of that change may be in their senior leaders; but they can't do that, or whatever transition they decide, without being able to discuss it," she observed.
Asked if she thought election before the end of 2008 should be too late, the envoy said it is up to the Bangladeshis. However, "What we think is longer you remain with an unelected government, the greater the risk is to tear democratic tradition."
Asked whether Dhaka-Washington relations could suffer in case elections are not held within the timeframe, Butenis said the United States considers itself as true friend of Bangladesh and the friendship is based on democracy. "We feel very keenly that Bangladesh has departed from that tradition."
She said the USA has other interests with Bangladesh-in fighting terrorism, working on avian influenza, development issues and all sorts of things.
"I think political parties are part of democratic environment. Parties need to change and they can discuss it among themselves. You can't impose changes from above. It has to come from parties themselves and obviously that's the position of my government," she told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.
Butenis said she was reassured by the Adviser that the timeframe of the parliamentary elections has not changed and the elections will be held before the end of 2008.
Describing Bangladesh as friend and ally of the US, she said both the countries have cooperation in many areas including counter-terrorism, development issues and fostering democracy.
Butenis said she expressed satisfaction that investigation into the death of a Garo leader is going forward.
The Foreign Adviser said the goals set by the caretaker government, including holding of the elections, must be implemented within the set time period. He sought cooperation from Bangladesh's development partners, including USA, to implement the reforms undertaken by the government.
He assured the envoy that the government would take action against any person found violating human rights. Besides, he said the National Human Rights Commission would be set up to establish the desired values in society.
In another interview with the news agency and VOA same day, the US envoy said that Washington did not want to see any sort of military involvement in Bangladesh politics, as they think it would be a mistake.
The envoy said people may be interested in forming third, fourth or fifth political party. Prof Yunus had also tried to float a party and still may be group of people up there to bring together a new party, that is fine. " But certainly it should not be under any kind of pressure."
Replying to a question, Butenis said she takes the army chief at his word as he said publicly and in meetings that he had no political ambitions.
Butenis would not comment on a 'minus-two' formula of reform through excluding the two top leaders -Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. She said that is not her job to make comment on a particular proposal.
"But everybody agrees that parties have to change, perhaps part of that change may be in their senior leaders; but they can't do that, or whatever transition they decide, without being able to discuss it," she observed.
Asked if she thought election before the end of 2008 should be too late, the envoy said it is up to the Bangladeshis. However, "What we think is longer you remain with an unelected government, the greater the risk is to tear democratic tradition."
Asked whether Dhaka-Washington relations could suffer in case elections are not held within the timeframe, Butenis said the United States considers itself as true friend of Bangladesh and the friendship is based on democracy. "We feel very keenly that Bangladesh has departed from that tradition."
She said the USA has other interests with Bangladesh-in fighting terrorism, working on avian influenza, development issues and all sorts of things.