|
|
†kl cvZv:
US to Bangladesh: Drop all Charges against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
By
Dr. Richard L. Benkin n from chicago USA: Last week, the United States
overw-helmingly approved House Resolution 64 expressing the “sense of
the US Congress” that the Bangladeshi government must drop all charges
against journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. The vote was 409 to 1.
Because the measure picked up the formal support of the US State
Department even before coming to Congress for a vote, it indicates that
support for Shoaib has become the official position of the United
States.
Such resolutions carry no formal sanctions but are intended
to send a strong message from which, if ignored, provides the basis for
specific action. Several Bangladeshi officials have admited that case
has no basis in fact or law and is being prosecuted only to placate
extremists. Failure by the government to drop the case thereby
undermines its effort to paint itself as a “moderate Muslim” government
and an ally of the US in the War on Terror. The implications are not
lost on US lawmakers.
It is never an accident who speaks in favor of
a bill. A review of the speeches and speechmakers offers a clue as to
what might happen if this “strong statement,” is ignored. First, all of
the speakers emphasized that ending Shoaib’s prosecution is part of the
greater fight against extremism; that is, the War on Terror, which many
members of the US government and military have noted now overwhelms all
others in Washington. One member of the US intelligence community told
me, “That’s our Number One issue. Once something is seen as part of
that fight, it stays on everyone’s radar screens.” Second, numerous
speakers and observers of the case noted that support for Shoaib is
bi-partisan and would be policy of Democratic and Republican
administrations equally.
|
