WikiLeaks: UK trained Bangladeshi 'death squad'

[Easy-Irish]

Apparently, the death squad, which is alleged to be involved in kidnapping and extortion, was trained as part of the UK's efforts to promote human rights in the country.

The newspaper said the battalion has been accused by human rights activists of being a "death squad" responsible for more than 1,000 extra-judicial killings since it was established in 2004. In March, the battalion's leader said it had killed 622 people in "crossfire."
WikiLeaks: UK trained Bangladesh 'death squad' - U.S. news - WikiLeaks in Security - msnbc.com

[Conor the Bold]

Apparently, the death squad, which is alleged to be involved in kidnapping and extortion, was trained as part of the UK's efforts to promote human rights in the country.

The newspaper said the battalion has been accused by human rights activists of being a "death squad" responsible for more than 1,000 extra-judicial killings since it was established in 2004. In March, the battalion's leader said it had killed 622 people in "crossfire."
WikiLeaks: UK trained Bangladesh 'death squad' - U.S. news - WikiLeaks in Security - msnbc.com

And what was it trained it by the the UK and why was it trained by the UK? Plus what's your comment on the article?

[Easy-Irish]

And what was it trained it by the the UK and why was it trained by the UK? Plus what's your comment on the article?

Apparently the UK trained them in "investigative techniques, interview techniques and rules of engagement". They did so as part of their "war on terror".

As far as I'm concerned, the UK government should not be involved with a paramilitary organization which has been responsible for around 1,000 extra-judicial killings, and which is alleged to be involved in kidnappings, extortion and assassinations.

I doubt it will do much to restore peace in the country or prevent Bangladeshis from planning to attack the UK or UK targets in retalliation.

[Aristodemus]

Sounds to me like pre-emptive policing. Bangladesh does not seem to have the same extent of islamo-fascist problems of other countries in the area. they must be doing something right.

[Conor the Bold]

Apparently the UK trained them in "investigative techniques, interview techniques and rules of engagement". They did so as part of their "war on terror".

As far as I'm concerned, the UK government should not be involved with a paramilitary organization which has been responsible for around 1,000 extra-judicial killings, and which is alleged to be involved in kidnappings, extortion and assassinations.

I doubt it will do much to restore peace in the country or prevent Bangladeshis from planning to attack the UK or UK targets in retalliation.

So basically the RAB is being trained in methods of actual policing which means they don't have to kill or torture people more people than they used to? Amazing.

Rapid Action Battalion members have been taught "interviewing techniques" and "rules of engagement" by the UK authorities, said the leaked cables. One message says the US would not offer tactical training to the RAB because of its alleged human rights violations. UK officials told the BBC the focus of the training was on human rights.

In a cable dating from May 2009 published by the Guardian, the US ambassador to Dhaka, James Moriarty, writes: "The US and UK representatives reviewed our ongoing training to make the RAB a more transparent, accountable and human-rights compliant paramilitary force.

"The British have been training RAB for 18 months in areas such as investigative interviewing techniques and rules of engagement." In another cable, Mr Moriarty notes it would be illegal for the US to offer anything other than human rights training to the RAB because of the force's alleged crimes.

He also notes that despite its record, the RAB had become Bangladesh's "most respected police unit". However, Human Rights Watch says the force is a government death squad. In a report last year, it said the paramilitary unit had an "operating culture" of extrajudicial killings, which its members perpetrated with impunity.

[quote]British High Commission officials in Dhaka told the BBC that the UK training programme for the RAB had begun in early 2008 and was due to finish in March 2011. "The focus is on human rights. It concentrated on providing the RAB with the skill-set to conduct law enforcement duties in an ethical manner," said an official, who did not want to be named.
"The areas covered basically include basic human rights training, interview skills, investigation skills, basic scene of crime skills, inclusion on a range of legal and human rights focused events."

The Guardian reports that the UK's National Policing Improvement Agency provided training to the RAB on crime scene management and investigation, via officers from West Mercia Police and Humberside Police.

BBC News - UK training Bangladesh 'death squad'

What's the fuss here? again? I suppose you'd rather the RAB just continued along its merry way without any guidance whatsoever?

[Ramzi Nohra]

Connor
With respect - you highlight the quote from the British Commission that the focus is on human rights - that is completly denied in the same article by the training manager for the RAB itself. Who to believe?

[Winalot]

An example of English "investigative techniques, interview techniques" as if we do not already know.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExH0aVv2fJ0"]YouTube - High court proceedings reveals secret British military interrogation techniques[/ame]

[Conor the Bold]

Connor
With respect - you highlight the quote from the British Commission that the focus is on human rights - that is completly denied in the same article by the training manager for the RAB itself. Who to believe?

Can you highlight the two quotes you feel to be completely at odds with each other?

[Conor the Bold]

An example of English "investigative techniques, interview techniques" as if we do not already know.

YouTube - High court proceedings reveals secret British military interrogation techniques

Ah Winalot - Do you often libel the West Mercian and Humberside Police by bringing up completely unrelated things? Not very smart are you?

Jog on Numpty.

[cluainsaileach]

Shock Horror, the Brit secret services train death squads, Many hundreds of fellow Irish people north and south are dead and thousands injured due to the training, arming and intelligance information supplied by all arms of the British security services north and south. (does anyone really believe that they did not infiltrate and have agents in the 26 county Army, Gardaí, political class and media and therefore have information that was supplied by those agents who in turn supplied information to Loyalist death squads to carry out their actions?)