WAR CRIMES TRIALS

Dhaka rejects UN claim of unfairness

Dhaka has rejected the claims made by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that there are doubts regarding the trials conducted by International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD).
Bangladesh also questioned if the OHCHR is siding with the perpetrators of war crime, genocide and crimes against humanity and choosing to undermine the cry for justice of the families of innumerable victims.

Referring to the execution of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, press briefing notes issued by spokesperson of the OHCHR stated on Tuesday that the trials did not meet the international standards of fair trial and due process as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a party.
The notes also called for a moratorium on death penalty in Bangladesh.     
“In its response to the press briefing notes of the Office (of the High Commissioner for Human Rights), Bangladesh expressed that it is highly disturbed by the conclusion made in the Press Briefing Note with regard to the misperception/misconception of OHCHR about the reality entailing the verdicts of the ICT-BD, currently focusing on the two cases of Messers Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid,” said a Foreign Ministry press release yesterday.
Both SQ Chowdhury and Mujahid have been handed down the death penalty for charges proven against them beyond reasonable doubts, it said.
The release said that the ICT-BD trials takes solely into consideration the crimes committed by the individuals accused and convicted for crimes against humanity they had committed in 1971, and has no preoccupation with their present political status.
“Mr. Chowdhury or Mr. Mujahid’s cases have nothing to do with their political identity or affiliation, and the point that they belong to some opposition political parties is only a coincidence as far as the trials are concerned,” it said.
“Moreover, certain accused and convicted individuals in the ICT-BD trials are with ruling party and its electoral allies,” it added.
The release made it clear that international standards were maintained.
“The Government recognizes its responsibility towards its citizens and is committed to fulfil its obligations to the citizens of Bangladesh,” it added.
The ICT-BD trials have created an opportunity for ending the culture of impunity, ensuring justice to the victims, and paving the way for truth and reconciliation, said the release.
“It is unfortunate that while the international community across the board has embraced the trials as an effort to end the culture of impunity for mass atrocity crimes committed over four decades ago, some selected quarters are still resorting to sweeping, biased and unfounded comments about the trials as fed to them by the agents and sympathisers of those accused and convicted,” it said.
“In view of the above, to any discerning observer, the position taken by the OHCHR in the said press briefing note raises a question – whether the OHCHR is siding with the perpetrators of war crime, genocide and crimes against humanity. It is also a question if the OHCHR is choosing to undermine the cry for justice of the families of innumerable victims; whether the impunity that the majority of the people of Bangladesh want to see gone, is being upheld by the OHCHR,” said the release.

WAR CRIMES TRIALS

Dhaka rejects UN claim of unfairness

Dhaka has rejected the claims made by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that there are doubts regarding the trials conducted by International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD). Bangladesh also questioned if the OHCHR is siding with the perpetrators of war crime, genocide and crimes against humanity and choosing to undermine the cry for justice of the families of innumerable victims. Referring to the execution of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, press briefing notes issued by spokesperson of the OHCHR stated on Tuesday that the trials did not meet the international standards of fair trial and due process as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a party. The notes also called for a moratorium on death penalty in Bangladesh. In its response to the press briefing notes of the Office (of the High Commissioner for Human Rights), Bangladesh expressed that it is highly disturbed by the conclusion made in the Press Briefing Note with regard to the misperception/misconception of OHCHR about the reality entailing the verdicts of the ICT-BD, currently focusing on the two cases of Messers Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid, said a Foreign Ministry press release yesterday. Both SQ Chowdhury and Mujahid have been handed down the death penalty for charges proven against them beyond reasonable doubts, it said. The release said that the ICT-BD trials takes solely into consideration the crimes committed by the individuals accused and convicted for crimes against humanity they had committed in 1971, and has no preoccupation with their present political status. Mr. Chowdhury or Mr. Mujahids cases have nothing to do with their political identity or affiliation, and the point that they belong to some opposition political parties is only a coincidence as far as the trials are concerned, it said. Moreover, certain accused and convicted individuals in the ICT-BD trials are with ruling party and its electoral allies, it added. The release made it clear that international standards were maintained. The Government recognizes its responsibility towards its citizens and is committed to fulfil its obligations to the citizens of Bangladesh, it added. The ICT-BD trials have created an opportunity for ending the culture of impunity, ensuring justice to the victims, and paving the way for truth and reconciliation, said the release. It is unfortunate that while the international community across the board has embraced the trials as an effort to end the culture of impunity for mass atrocity crimes committed over four decades ago, some selected quarters are still resorting to sweeping, biased and unfounded comments about the trials as fed to them by the agents and sympathisers of those accused and convicted, it said. In view of the above, to any discerning observer, the position taken by the OHCHR in the said press briefing note raises a question whether the OHCHR is siding with the perpetrators of war crime, genocide and crimes against humanity. It is also a question if the OHCHR is choosing to undermine the cry for justice of the families of innumerable victims; whether the impunity that the majority of the people of Bangladesh want to see gone, is being upheld by the OHCHR, said the release.