UN willing to help ensure int'l standard in war trial

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Outgoing United Nations Resident Coordinator Renata Lok-Dessallien said Thursday that the UN was willing to provide technical assistance to the Bangladesh government, in order to ensure an internationally accepted trial of the 1971 war criminals, reports UNB.
After a farewell call on Law Minister Shafique Ahmed at his ministry, Renata told reporters that the UN also wanted to send its observers to monitor the trial process that got underway on March 29.
"The minister assured me that the trial will be internationally acceptable," said Renata, who also served as the UNDP resident representative in Dhaka.
Reiterating the government's position over the trial, Barrister Shafique said that transparency, neutrality and international standards would be maintained in holding the trial.
In support of his contentions, he said separate locations had been earmarked for members of the press and the observers inside the courtroom to witness the trial as well as report it.
The law minister said that the UN also wanted a fair trial to establish the rule of law in Bangladesh. Talking about the possibility of UN observers, the technocrat minister said: "If it so wishes, the UN can also send international observers to witness the trial process."
Barrister Shafique said efficient lawyers who had experience and expertise in criminal trials had been appointed as prosecutors. So there would be no lapses in the trial to be held in accordance with the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act.
Asked to comment on allegations that there were war criminals within the ruling Awami League as well, the law minister said it was the responsibility of the Investigating Agency to identify perpetrators, and it would not be wise making any comment regarding this.
Barrister Shafique outright rejected another question that seemed to suggest there were political motives behind the trial, saying that those who belonged to any political party should refrain from saying such things.
The law minister also reiterated that the trial of the war criminals, who committed crimes against humanity during 1971, was an internal matter for Bangladesh.