United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk shakes hands with Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the interim government, at the latter's office in Dhaka on Wednesday. — PID Inequality, cycles of revenge and retribution, marginalization, corruption, and gross human-rights violations must be consigned to the past, UN rights-body chief Volker Türk suggests for Bangladesh's post-uprising transition.
Addressing a press briefing Wednesday to wrap up his two-day visit to Dhaka, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights assured that the UN Human Rights Office is here to do everything for Bangladesh to succeed in achieving these objectives.
Asked whether banning the Awami League complies with his recommendation of national healing, Mr Volker Türk said, "You need what I mentioned as well, the non-recurrence of the past. Non- recurrence of the past means that you are, when it comes to political participation, for example, that you are guided by the very clear provisions of human-rights law.
"And human rights law is clear about it-it promotes the freedom of assembly, the freedom of association, the freedom of political participation. There are, indeed, in human rights law certain restrictions, but the threshold is extremely high."
He said he meant to say that the national healing process has always to be one that is homegrown and needs to be national ownership. "And for national healing to happen, you need accountability. You need justice, as I mentioned."
Asked for his comment on the ban on BCL, the student outfit of the Awami League, for the charge of terrorism, he said, "There has been a lot of discussions about terrorism laws and the so-called War on Terror, we have seen the consequences of it because, unfortunately, the labelling of terrorism has been done in a way that has often also included people who disagree, who are in political dissent."
The UN rights-body chief says this "unique, unprecedented moment in the history of Bangladesh is the result of young women and men having taken to the streets - at great personal risk - to express that they had had enough of being ignored and marginalized…enough with the silencing of dissenting voices."
He notes that it is enough with the acute inequality, discrimination, corruption and abuse of power that had taken hold in the country. Human rights and social justice were the core of their demands.
"Despite the grief and sense of loss, in my discussions with civil society, students, officials and others over the past two days, there was palpable hope that this time, through this transition, things will be different," he told the journalists.
"This time, there must be justice. This time, reforms must be sustainable and durable, so the abusive practices of the last decades are not repeated," Mr Turk said.
He thinks there are real opportunities, and certainly high expectations, for fundamental change for the better - for a new approach to governance, development and economic policies grounded in human rights, drawing on the achievements of the recent movement and building strong foundations to overcome divisiveness, discrimination and impunity.
To restore social cohesion and trust in institutions, it will be crucial to rebuild the civic space that was progressively strangled in recent years, he said.
The UN executive suggests that such transition will require "reforming repressive laws, as well as state institutions that have been in the habit of stifling dissent".
He invokes here a dictum: Old habits die hard - only systemic change will ensure that the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly and the right to political participation are respected.
About the trial of the perpetrators of the July mass killings and atrocities, he said, "Criminal justice is key but it is crucial to ensure that charges are not brought in haste, and that due process and fair-trial standards are upheld throughout, including in the International Crimes Tribunal. I found the interim government to be aware of the problems with the proceedings in the International Crimes Tribunal in the past."
He mentions that his office has provided comments on amending the ICT law, to bring in line with international standards and ensure the right to fair trial, and that justice is served without compromising due process.
In his own view, informed by evidence, is clear: the death penalty should be relegated to the past. It is key that criminal cases are not filed against individuals "solely on the basis of their previous political affiliation, including members or supporters of Awami League".
He also mentioned concerns that some charges are not founded on proper investigation, including a large number of murder charges against journalists.
"It is important not to repeat the patterns of the past. I welcome the creation by the interim government of a committee to look into this matter as a tool to address the possible proliferation of false cases. It is essential to prioritize due process."
About the UN investigation, he says their fact-finding mission is investigating allegations of attacks against minorities between 5 and 15 August. It is vital that the authorities respond quickly to any incident reported, by conducting thorough investigations and holding perpetrators accountable. "This will help build trust with minority communities, especially in light of troubling campaigns of misinformation and disinformation as well as hate campaigns on social media."
Mr Turk notes that after any period of repression, upheaval and violence, there needs to be a national process of truth and healing to move forward.
Welcoming steps taken by the government to repeal the Cyber Security Act, and to withdraw old cases of speech crimes under this law and the Digital Security Act, he notes that "An inclusive approach, where every voice is heard and valued irrespective of class, gender, race, political ideology, identity or religion, will be key - reflecting the aspirations and diversity of the movement that sparked this transition".
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