BD has decisions to make on its own, US says on war crimes trial

Supporting the ongoing war crimes trial in Bangladesh, the United States (US) has said Bangladesh has decisions to make on its own. “…but look, Bangladesh has decisions to make on its own. We make our point of view known, but I wouldn’t draw much more analysis from it than that,” said Marie Harf, Acting Spokesperson of the US Department of State, in a regular briefing in Washington on Tuesday. A questioner drew her attention saying Bangladesh went ahead and executed war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman even US statement was there in place. Kamaruzzaman was hanged at Dhaka Central Jail on Saturday night. In response, the acting Spokesperson said, “Well, I don’t have much more to say beyond the statement that we laid out this weekend in terms of the principles of how we see this process: that of course we support bringing to justice those who committed atrocities in the 1971 war. We understand this is an important process for Bangladesh to undertake.” She said they believe that the trial should be fair and transparent and in accordance with international standards that Bangladesh itself has agreed to uphold. “So we’ve seen progress in these – in this process, and that, I think, has been a good thing.” The US believes further improvements to the ICT process could ensure that these kinds of proceedings meet domestic and international obligations, Harf said. “And that’s something we’re talking to the Bangladeshis about, I think something we’ll keep talking to them about, but don’t have much more analysis other than that of what happened,” she added. Another questioner wanted to know the consequence to the execution of the war criminal. In response, she said, “Well, we’ll continue – we understand this is a complicated issue and I think we’ll continue having those conversations with the Bangladeshis.” She also said they made their views clear. “I think, and Ambassador Rapp (US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen J Rapp) has also talked publicly about other countries who have the death penalty and how it should be imposed – obviously with great care given the costs here.” The acting Spokesperson said Bangladesh has made some progress but there is still more work to do. “And so that’s a conversation we’re having with them.” On a question on city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong, Harf said she does not have a lot on those upcoming elections. “I think they’re still a couple weeks away, so I’m happy to check with our team and see if we have some analysis to do beforehand.” She also said they have obviously expressed concern over the past weeks and months about the political unrest in Bangladesh and the situation on the ground. “But I’m happy to check and see if there’s more to share.” In another briefing on the same day at the UN headquarters, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said, “I think, on Bangladesh, as a matter of principle, the Secretary-General and United Nations stands against the use of the death penalty.”–Dhaka, Apr 14 (UNB)