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| Bangladesh |
| War tribunals, probe teams by June |
| 2009-05-06 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said the government would complete formation of tribunals and appointment of investigators and prosecutors by the end of June for holding trial of 1971 war criminals maintaining international standards. The government is delaying the trial for ensuring international standard that no chance is left to doubt its fairness and transparency, he said, adding that the government was moving cautiously in taking steps for holding the trial. He, however said, the appointment of prosecutors will be made within this month. Talking to newsmen at his secretariat office yesterday afternoon, the law minister said time is needed for designating courts, recruiting manpower and setting up offices of prosecutors. He said the government is gathering experience of holding trial of the war criminals from Nuremberg and Cambodia that held trial of war criminals. Asked about the government's move to amend the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act 2004, Shafique said this law was misused to harass politicians in most cases in the past and therefore the government is bringing the amendment to this law for avoiding its further misuse. He said the ACC will continue to take legal steps on corruption allegations against government and semi-government officials and employees under section 409 of the Penal Code. Responding to a proposal of the ACC, section 408 of the Penal Code that was used to deal with corruption allegations against officials and employees of private companies was dropped to ensure transparency of the ACC, he said. He said the cabinet has approved the proposal in principle and it would be tabled as a bill before the parliament and sent to the parliamentary standing committee for examination. About the new chairman of ACC, Shafique said Golam Rahman is an honest man and hoped that the ACC would be stronger under his leadership. The government will assist the ACC so that it can work independently under its own laws, the law minister said, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also warned against harassing innocent people and abusing the ACC's powers. Replying to a query, he said the ACC can withdraw cases, which were filed for 'political harassment.' About the cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, the minister said "It's not the question of any individual. Those who will feel that their cases are political can apply for withdrawing those cases." Shafique Ahmed, however, said all the cases were not filed with political motives. "The cases which have merit and evidence should continue and genuine political cases should be withdrawn," he added. |
| Posted by:Fred |