The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Amnesty International secretary general Irene Khan Tuesday said due process under the state of emergency is "not being followed in some cases" and called for lifting restrictions on the media.

"Some regulations were made under the state of emergency, and in some cases due process is not being followed,' she told reporters after a lengthy talk with Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.

Irene suggested lifting emergency restrictions on the media "although those are not being imposed" and called for scrapping the criminal liability act.

About holding trial of the war criminals of 1971, she said the Amnesty International always demand the trial of war criminals who committed crimes against humanity. She urged the government to seek help of the United Nations in holding the trial as she said the UN has extensive experience about this issue. In this context, she mentioned the case of Cambodia where war criminals were tried

The international human-right watchdog's chief executive, who visited victims of JMB militants in Rajshahi and Rajshahi university teachers arrested and released, said the victims of JMB militants want to return to their own houses but they could not go back out of fear. Now, of course, they feel secured, she observed.

About Rajshahi University teachers, she said although they were pardoned, they must be acquitted of the cases filed against them under the emergency rules. Irene, however, would not comment about the arrested Dhaka University teachers and students following the student unrest on August 20-22 last year.

On human-right situation, the AI secretary general said although statistics regarding the extra-judicial killings look good, AI wants the number of extra-judicial killings come to nil. Appreciating the government move to establish a National Human Rights Commission, she hoped that a neutral and competent commission would be set up by the caretaker government.

Irene welcomed various institutional reforms brought about by the present administration. She said now is the time to ensure that the institutional reforms done by the caretaker government can be carried on by a next democratic government in a way in which environment and culture is created for respecting human rights.

Ms. Irene Khan, Secretary General of the Amnesty International, and members of her delegation called on Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Adviser, and held discussions over a working lunch at the Foreign Ministry this afternoon.

Iftekhar told the reporters that he has reaffirmed to her that this government is committed to aligning its HR record with international standards.

"In doing this we will require everyone's support: of the UN, of the international community and must of all of the Bangladeshi people and media."