Extra-judicial Killings
US envoy for transparent investigation
Staff Correspondent
US Ambassador James F Moriarty has said that extra-judicial killings in Bangladesh should be investigated through a transparent process.
The US envoy’s comments came while talking to reporters yesterday during a visit to Odhikar, a human rights organisation, in the city.
“I think all extra judicial killings need to be investigated in a transparent and accountable manner,” the ambassador said in reply to a question from a reporter.
Odhikar was a runner-up for the US State Department’s 2008 Freedom Defenders Award. The ambassador congratulated the organisation for its outstanding contribution in promoting democracy and human rights in Bangladesh and handed over a certificate from the US State Department in this regard.
Dr Tasmin Siddique, former president of Odhikar, received the certificate on behalf of the organisation.
Reiterating the United State’s commitment towards supporting human rights around the world, he said, “Odhikar was one of the most important organisations in the world in 2008 in protecting human rights issues and we (the US) are recognising its good work.”
Journalists asked ambassador Moriarty if an elected government could protect human rights better than a non-elected government. In reply he said elected governments could do a good job including holding down extra-judicial killings.
“They are the ones who have the most direct accountability to people, also NGOs like Odhikar play a key role in reminding the elected government that the people are watching the government,” he said.
Replying to another question on whether the number of incidents on human rights violation was high over the last two years, Moriarty said, “There obviously were violations, that’s why for example we called for the lifting of the state of emergency.”
“But by the end of the caretaker government’s regime, we saw positive trends including a drop in extra judicial killings and restoration of fundamental rights with the lifting of state of emergency,” he said.
Terming the December 29 election as the cleanest and best election in Bangladesh’s history, Moriarty said the country has witnessed a successful handover of power.
Now, organisations like Odhikar have to ensure that those in power do not abuse the power they hold but listen to the people who have elected them and also protect these people as democracy is not just about elections, he said.
Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and other officials and staffs were present on the occasion.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
