Expressing satisfaction over the functioning of International Crimes Tribunals, Stephen J Rapp, the visiting US Ambassador-at-Large for war crimes issues, on Monday said the judges have been able to work neutrally without pressure and politics.
Talking to reporters after meeting the judges of the two tribunals, he said it is important that the judges are able to do their job without pressure and politics.
Rapp praised judges’ bold and impartial role in discharging their judicial functions and said he salutes their service and courage.
He underpinned the US support to the trial for the 1971 crimes against humanity and said the process has moved properly.
Rapp viewed that both the prosecution and the defence have got equal opportunity to deal with their cases by providing evidences through witnesses and documents.
Rapp also said it is important for Bangladesh to try the perpetrators of the atrocities committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Liberation.
The good part of the trial will serve as examples for other countries of the world, he remarked.
Rapp arrived at the tribunals at the Old High Court building around 1:30 pm and held meeting with the judges.
Earlier, Rapp met the ICTs investigation agency members at its Dhanmondi office in the capital.
He arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning on a three-day visit, his
5th to Bangladesh since war crimes trial began.
He is expected to meet the Law Minister, Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary on Tuesday before holding a press briefing.
Source: UNB
