EU not sided with war criminals

Pierre Mayaudon

The European Union yesterday said it has not sided with war criminals in Bangladesh by issuing a statement against death sentence; rather reminded all about its worldwide position against capital punishment.
“Please don't spread this perception that EU is taking side of war criminals. That's not obviously the case. It's not true that we take sides,” new EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon told a press conference in the capital.
Asked why the EU issues statements voluntarily opposing death penalty after each verdict in war crimes cases, the diplomat said abolition of death penalty is on the EU agenda and it is not solely directed to Bangladesh.
Ambassador and head of the EU delegation in Bangladesh, Mayaudon presented his credentials to the president on November 3, nearly two months after his arrival in Dhaka.
The envoy said whenever the EU is informed of any verdict of death penalty due to criminal or political acts anywhere in the world, it opposes the verdict.

“The EU always stands for freedom, liberty, human rights and due process of law against criminals worldwide,” he added.
Soon after the verdict in the war crimes case against Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, the EU in a statement called on the Bangladesh authorities to introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step towards definitive abolition of capital punishment.
The EU, said the statement, is opposed to the use of capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and has consistently called for its universal abolition.

EU STANCE ON JAN 5 POLLS
Asked about the EU's current position on the January 5 one-sided polls, Mayaudon referred to a statement issued by Catherine Ashton on January 9.
He read out the last sentence of the statement: “The EU urges all parties to refrain from violence and to engage in genuine dialogue to agree on a mutually acceptable way forward to strengthen democratic accountability and to hold transparent, inclusive and credible elections, putting the interests of the people of Bangladesh first.”
The diplomat said he does not have anything to add to the statement. The EU will continue working with the Election Commission in this regard, he mentioned.
Earlier, Mayaudon in his written statement said he along with the EU team is determined to make his mandate a “useful” and busy one.
Mayaudon served as deputy head of EU delegation in Pakistan (2011-2014) prior to his appointment in Bangladesh.