For AL, war trials' political usefulness diminishing

The war crimes trials' political usefulness for the ruling Awami League is diminishing, said The Economist.

Now Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might prefer to advance her credentials as a wise, legitimate and moderate leader by leaving a “flawed tribunal to grind forward only very slowly”, read an article headlined “Dialling down”.

“After all, she wants Bangladesh to bolster its international reputation,” it said, mentioning the country's winning a seat at the UN Human Rights Council.   

Published in the magazine's print edition yesterday, the report said Hasina, who a few days ago visited the United Arab Emirates, also judges how the war-crimes trials are seen in the Gulf.

Most important is Saudi Arabia, the biggest destination for Bangladesh's millions of migrant workers and a source of subsidised oil. “Its rulers do not want Mr Nizami [Jamaat-e-Islami ameer and convicted war criminal] or other accused too obviously ill-treated.”

It thus suits Hasina to keep up the notion that the legal process is beyond political interference. “For the time being it may, in other words, be convenient to observe a less active war-crimes process,” added the London-based weekly.