Int'l lobbyists hired to hinder war crimes trial

Vested interest groups have appointed international lobbyists in different countries to hinder the ongoing trial of the 1971 war criminals, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said yesterday.
“We don't have any pressure from the outside, but lobbyists from all over the world are being appointed at the expense of huge money,” she said, replying to a question at a press briefing at the foreign ministry.
Dipu Moni also said an external and internal machination was underway spending huge money to upset the trial.
“Domestically anarchy is being created…if there has not been enormous evil effort, the Skype conversation [of a war crimes tribunal chief], be it true or false, would not come.”
In reply to another question whether the trial would be questioned after the disclosure of the Skype conversation, the minister said the tribunal had been conducting its proceedings fairly and transparently maintaining international standard, and the defence was taking part in the proceedings.
Moreover, she said, the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 had been standardised through amendments and with advices from the UN. So there is no scope of questioning the trial process at home or abroad, she said.
On another question about US official Robert Blake's remarks about resolving the issue of election-time government through dialogue, Dipu Moni said the government too wanted to settle it through dialogue.
Referring to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's letter carried by a UN official to Dhaka recently, the minister said she understood that the UN chief in his letter recommended to hold free, fair and inclusive election, and it was what the government wanted too.

Meanwhile, the minister said the UN General Assembly adopted on Wednesday a Bangladesh-proposed resolution on autism to establish autistic people's rights.
“It was accepted unanimously, and 71 countries co-sponsored Bangladesh's proposal. This is another milestone in the government's diplomatic success."