UK faces legal challenge over training Bangladeshi paramilitary
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Dec 24, IRNA -- The British government faces a legal challenge to its support for a Bangladeshi paramilitary group described by human rights organisations as a 'government death squad'.
Lawyers are to seek a judicial review of the legality of training assistance provided to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), arguing that it places the UK in breach of its obligations under international law.
The legal challenge is being mounted by Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers, which is calling on the UK to withdraw its support for RAB, conduct a prompt investigation and possibly pay compensation to the unit's victims.
'The British public by now should be sick of our governments' hypocritical approach to torture and unlawful killings. It pretends to condemn both, but in practice it aids and assists states that they know are violating these basic rights,” Shiner said.
The judicial review comes after details of British support for RAB were revealed in US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks, showing that the government has been providing training in 'investigative interviewing techniques' and 'rules of engagement'.
The leaked cables make clear that the US believed RAB would be an ideal partner in counter-terrorism operations, but was unable to offer the sort of assistance the British have been providing because of the US law.
Human Rights Watch, the New York-based NGO that has been condemning RAB as a death squad for more than four years, has also said the UK should withdraw its support immediately.
But the Foreign Office has defended the training as 'fully in line with our laws and our values'. A spokesman told the Guardian it was providing only 'human rights training' for RAB.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30140234
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