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| Bangladesh |
| Move to identify perpetrators of '71 genocide |
| 2009-07-29 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] A two-day international conference begins tomorrow to pave the way for identifying the perpetrators of genocide during the Liberation War and developing a broad network to bring those responsible to justice. "This conference is going to be held at a historic moment for the nation when the government is making a move towards the trial of war criminals," said trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haque at a press conference held at the museum premises in the city yesterday. The conference titled Second International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice--organised by the Liberation War Museum at Cirdap auditorium--will bring together representatives from International Criminal Court, prosecutors involved in war crimes tribunals, International Council of Jurists, and academics from Hong Kong, Korea, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, Canada, Cambodia, UK and Bangladesh. A special programme involving witnesses and victims of the genocide and representatives of post-liberation generation will be organised. Arrangements will also be made to ensure participation of the expatriate Bangladeshis via online video. Mofidul Haque said Liberation War Museum held the first conference March last year to create consensus on the trial of war criminals at home and abroad. Now that the nation had voted for a change upholding the values of Liberation War the government has also decided to try the war criminals and make necessary amendments to the International Tribunal Act 1973, he added. "The conference, therefore, holds great significance for Bangladesh as well as the global community as it will manifest how societies victimised by genocides and mass atrocities move forward and how the world community can prevent such brutality from recurring in future," said Mofidul. It also seeks to develop strategies for advocacy, lobbying and awareness about the recognition of the genocide in Bangladesh and related unresolved issues of justice and truth. Asked if there were any probable hindrance in trying the war criminals, Liberation War Museum Trustee Akku Chowdhury said since the government is fully committed, they found no obstacle to it. On remarks of a Pakistani delegate early this year that it was not the right time to go ahead with the war crime issue, he said Pakistan should come forward in trying the criminals who acted against humanity. "All Pakistanis are not responsible for the crime," he said. The conference can also be viewed by streaming video via Liberation War Museum website, www.liberation warmuseum.org/genocide. Museum trustees Tariq Ali and Rabiul Hussain also spoke at the press conference. |
| Posted by:Fred |