First Issue: In a secular democracy, religion, as a political and/or governing philosophy, should not have any place in politics and public policy. No country, including the United States that takes so much pride in the separation of the "Church and State", has officially outlawed religion-based political parties, although I believe that should have been done long time ago. Governance and public policy based on Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or Hindu philosophies and religious laws always create the disenfranchised group that does not necessarily believe in that particular religion or political philosophy. I am not advocating for curbing people's freedom of religion or freedom of speech. I am suggesting that when it comes to state governance, religion has no place because religion is partial and communal.
Second Issue: The reason Jamaat et. al. got away with war crimes is because the political parties that came to power never had the courage to stand up and separate Jamaat's activity from the true sense of Islam. They feared that criticizing Jamaat would mean hurting people's religious sentiment and eventually affect their vote bank. Unfortunately, many Bangladeshis still think that Jamaat and its allies are actually "Islamic parties". They represent various schools of thoughts of Islam, including the pervasive Wahabi and Moududi philosophies. They don't represent Islam, nor do they speak for the Muslims in Bangladesh. They speak for their followers. Period. End of Story.
Third Issue: Just because Bangabandhu made the mistake of indemnifying the war criminals, doesn't mean that it cannot be undone. If Nazis can be persecuted after 60 something odd years for their crimes against humanity, Jamaat's indemnity can be constitutionally revoked or repealed. There is enough evidence to try each and every one of them, not just for the crimes during our war of independence, but also during the last 30+ years of total anarchy and mayhem created by their cadres in every parts of the country. Crime against humanity is not a narrow definition, associated with atrocities during social unrests. Rather, the definition can be applied concurrently and "retroactively" to bring criminals to the court of justice.
Fourth Issue: People really need to understand a simple thing, CTG has the constitutional authority to act as a regularly elected government (except for constitutional amendment, and couple of other provisions. I wrote about this a while ago). CTG can, if it wants, begin the process of persecuting war criminals and make sure that it is done judiciously and expeditiously. I have absolutely no faith in other political parties, and I doubt that they next democratically elected party or parties would do anything to bring closure to the saddest chapters of our history.
Cyrus Zulkarnaïan Kazi
On 11/5/07, Badrul Islam <badrul_islam2001@yahoo.com> wrote:
The Political Parties,including the main stream; AL and BNP and now surprisingly also JP and now Mukti Joddo group/forum --all inspired by Gen (retd) Ibrahim has now come out united and forceful in taking action against Jamaat group of few personnels--Golam Azam , Mujahid and a few others --in reality journalists and Press have the list--- now we have been hearing both sides--- so I think the Freedom Fighters who suffered and whop during their activity knew of the actual persons should now come to make cases as Judiciary is now FREE--all individuals affected must come to make FIR report against their Enemy/Razakar/etc who committed atrocities in their area -- and pass this information to proceed for case ion all papers and to CTG to ensure that those are attensded on priority basis.CTG cannot as their Agenda is only Elections and smooth transfer to elected representatives to form the ninth Parliament. 0nce the case and proof are established individuals amongst Jamaat can be banned and Jamaat has to come up with good candidates who are not criminal-- and Yes both type--secular and Islamist party must stay in Democracy for check and balance.So we hope Gen(rtd) Ibrahim along with Sector Commanders will initiate the cases.
"M. Raheem" < raheemm1@yahoo.com> wrote:This was a very interesting and cogent analysis by Alochok Ali Ahmed Mabrur. I too agree, we should figure out the role of Jamaat in 71 and take appropriate action so that we can move beyond this very emotional issue. The actions should include objective analysis of the events, legal trials if needed and reconciliation.
Although most Islamic parties have a poor record around the world, it does not mean, religion based parties should be banned. Both secular and religion based parties can play an important role in politics and society. It is especially important for a Muslim country to allow both kind of parties. Whoever can solve a problem and make improvements to the nation should win elections - whether secular or religion based. Performance should be the ultimate criteria.
- M. Raheem
New York
----- Original Message ----
From: mahathir of bd < wouldbemahathirofbd@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2007 3:35:08 AM
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Jammat's S.G's recent remarks: A different Assessment
I can not agree more with the article.We should control emotion and settle the issue for ever for the betterment of the country.Last 25th October 31, 2007, under the discussion project of Election
Commission with the political parties, Jammat-e-Islami Bangladesh
had met with three election commissioners led by their secretary
general Mr. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed. After the meeting, Mr.
Mujaheed gave answers to the journalists. He informed everyone about
the summery of the meeting. He expressed some particular views about
the voter list preparation and EC's roadmap too.
Apart from these election related opinions, peoples were very
interested to hear their reaction about the recommendations of some
religion-based parties of banning and rejecting them from the
election program. Those secular parties are trying in different form
to restrain them, to defy them as they took position against the
liberation forces during the liberation war.
Regarding this controversial issue, JIB Secretary General said,
there is nothing like anti-liberation force now in Bangladesh. He
added that, as Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujib, forgave all the recognized
(195 people) war criminal under the Shimla contact, and after this
forgiving, no one else were convicted as war criminal, so there is
no war criminal right now in Bangladesh too.
Very naturally, extreme reaction is vividly seen in different places
after this remarks. Particularly media and leftist political parties
are making a huge outburst after his statement. From here, I am
going to evaluate the whole situation in a different way.
I have some questions about the role of Jammat-e-Islami in 1971.
Such as: Had Jammat-e-Islami made any major fault, which may address
as war crime in 1971? Is there any option to punish them for their
deeds and statement? What should we do to as the primary
initiatives? What can Jammat do, to settle down the matter?
Historically it is established, that, Jammat-e- Islami did not work
in favor of our freedom fighters during the liberation war. But to
my consideration, principally it was a political stand. Any
political motivation or stands cannot be considered as war crime.
JIB or a particular party cannot stand for a vice or fault like war
crime. You can not address a whole party for war crime. You can say
that some persons of that party may involve with such tasks, which
can be considered as war crime. If we say in this tone, then I
think, the allegation will be more specific and more logical.
Because, if we bring the party name firstly, then it may loose the
weight of the allegation. If a party's political decision proves
faulty, then that should be condemned politically. You have no
chance to take over a decision factor to the court for trial.
According to the dictionary, war crime is a crime, which is vividly
a violation of international law and human rights. In a simple
definition, war crimes generally stands for killing, genocide, mass
rape, firing etc. Whenever we are talking, about the relevance of
Jammat-e-Islami with the war crime, then as the evidence of this
allegation, we bring the statement of Jammat leaders, which were
generally published in 1971 in their party's newspaper, "The Daily
Sangram". My question, is there any option to define any type of
statement or addressing as a war crime?
I do not want to do any favor to any one in this issue. But, I want
to settle down the issue immediately. The most important question to
me is, are we working for the establishment of Jammat in the name of
their punishment? On October 30th, I heard a discussion of Mr.
Naimul Islam Khan, the editor of "Daily Amader Shomoy" in the
satellite channel Bangla Vision. His views stroke me extremely. He
said, we went to court in the past with the issue of the citizenship
of Prof. Golam Azam, ex-Ameer of JIB. But the complainants lose in
that the case due their weakness in managing information. Their
allaegation against Mr. Azam, finally proved as a wrong one. From
that case, Golam Azam has been established finally. Naim said, that
loosing was a great setback for us. He indirectly discourages every
one to take the issue of war criminal into the court. As he thought,
that this case may also turn into a fake allegation again.
Naim is one of senior editor in Bangladesh. He was the founder
editor of The Daily Ajker Kagoj. What I know about him, he never
talks like a foul person. His views prove that, it will be really
difficult to prove JIB leader as a war criminal. Because, in the
last 36 years, no body even filed a single case against them. Every
one is criticizing them verbally. But no body claimed that this
particular Jammat leader had killed his/her lost person. Or he had
seen to participate any particular leader of JIB in the firing or
genocide activities. There is a far difference between political
statement and a war crime. We must be aware of that.
I think almost like the election commissioner Shakhawat Hossain
that, JIB secretary general's recent statement is mostly a political
statement. This is a part of their strategy (Offensive?) . So who
will take risk to go forward with a simple political statement?
But this statement has opened some new controversies, which will
take us almost near to the truth, I think.
The reaction, what we are observing and hearing in media, mostly it
is rhetorical and full of political ornaments. As our political
history and the culture of our leadership are not very praiseworthy,
so these statements are not sufficient enough to prove anything.
Some people still do not recognize or accept our leader or media
person's views at all. Whenever, they (political or media people)
are saying against some one, particularly without evidence, people
think that these are nothing but an expression of personal anger
ness. Such as in the last 30th October night talk show in Ekushe
Television, JSD leader Najmul Hoque Prodhan without any evidence,
simply said that, Jammat is the mother organization of all kinds of
existing fundamental wings in the country.
Islamic terrorism is one of the most controversial issues of the
country right at the moment. Our intelligence had worked a lot on
this issue, both in last political regime as well as in this free
and fair caretaker regime. But they cannot prove this fact of
linkage between Jammat and the other fundamentalists at all. Even
the recent investigation report by the renowned daily ' Prothom Alo'
& 'Daily Star" cannot find out any relevance in this perspective.
Unfortunately, due to lacking of authentic evidence, people already
start to consider these allegations against Jammat as fake and
false.
Simultaneously, if we want to establish the allegation of war crime
against Jammat-e Islami without evidence and witness again, people
may also be able to consider the allegations as a political
propagandas and biased attitudes as they do.
JIB people claim that Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujib has forgave all the
war criminals. Particularly the trial of 195 recognized war
criminals has been settled long time ago, under the Shimla contact.
By the contrary, the complainants against JIB claim that, that
decision of forgiveness is not applicable for the crime like rapes,
murders, firing etc. Ok, but who has the evidence that JIB leaser is
related to such destructive activities? After this general mercy,
Awami league was in power. Why they did not bring any JIB leader
under trial for these war crimes? Why they did not recognize any war
criminal from the Bengali community?
Again the complainant against JIB claims that, under the dalal
(Collaborators) law, thousand of people were arrested at that time,
when Bongobondhu was murdered in August, 1975. Surprisingly, no top
leadership of present JIB was among those arrested peoples. It
proves another painful truth, that immediately after liberation war,
the powerful and popular Awami league did not do or could not do any
thing against these so-called collaborators.
As the initial strategy of bringing war criminal under justice, some
people gave their views of immediate filing case against the
leadership of JIB. The problems lie here too. After the long 36
years, when the investigation officer of the local thana will move
forward with the case, will he get minimum evidence to prove the
allegation. Former law minister of 1996-01, Awamil league rgime, Mr.
Abdul Matin Khosru, came in a talk show in ETV named Ekusher Shomoy
on last 01-11-2007. He point out this problems and indirectly
expressed his frustration for this limitations of filing case
against JIB now?
In this complex situation, I think the exact number and aspect of
war criminal is yet to be proved. JIB is not the synonym of war
crime. For the proper punishment of war criminal, I think every body
should go forward to collect evidence. After collecting evidence,
government should try to punish the criminals according to the
aspect and forms of their crime. We should not turn this serious
issue into a blaming game again. This issue is to be settled down
with the highest sincerity and authenticity. Because, this matter is
creating major harm for the development program of the country even
after 36 years after the liberation war.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subhan Allah- Only Allah flawless
Alhamdulillah - All praise to be of Allah
Allahhuakbar - Allah, the Greatest-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Would Be Mahathir of BD------------------------------------------------------------------If it can be imagined, it is possible- NEC
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