[vinnomot] Issue of 1971 war crimes: Time has come to deal with anti-liberation elements

Issue of 1971 war crimes

Time has come to deal with anti-liberation elements

A few rightwing academics have just told us that in 1971 it was a war between India and Pakistan, that Bangladesh was not part of that war and hence there are no war criminals in Bangladesh. It is time to speak plainly, clearly and bluntly about such men who have of late tried to denigrate the War of Liberation. We believe the time has come to deal decisively with people whose assessment of the war is deliberately denigrating. Already a leading figure of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a minister in the BNP-led government of Begum Khaleda Zia, has ruffled the patriotic sentiments of Bangladesh's people by suggesting that there was no genocide in 1971 and that there were no war criminals here. Matters were then carried to ludicrous heights by a retired civil servant, an unabashed Jamaat follower, when he stated that in 1971 it was a civil war and not a War of Liberation which took place in Bangladesh.

Such statements have not only drawn flak from all sections of the population, which remains witness to the atrocities carried out by the occupation Pakistan army and its local collaborators in 1971, but have also compelled the nation to voice fresh demands for the trial of war criminals. We at this newspaper cannot but express our grievous concern at the sheer diabolical design with which anti-liberation elements have been trying to undermine the spirit of a struggle that brought us political freedom as a nation. Of late there has been considerable talk on whether or not religion-based politics should be permitted in Bangladesh. It is an issue entirely removed from the question of war crimes; and those who seek to link the one with the other are confusing the issues. We should be careful in seeing that these elements do not succeed in detracting us from the main issue of identifying and punishing the individuals who committed war crimes against their fellow Bengalis in 1971. Today the people of this country must identify those who have never reconciled to the idea of Bangladesh and the values it represents and yet have few qualms about doing politics here. A line must be drawn here: those who do not identify with Bangladesh can surely not lay claim to being part of its political process.

Against the background of all the assaults on our political traditions, it becomes imperative for the government to clarify its position. Despite the law adviser's views on the matter, it is not yet too late to decide that the issue of war criminals be handled at the government level and how best to proceed should now form a part of the thinking at the highest level. We realise that the government, being caretaker in nature and therefore bound by a time frame, may not be able to complete the task. But it can surely lay the groundwork upon which a future elected government can work. The need is to set the ball rolling. Enough is enough.

www.dailystar.net

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