Shahriar kabir in a press conference in ny
we want a road map for the trial of the war criminals
Humanist Shahriar Kabir (www.secularvoiceofbangladesh.org) told that, government is sincere to try the war criminals but there may be confusion about the procedure. He told, we had expected that the trial would have been started by this time, but it is not, if it would not start by this year, we may need to be in the street again and that would be unfortunate for us and for the government.
Mr. Kabir was talking in a crowded press conference in NY on Saturday, 17th Oct 2009 organized by Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, USA (Forum for Secular Bangladesh <FSB>) & Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, USA (BHBCUC). Among others Dr. Mohsin Ali, President FSB, Fahim Reza Noor, Secretary, FSB; Ratan Barua, Nabendu Dutta, Dr. Thomas Dulu Roy, three Presidents of BHBCUC; Sitangshu Guha; Dr. Nasir, Shafi Chowdhury Haroon, President, NY State, FSB; Sushil saha, Secretary, BHBCUC were present in the press conference.
Mr. Kabir told that, Bangladesh is the country which is going to try the 'war criminals' by its own law, it's a historic event. He declared that, there is no confusion with the 1973 law, but we don't understand why government is delaying the trial. He told that we want a road map for the trial, but the government is not saying anything.
In reply to a question about how many people will be tried, Mr. Kabir told that tribunal will decide that, not the government. Mr. Kabir said, the more people will be frustrated, trial of the war criminals will be more difficult. In reply to another question of outside pressure, Mr. Kabir told that, of course there will be pressure, but no civilized country can tell Bangladesh government not to try the killers & rapists. Mr. Kabir added, let the tribunal decide everything, not government, he added, Tribunal must be independent and free and we will ensure that.
Mr. Kabir stressed that, we want a trial like Nuremburg Trial, which is phase by phase, let it be started with the high level war criminals of Jamaat/ Muslim League, then go to second level and finally with the Pakistani war criminals. He said, Jamaat/ Muslim League will be among the high level war criminals. Mr. Kabir also told that, government should form the tribunal immediate and the tribunal will form the Investigation Committee.
In reply to a question he told that, we were in the street, we are in the street and we will be in the street. To answer another question, he stressed that, definitely we want reinstitute of the 1972 constitution. About terrorism, he told that, government is trying to control the terrorists, but that is not enough, government needs to be stronger. He told that, if the new education policy is implemented, fundamentalism will shun down and we are waiting to see how much government is sincere to implement the education policy. He told that, government should be more proactive to try the criminal s of 21st August grenade attack; 10 truck arms case etc. He reirates his claim that, he did not slide down from their demand to ban religion based politics.
About minority issues, Mr. Kabir told that, minority representation although a bit better than before, but is not enough and we wanted to see proportionate representation in every sphere of life. He said that, now we have highest number of minority MPs in the parliament, but we are not happy with that and we want more. He also told that we are protesting against any minority persecution and we don't give any concession to Awami League government. He pledged to continue his fight for secular Bangladesh.
In reply to a question about USA & Britons' role, he answered that he thinks USA & Britons' role is positive. He informed that, those war criminals that lives in outside Bangladesh are already identified and now it is government's responsibility to take them back. He told that, I believe, if government wants the war criminals back, other countries will help. In this context he referred recent home minister's meeting with Interpol to get back the killers of Bangabandhu and their willingness to help.
About the trials of 195 Pakistani war criminals, he told that, there is some problem at this moment, but if we can start the trial, we will be able to do that also. He explained that, there is a tripartite pact between India-Pakistan-Bangladesh, which Pakistan is taking advantage of and saying that those war criminals were pardoned. Mr. Kabir pointed out that, those 195 war criminals were pardoned on condition that Pakistan will try them, which Pakistan never did. He also told that, our stand is clear, we want to say that, tripartite pact has no legal base; Pakistan did not try those 195 war criminals; Bangladesh never ratify that in the parliament. He added, we demand that the trial should be in phases, first, the top level war criminals; then the low level Bangladeshi war criminals and finally, Pakistani war criminals. In reply to another question about Pakistan's complain that Bengalis also killed Biharia, Mr. Kabir replied, from the historical past trials of war criminals, the civilized world taught us that the defeated are always tried by the winners.
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