Wednesday, October 05, 2011
In a landmark move, Bangladesh is finally seeking closure for the atrocities it suffered during the 1971 war for the liberation of East Pakistan. The war crimes tribunal, which was constituted by the government almost a year ago to investigate and bring to book all those who participated in the large-scale genocide of some three million people in East Pakistan, has pressed charges against its first accused. A senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, a main opposition party, Delawar Hossain Sayedee has been charged on 20 counts that include crimes against humanity, rape, torture and genocide. As can be expected, Sayedee has denied these allegations and followers of the Jamaat have taken to the streets to voice their protest. While the verdict may take months in coming, what is important is that the first steps towards some sort of justice for the many victims of 1971’s nationalist war are finally being taken.
What was the Jamaat’s role in the 1971 war? To aid the Pakistan army’s crackdown, it formed paramilitary wings called Al-Badr and Al-Shams to fight the Bangladesh Liberation Army (Mukti Bahini). These wings contributed immensely to the killing spree against intellectuals and activists. As if the Pakistan army were not vicious enough, these haywire groups added more fuel to the bloodshed and carnage. It is for these crimes and many like them that Sayedee has been charged; many more like him are expected to be indicted on similar charges.
It has taken Bangladesh some 40 years to take such a step to address the wounds of the past, despite there being Awami League governments in its history, but it is finally looking towards a future that has left this bitterness behind. The establishment of this tribunal marked the beginning of what is sure to be a lengthy legal process, one that is not without its detractors. The tribunal is an indigenous one, without any UN or other international oversight. Hence, it is being called partisan by some quarters. The fact that it exists at all deserves it to be credited as a body that is looking towards settling accounts with the past.
Pakistan could learn a thing or two from Bangladesh. The atrocities perpetrated against East Pakistan are a blot on our national conscience. Not only did they result in the obliteration of united Pakistan, Pakistan has seen history repeating itself within its own borders in Balochistan. The war crimes the Baloch are being subjected to ought to wring Pakistan out of its stupor if we do not wish to see a repeat of 1971.
Source: http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/05-Oct-2011/editorial-the-crisis-deepens
(Scroll down to Second Editorial after the Editorial The Crissis Deepens)
