[Bangla Daily Star] The main opposition BNP yesterday apprehended that the ruling party would eliminate its political opponents under cover of trial of crimes against humanity.Not quite as finally as the war criminals eliminated their opponents, of course...
It also criticised the government for "stepping aside from the trial of war criminals" breaking its commitment, reports UNB. The party said the government should hold the trial of crimes against humanity under the existing laws of the land--Bangladesh Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). There is no need for constituting special court or tribunal or any investigation team for this, it said.
"Lord knows we don't need any investigation!"
However, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed denied the claims of BNP, terming it totally baseless. "The trial we are going to hold is not being called war crime tribunal," he told the BBC yesterday. "We are doing it under International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, which covers crimes under the act and were committed by collaborators of a force during the Liberation War," he said.
"War crimes are something else entirely, even though they smell the same, look the same, walk the same, and make the same quacking noises."
But the law minister told the BBC, "The tribunal was formed comprising neutral judges and prosecutors. The lawyers we have appointed and the chief prosecutor are not involved with any political party. The chief prosecutor is in no way a member of the ruling party."
"On the other hand, most if not all the defendants and potential defendants are members or allies of your parties. But that's just coincidence."
Denying Delwar's claim that the trial can be conducted under the existing penal code, Shafique said the collaborators conducted crimes against humanity helping the occupying force. Those who kidnapped and killed people, looted property, drove away people from the country, tortured and violated women cannot be brought to justice under the existing law.
Bangla doesn't have any laws covering those things? Most countries do.
UNB reports: BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain made the BNP's stand clear over the issue while addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office. The press briefing was arranged to inform the media about the outcome of Thursday night's meeting of the BNP standing committee, which alleged that the government stepped away from the trial of war criminals.
Delwar said the government so long has been speaking of the trial of war criminals, which was also mentioned in the ruling party's election manifesto but now they have stepped aside from that stand, breaking their own commitment. "Now the government is telling about the trial of crimes against humanity," Delwar said, adding that the crimes which are being mentioned are killing, plunder, arson, rape and kidnap.
He said BNP has no objection for the trial of anyone who actually committed such crimes but there is no need of the formation of special court or investigation team as well as bring any amendment to existing laws. These will not be acceptable in the eyes of law.
The Supreme Court has recently given opinion regarding this on the BDR headquarters mayhem, Delwar added. Referring to the government's propaganda and various activities as well as the statements of the prime minister and the ministers for last one year over the trial of war criminals, he said people want to know whether the government actually wants to try the war criminals or wants to divert the attention of the people who are aggrieved due to price hike of essentials, crises of electricity, gas and water, and worsening law and order situation.
The BNP secretary general said people have become confused and doubtful about the government's real intention. He further said that the people also want to know whether the government actually wants to try crimes against humanity or wants to eliminate its political opponents under the cover of the process of trial of anti-humanity crimes.