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Why the Genocide Conference
LIBERATION War Museum had organized the First International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice in March.
2008 and the Second Conference is going to be held on 30 and 31 July. 2009 In between the two conferences. Bangladesh has witnessed great change in its body politics. In the Parliement election held on December. 2008, the nation overwhelmingly voted for a change upholding the core values of our liberation War. For the first time young voters played a significant role and voted for a democratic, secular, liberal society where the perpetrators of the genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity would be put on trial and the transition of the society would be made from denial of justice to the establishment of truth and justice. The newly elected Parliament in its first session unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the trial of the perpetrators of genocide and mass atrocities. Since Bangladesh has a national legislation titled International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973 it is commonly expected that the trial will be held under this Act The long and unwavering movement of the people calling for the trial has thus got national and formal recognition. The newly elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressing the will of the nation, unequivocally expressed her commitment for the trial. She also discussed the issue with Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General and other government leaders as and when she met them. The international organizations and other governments expressed their support for such trial while at the same time pointed out the need to amend the 1973 Act to match international standards. Different civil
society organizations also highlighted the necessity to amend the Act. During the budget session of the Parliament an Amendent to the Act was introduced and passed. The nation and the Government is now ready to initiate the trial process by constituting the Tribunal and appointing the prosecutors and investigating agencies.
Thus the Second International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice is going to be held at a historic moment for the nation and at the same time it caries great significance for the world community. Bangladesh Genocide became victim of cold war rivalry when the community of nations could not come together to address the issue the way it deserved. There was no united international initiative, neither any UN move to bring the perpetrators to justice. Bangladesh Genocide became a forgotten chapter of history, but the impunity for perpetrators of the genocide had its negative impact. With the end of the cold war a more peaceful world could not be established as was expected; on the co ntrary, genocide and mass atrocities continued unabated.
The Second International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice will address how
societies victimized by genocide and mass atrocities can move forward while emphasizing truth and justice and how the world community can prevent such brutality from recurring The Conference will pave the way to be supportive of the justice initiative undertaken by the Government and get the community involved with the process of the trial.
The conference will also assist in recalling the Bangladesh Genocide back onto the global agenda. Moreover, the Conference will raise awareness amongst citizens of Bangladesh and expatriate Bangladeshis the need for truth and justice initiatives and strengthen the initiative to bring the war criminals of the 1971 war of independence to justice. Further it will highlight the Bangladesh experience in contributing to the national and international fields of genocide and conflict studies. It will also provide impetus to genocide studies in Bangladesh and facilitate the creation of a Centre for Genocide and Peace Studies.
Let everybody join his or her hand to make the conference a success and carry the message forward.