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Call for UN recognition of 1971 genocide

International conference urges diplomatic efforts, gout readiness for war crime trial

Staff Correspondent
The international conference on genocide in the capital yesterday called for a campaign for United Nations' recognition of the mass killings during the 1971 Liberation War as genocide.
Historians, academics and international legal experts told the conference, which ended yesterday, that the government should make necessary preparations for trying the war criminals and pursue diplomatic efforts to drum up international support in favour of the move.
“The conference calls upon the media and the civil society at home and abroad to focus on the genocide in Bangladesh, and launch a campaign so that this is recognised in the UN as Genocide,” says the declaration of the two-day Second International Conference on Genocide, Truth and Justice organised by the Liberation War Museum at Cirdap auditorium.
Liberation War Museum Trustee Tariq Ali read out the declaration of the conference, saying Bangladesh needs to learn from the experiences of other countries in
trying war criminals to overcome the complexities of the trial process.
Legal experts and academics from Germany, Vietnam. Hong Kong, UK and Canada were also present.
Endorsing the government move to prosecute the perpetrators of the genocide during the 1971 Liberation War. the conference emphasised collection and processing of testimonies, addressing the victims' sufferings and recognition of their rights and broader involvement of people in the trial process.
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"The Issues of management of trauma, reparation, witness protection, extradition, trials in other countries need to be studied further,” Tanq Ali read from the declaration.
The government should draw from international tribunals and institutions in formulating the rules and procedures of the tribunal
Earlier, at a discussion on the trial process in Bangladesh and the role of civil society, Prof Syed Anowar Hossain of Dhaka University said the government should pursue proactive diplomacy in the global and regional arena to gamer support in favour of the move.
"Although the trial of war criminals is primarily a domestic issue, it has regional and global ramifications," he said.
Dr Rashiduddin Ahmed pro-posed building a single platform of various organisations to work in favour oftryingthe war criminals.
Wali Ur Rahman, director of Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs, said the government should form a national committee comprised of educationists, civil society members and legal experts to assist the government in the trial
The liberation War Museum can also play a vital role in this regard and mount pressure on the government to expedite the trial process, he added.
Brig Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan said the media has to play a key role in informing the people of the complexities of the issue. The government must make sure that the trial process is flawless.
"A slip in investigation may result in dire consequences," he added.
State Minister for Liberation War Affairs AB Tazul Islam said the government is doing everything to ensure fair trial of war criminals.
"The trial process can begin anytime,” he added.
Chairing the closing session, National Professor Kabir Chowdhury said the perpetrators of war crimes must be brought to book not to take revenge, but to establish justice.
The bulk of the war criminals are religious fundamentalists and militants who must be brought to justice without further delay, he added.
Prof Chanwahn Kim of Korea, Dr Suzannah Linton ofHong Kong University, Liberation War Museum Trustees Mofidul Haque, Aly Zaker and Akku Chowdhury also spoke.