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Calls for Bangladesh war trials | Calls for Bangladesh war trials |
(1 day later) | |
Veterans of Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence have called for their countrymen who collaborated with Pakistan to face war crimes trials. | Veterans of Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence have called for their countrymen who collaborated with Pakistan to face war crimes trials. |
Hundreds of the veterans who took part in the victorious war against Pakistan travelled to Dhaka to issue the call at the request of their former commanders. | Hundreds of the veterans who took part in the victorious war against Pakistan travelled to Dhaka to issue the call at the request of their former commanders. |
They say Bangladeshis who collaborated with Pakistani forces caused the deaths of thousands of civilians. | They say Bangladeshis who collaborated with Pakistani forces caused the deaths of thousands of civilians. |
Many of those they want tried are politically influential figures. | Many of those they want tried are politically influential figures. |
They include the leaders of Bangladesh's largest religious-based party - Jamaat-e-Islami - which at the time opposed the break-up of Pakistan. | |
To this day, the leaders of the party deny a war of liberation took place, rather calling it a civil war between Pakistanis. | To this day, the leaders of the party deny a war of liberation took place, rather calling it a civil war between Pakistanis. |
They also deny involvement in a youth militia which carried out many of the killings. | They also deny involvement in a youth militia which carried out many of the killings. |
One of the reasons why the veterans have launched their campaign now is that elections are being organised for December. | One of the reasons why the veterans have launched their campaign now is that elections are being organised for December. |
They want Jamaat-e-Islami, which did well in the last elections, to be banned from taking part. | They want Jamaat-e-Islami, which did well in the last elections, to be banned from taking part. |
Lingering anger | Lingering anger |
The veterans won their country's freedom from Pakistan with the support of India in only a matter of months and are the nation's heroes. | The veterans won their country's freedom from Pakistan with the support of India in only a matter of months and are the nation's heroes. |
But many wounds from the conflict are yet to heal. | But many wounds from the conflict are yet to heal. |
Bangladesh's official records say some three million people, mostly civilians, lost their lives. | Bangladesh's official records say some three million people, mostly civilians, lost their lives. |
Many of the perpetrators were not Pakistani soldiers but their supporters among the local population. None have ever been tried. | Many of the perpetrators were not Pakistani soldiers but their supporters among the local population. None have ever been tried. |
Dr Mustafisa Rahman, a medic in the Bangladeshi forces, said of the collaborators: "They raped our mothers, they killed our brothers and sisters, they burned our houses, they have done everything." | Dr Mustafisa Rahman, a medic in the Bangladeshi forces, said of the collaborators: "They raped our mothers, they killed our brothers and sisters, they burned our houses, they have done everything." |
Earlier governments have ignored the calls for trials, saying they would damage national unity. | Earlier governments have ignored the calls for trials, saying they would damage national unity. |
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