War Crimes Trial: UK to provide assistance

LONDON: Former army chief Lt-General (retd) M Harun-Ar-Rashid, also Secretary-General of the Sector Commanders Forum, sought justice for Bangladesh war victims as he met British leaders concerned discussing the ongoing trial process against suspects in the 1971 wartime crimes.          

He met Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, Vice-Chair of UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Genocide Prevention & Crimes Against Humanity and the Government’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation on June 16 at the House of Lords.

Harun informed Lord Carlile that the long struggle to seek justice for the victims of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in l971 and sought assistance for the Bangladesh war crimes trial.

General Harun hoped that the UK, "a trusted friend of Bangladesh, would assist in the difficult task of bringing to trial those who were responsible for crimes against humanity in 1971".

Lord Carlile was also informed about a number of alleged war criminals residing in the United Kingdom and requested to bring them to justice.

In response, Lord Carlile said that Britain was well aware of the initiative to seek justice in Bangladesh, the alleged war criminals in the UK and their "extremist network".

He said his government would take strong position against any such individual and "take action against any organisation propagating extremist ideology".

Lord Carlile also expressed his concern over some young men being drawn to extremism. He said that the UK’s strongly established Bengali Diaspora should work with the young "to challenge the ideology of hatred".

Harun said, "The Bengalis have a tradition of secularism and have always stood against any form of religious fundamentalism for political gains."    

Lord Carlile agreed that the UK will stand to help Bangladesh seek justice for the victims, in the spirit of friendship that ties Bangladesh and the UK together.

BDST: 1930 HRS, JUNE 18, 2011