Sunday, 22 March 2009

Trial of war criminals a tough task

The Daily Star
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Says expert from Cambodia, suggests govt to seek UN help

Staff Correspondent

Dr Helen Jarvis, an expert on trial of war criminals, said yesterday if the nation is united on the issue, it is possible to bring to trial the war criminals committing genocide and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

Noting that it is a very difficult job requiring a long time, she suggested that Bangladesh approach the United Nations for its assistance to put the perpetrators of war crimes on trial.

Speaking at a 'meet the press' at the Liberation War Museum in the capital, the expert from Cambodia stressed that political parties and other organisations concerned should extend support and cooperation in trying the war criminals.

And Bangladesh could use the experience of Cambodia in this regard, said Helen Jarvis, chief of public affairs of Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

Three important elements -- memorisation, documentation and investigation -- are very pertinent factors for trial of the masterminds of genocide, she said.

Helen Jarvis is visiting Bangladesh on invitation of the Liberation War Museum authorities on the occasion of its 13th founding anniversary.

Trial of war criminals can strengthen the rule of law by making them accountable for their crimes, she said.

On the trial of the war criminals in Cambodia, Helen Jarvis said the ECCC is 'a new hybrid court' for trying these criminals, which was created three years ago and became fully operational in June 2007. It can try only crimes committed in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge period between April 1975 and January 6, 1979.

She mentioned that the ECCC has started trying the main accused. A small number of people culpable and most responsible for the crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge will be tried under the law governing it.

Cambodia first sought UN assistance in 1997 for trial of war criminials. Since the civil war ended in 1998, the government and the UN have worked together to set up a 'new type of mixed national-international tribunal'. It took some time to work out details of such court, she said.

The expert said Cambodia had serious lack of legislation, prosecutors, lawyers and experts to carry out this complicated job, but Bangladesh's position is 'much better in these areas'.

Museum Trustee Akku Chowdhury said there are sufficient evidence of offences of the war criminals in Bangladesh for bringing them to trial.

International War Crimes Tribunal Act 1993 is good enough for trial of war criminals, he said.

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