Amnesty's statement sparks protest

Several organisations of rights and cultural activists and freedom fighters yesterday protested Amnesty International's recent statement that the pro-independence forces in the 1971 war also committed crimes, and the trial of two convicts was flawed.

The organisations demanded that AI retract the statement immediately.

"We believe that Amnesty International, under the name of a human rights organisation, is siding with those who violated human rights and betrayed with the souls of the 30 lakh martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War in 1971," said Haroon Habib, secretary general of the Sector Commanders Forum, a platform of freedom fighters.

In an October 27 statement, Amnesty said, "Serious crimes were also committed by the pro-independence forces, but no one has been investigated or brought to justice for them."

The UK-based organisation added that the trial of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and BNP's Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, who were sentenced to death for war crimes, was flawed and did not meet the international standards.

Protesting the statement, SCF formed a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday and said stronger protests would follow if AI did not retract the statement.

SCF Vice President M Hamid said, "We call upon Amnesty International to stop playing the role of a lobbyist."

SCF leaders also "sense" conspiracies in SQ Chowdhury's recent petition with the Supreme Court, urging the apex court to record the statements of eight people, including five Pakistanis, as defence witnesses during the hearing of his review petition scheduled for November 2.

Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, a leading cultural platform, also demanded that AI retract its statement, during a rally at TSC of Dhaka University yesterday.

"They should apologise for the statement, and if they fail to do so, we urge the government to ban AI's activities in Bangladesh," said Golam Kuddus, president of the Jote.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, and International Crimes Research Foundation also criticised and condemned the statement.

Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad will form a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club at 10:30am tomorrow.