Bangladesh government: Stop persecuting political opponents and violating human rights!

Stop persecuting your political opponents and violating human rights!

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT
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Stop persecuting political opponents and violating human rights!

SAVE BANGLADESH:
Bangladesh became independent from West Pakistan in 1971 following its people being put through unprecedented sufferings in the forms of killings, rapes, genocide, massacres, looting etc in the hands of West Pakistani soldiers. It was with the help of India that East Pakistan finally became Bangladesh.

Among the offenders, there were those from West Pakistan as well as some Bangladeshi's otherwise known as the anti-liberation force. In 1973, Bangladesh's new government passed the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973 with the intention of bringing to justice all criminals of war. There was then a tri-partite agreement between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan resulting in the return of prisoners of war back to Pakistan. The then government also pardoned the anti-liberation force who assisted West Pakistan. Furthermore, a number of individuals were later tried and convicted for war crimes but were subsequently pardoned without punishment.

Successive governments were then formed in Bangladesh over the many decades but there were no suggestions for resurrecting the issue of war crimes allegedly committed by some, about 40 years earlier. In 2001/2002, at a general election the BNP and Jamat-e-Islami parties defeated the Awami League Party and formed a coalition government. This triggered the suggestion from the Awami League Party that they would bring to justice the criminals of war of 1971 and started to openly call political opponents as 'war criminals'.

Since the Awami League government has come into power, it arrested 5 Jamat-e-Islami leaders and 2 BNP leaders who happen to have been in coalition government against the Awami League Party in the preceding term. They were kept in detention for at least 10 months, tortured and refused the presence of their lawyers when interogated before being charged with crimes, some of which have not yet been defined. Very recently, the most senior member of the Jamat-e-Islami Party was also arrested.

The government has since amended the constitution to deprive these suspects of the protection of the law. There is uncertainty over whether they are to be regarded as 'innocent until proven guilty' although the government, it's ministers and others as well as the government controlled media refer to them as 'war criminals' and not 'suspects'. They have been refused the presence of their lawyers when interrogated by the police, their lawyers are frequently harassed and threatened by government officials, refused representation by foreign lawyers, given only 3 weeks to prepare their defence, given no right of appeal to case management decisions, their requests for adjournments to prepare their response to late disclosures have been refused and the rules of procedure allow admission as evidence newspapers articles written by government agents. These government intends to sentence these individuals to death, arguably to pave her way into office for a much longer term.

US Ambassador Rapp has made at least 3 visits to Bangladesh and has expressed concerns that the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973 and its Rules of Procedure are not up to international standards of fairness. He has made many recommendations most of which have been ignored. Mr Rapp's recommendation for the defendants to be given the same rights as other citizens of Bangladesh has fallen on deaf ears.Other international organisations including the Human Rights Watch, International Bar Association and Amnesty International have expressed similar concerns. The government of Bangladesh appears to be resolute in its aim to persecute its political opponents.

Save Bangladesh from its government's persecution of its political opponents. Save Bangladesh from corrupt leadership. Save Bangladesh from the risk of a civil war. Sign this petition.

Please watch this NEWS INTERVIEW with Mr Kay QC for more information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWNwXf0h-GI

Please also watch the War Crime Documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2GEg1_IfxA

Visit www.savebd.com for additional information from various other sources.

TO THE BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT:
We the Petitioners request that you:

- amend the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973 to bring it up to international standards of fairness;

- amend the tribunal's Rules of Procedure to bring them up to international standards of fairness;

- reverse the changes made to the Constitution of Bangladesh depriving these defendants of the right to the protection of the law;

- admit that there is a conflict of interest between Awami League's political interest and these defendants possible acquittal. For these reasons, they will not receive a fair trial in Bangladesh;

-admit that if these defendants are acquitted, it would cause the government huge political embarrassment, nationally and internationally. They will not therefore receive a fair trial in Bangladesh.

- try these defendants outside of Bangladesh in an independent tribunal under the supervision of the international community;

- give these defendants the same rights as every other citizen of Bangladesh;

- treat them as suspects and not convicted criminals;

- do not torture them and do allow them access to lawyers during interviews;

- implement all of the recommendations of Ambassador Rapp;

- allow the defendants representation by foreign lawyers, since it is an International Tribunal; and

- stop persecuting your political opponents.

The people of Bangladesh, as do the rest of the world, seek a fair trial, so hold one.

THE DECENT PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD WILL TURN THEIR BACKS, NEITHER TO THE VICTIMS OF WAR CRIMES OF 1971 NOR TO THE VICTIMS OF POLITICAL PERSECUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

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Sincerely,

[Your name]