Thaindian News

Shillong, June 27 (IANS) Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A. Sangma Sunday said India should support Bangladesh in its effort to try all those accused of committing atrocities during the 1971 liberation war.
“Bangladesh has started their trial of war criminals and we (India) should extend all support to them in their effort to investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan,” Sangma told IANS.

Sangma said that he would also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urge him to extend support to Bangladesh.

“Such a trial will discourage the culture of impunity and prevent recurrence of genocides and war crimes,” the veteran political leader added.

Sangma, who led an Indian-delegation to Dhaka, attended an international seminar on war crimes trials. The seminar was attended by 45 delegates from the US, Britain, Russia, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Nepal and Iran, among others.

The Dhaka declaration that was adopted at the seminar said that crimes committed by the Pakistani Army during the Bangladesh liberation War were the “worst genocide” after World War II.

“We (the delegates at seminar) have decided to urge upon their respective government to recognize the genocide committed during the Bangladesh liberation war,” Sangma said.

That apart, he said the Dhaka declaration said that countries affected by terrorism and religious extremism should encourage civil societies to build a domestic and regional secular humanist network to address the threats of fundamentalism, communalism and terrorism.

Dhaka says three million people perished during the nine-month struggle that culminated in freedom when the Pakistan Army surrendered Dec 16, 1971.

Besides army personnel, the killings were allegedly carried out by Islamist militias called Razakars.

While many fled to Pakistan and others have died, Dhaka plans to try an estimated 1,500 people against whom freedom fighters and NGOs have given evidence.