Quit war crimes trial

Shahriar Kabir, executive president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, yesterday called on Ghulam Arieff Tipoo, chief of the prosecution team dealing with war crimes cases, to resign.
“Chief Prosecutor Tipoo Bhai, you should quit. You should take the responsibility of your colleagues…and resign,” Kabir said at a discussion, demanding appointment of skilled lawyers in the prosecution team.
Lieutenant General (retd) Harun-Ur-Rashid, general secretary of Sector Commanders Forum, echoed his call.
Despite repeated attempts for comments, this correspondent could not get through Ghulam Arieff's mobile phone. However, BBC Bangla service reports that Arieff refused to comment on the matter.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed, however, termed "illogical" the demand for Arieff's resignation.
"Those who are demanding the resignation of the chief prosecutor must have knowledge about the trial of crimes against humanity and the relevant laws. Such a call is not acceptable," he told The Daily Star.
The call for his resignation comes just days after the International Crimes Tribunal sent the charges of crimes against humanity against former Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Ghulam Azam and two other top Jamaat leaders back to the prosecution due to "classification flaws".
On December 26, the tribunal refused to accept the charges against Ghulam Azam and ordered the prosecution to re-submit those in proper manner by January 5. Just two days later, it refused to consider charges against Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed on the same ground and ordered the prosecution to re-submit those in orderly fashion by January 12 and 16 respectively.
However, addressing the discussion, Kabir yesterday said the government would have to take the responsibility if any of the war criminals escape punishment due to the “incompleteness and inexperience” of the tribunal.
Projonmo '71, an organisation of the children of martyrs of the 1971 war, organised the discussion titled “Trial of war criminals and present perspective,” marking the 40th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh at Liberation War Museum in the capital.
“Losing this case would mean losing the Liberation War…a defeat for the entire nation and losing the meaning of independence just because of the callousness of a few lawyers.
“We cannot let this happen,” said Kabir, a war veteran and an eminent writer.
The government has set up the tribunal but did not provide necessary logistic support to it, he said, adding that the tribunal cannot deliver without required support.
He also urged the government to set up more tribunals for trying the top war criminals within its tenure, which ends in early 2014.
“For now, three tribunals are needed in Dhaka and at divisional level if the government wants to complete trial of at least the top war criminals within 2013,” he said.
Kabir said the statements of Ghulam Azam printed in the daily Sangram in 1971 are enough to try and punish him. The case of Ghulam Azam is easier than that of other Jamaat leaders, he added.
Captain (retd) AB Tajul Islam, state minister for Liberation War Affairs Ministry, said he himself was a victim of war crimes, his sister being violated on the night of March 25, 1971, in his presence.
He, however, said the government was working to expedite the trial and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself is involved in it.
There might be some lack of coordination but the government is trying to overcome those, he added.