Al Jazeera report speculative
We in The Daily Star are fully committed to freedom of the press and all sorts of opinion. We also fully accept any news organisation's freedom to report as they see professionally fit. Yet we can't but express our consternation over the Al Jazeera television channel broadcasting a report saying that the ongoing war crimes trial in Bangladesh will push the country into political instability. Focused on the trial of Jamaat chief Golam Azam, the report speculated 'dramatic consequences of whatever decision the court comes to'.
The channel report, quite clearly and irresponsibly at that, didn't feel the need to explain the basis for its coming to such an assessment. It therefore comes through as a deliberate and motivated attempt to put a spanner on the works of the trial on crimes against humanity in 1971 Liberation War with which Prof. Golam Azam is charged as one of the major accused, and creates a sense of uncertainty in the public mind.
The report is at best conjectural and at worst tantamount to playing into the hands of a campaign launched by the opponents of the trial to create confusion overseas. Coming from such a widely viewed television channel, Al Jazeera should have been cognizant of the implications of a broadcast like that. In the absence of such sensitivity on the part of the channel, the report exudes provocation and being helpful to those who do not want the trial held.
Actually, the essence of what the trial is all about is lost on the TV channel. It is about upholding the rule of law by bringing to justice the crimes committed against humanity some four decades ago. The sufferers of the heinous crimes have a right to justice. There are international regimes governing trials of similar crimes committed in other parts of the world by upholding the principles of justice and fair play. In Bangladesh, International Crimes Tribunal is operating as a domestic court trying only those accused of crimes defined as international crimes.
We expect all established international, regional and national news organizations to avoid unnecessary speculations and understand the fundamental purpose of international war crimes trial. Let's make it clear that this is not to take revenge or score political points but to establish justice.
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