Editorial
War crimes trial a must
However, nothing can be above criticism
We as a newspaper from the very outset have been strongly supportive of the war crimes trial not only because it will establish supremacy of law, heal the wounds of the nation but also because it will vindicate the right to justice of those on whom crimes against humanity were perpetrated. That is what we owe to our hapless victims during the liberation struggle. However, we cannot accept the position, adopted in the resolution in the parliament and subsequently supported by the law minister that anybody who criticizes the tribunal and the trial will face legal action. This is misuse of law and amounts to stifling freedom of speech and expression.
Both the resolution in the parliament and the law minister do not seem to understand the purpose of criticizing or raising objection. They both assume that criticizing is meant to impede the trial. It is our view that criticism may and can also help the trial process by pointing out its flaws and weaknesses which will enable us to make the trial even better.
We also want to raise a more fundamental question. In a democracy nothing can be and should be above scrutiny. It has been an age old learning that criticizing is the best form of scrutiny and helps strengthen what is the truth.
We also wonder how something which constitutes a legal process can ever be above question. Actually, questioning can strengthen and perfect the process rather than weaken it because the whole purpose is to hold a transparent and fair trial.
We want to loudly proclaim that the war crimes trial is meant to establish the truth, to right a massive wrong committed against our freedom loving people.
Let's make it clear once again that we have embarked on the trial from an unflinching belief in the supremacy of law and an inherent respect for the rule of law. We believe that both the resolution in the parliament and the law minister's remarks will appear as trying to suppress the critical opinion and create suspicion in the minds of the international community about the trial process. After four decades of waiting, we want a trial which will not only punish the culprits and establish justice, but will become an example of fairness and transparency admired by all.
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