Chintito
Goose Bumps from Abroad
Photo: Star File
War Criminals: Find the surviving
Poster campaign launched
A poster campaign urging the public to help track down the last surviving 1971 war criminals has been launched. The Operation Last Chance II project is offering cash rewards for information which leads to prosecutions. The posters, of which 2,000 have been put up in Dhaka, Chittagong and other districts say: “Late, but not too late”.
“Millions of innocents were murdered by war criminals. Some of the perpetrators are free and alive! Help us take them to court.” It supplies a telephone hotline number where tips can be submitted. The campaign is being coordinated by US-based human rights organisation. It is believed there are up to 60 people still living, who could stand for trial for crimes allegedly committed.
A reward of 5,00,000Takas will be paid for information upon the charging of a suspect, a further 5,00,000 Takas upon conviction and a further 10,000Takas per day spent in prison — up to 150 days — for a total of 25,00,000Takas.
“In response to those who question the value of bringing elderly war criminals to justice, it is important to remember that: the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of the killers, old age should not afford immunity to murderers. Every one of the victims deserves that an effort be made to hold their killers accountable, this on-going effort is a reminder of the importance of war crimes and a warning to contemporary anti-liberation forces, and these trials are helpful in the on-going struggle against war of liberation denial and distortion.
Photo: Star File
The above news item (DS 26 July quoting UK's Huffington Post) remarkably does not actually refer to our War of Liberation 1971, but to human rights violations 25 years earlier during the holocaust in Germany. Edited to change names, places, currency, etc. the paragraphs do bear an uncanny association with our Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne, and the Nazis in Bangladesh.
Some intellectually corrupt politicians and citizens here would perhaps fully appreciate the German attitude to hunting down the holocaust criminals, and yet sadly to gain political dividends, they would not support the on-going trials under two International Crimes Tribunals under lame excuses that it happened so long ago, that evidences do not exist, that the suspects are too old, that they are innocent (!) …
That is definitely maintaining double standards. But the following news item will reassure your belief that Bangladesh has come a long way when it comes to standards. This appeared in The Times of India on 27 July. Daniel P George wrote from Chennai under (would you believe?) “Indians head to Gulf in 'begging' season”
“It's more than a fortnight since the month of Ramzan began and a regular stream of Indians has been heading to the Gulf countries, literally with begging bowls in hand. Reason: This is the time when alms (zakat) are given generously.
“The huge money that can be made is a powerful magnet. Each beggar makes nearly Rs 6 lakhs in the 30-day period, while the 'take' on Fridays can be as much as Rs 5,000, say officials.
“Mohammad Amjad, 41, of Bihar, now in the UAE, said he made Rs 13,000 in the first two days of the holy month. The money is sent home through 'hawala' operators as people on visit visas cannot hold bank accounts.
“A fortnight before Ramzan begins, says an emigration official, word is spread that agents are looking for people to travel to the Gulf. The amount charged varies from Rs 75, 000 in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to a little more than Rs 1 lakh in Tamil Nadu.”
“In Tamil Nadu, especially in places such as Rameswaram, Kilakarai, Kumbakonam, Chidambaram and Vellore, agents arrange 'packages', including air tickets, visas and accommodation, for around Rs 1.25 lakh.”
“The fact that begging is illegal all over the Gulf and those caught face hefty fines and jail terms has not acted as a deterrent. About 57 Indian beggars have been arrested in Saudi Arabia and 29, including many women, picked up in Dubai since July 10 when Ramzan began. All of them entered the UAE on visit visas.
“As many as 20 police patrols have been deployed in Dubai as part of the annual anti-begging campaign. Similar arrangements have been rolled out in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. In 2012, nearly 650 beggars were arrested in Dubai, one-third of them during Ramzan. Bahrain, Muscat and Qatar are preferred 'destinations' during Ramzan.”
“Every year, hundreds of Indians, Pakistanis, Sudanese and Africans travel to the Gulf on such visits, with those from India and Pakistan forming the majority. Immigration officials at Chennai airport say they see familiar faces leaving the city at the beginning of each Ramzan and returning home after Eid.” (End of news item)
The fact is this seasonal begging business is not any Bangladeshi's cup of tea. We got the middle-east to seek our fortunes by the sweat of our brow. Our workers have been mistreated, our workers have been deceived, and our workers have been short-changed in the Arab world. But we do not export beggars.
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