Balkan Tragedy: A Re-enactment of the 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh

I am new to this forum but it looks every bit as heated as a tea stall in any South Asian capital. Great.

I repeat for purposes of clarity, calling Jinnah a `ghaddar` falls within the legal doctrine of `fair comment`, due to his role in the 1940s in British India, that is protected speech in the U.S, however, calling someone a `war criminal` guilty of `heinous crimes` in the context of a discussion on genocide is NOT within the category of `protected speech.`

Rishi and Mr.Nawaz

As for the milk shop looting incident that Mr.Nawaz claims to have `discovered`, i addressed it already in post #68. I`ll simply repost my response since you seem to think it so important.

Also, your post does nothing to substantiate the claim the Z.A Khan was part of a murderous coterie of generals. That represents your prior beliefs, nothing more. Certainly not evidence of a legal standard. Does not amount to proof of any sort.

Response : Did Z.A Khan order this looting? Was he even aware of it until AFTER It occurred? Clearly not. Did he even approve of this? His narration of this incident in fact only goes to show that he disapproved of this conduct by the Pakistan army, nothing more.

As for Rishi`s silly comment comparing my calling Mujib a ghaddar and blasphemy against Mr.M.A Jinnah in Pakistan, firstly, i think the blasphemy laws in Pakistan only apply to the prophet (pbuh) Muhammed. Secondly, if they do apply to M.A Jinnah, and a Hindu called him a `ghaddar`, that is a permissible political interpretation of the events of the 1940s in British India. That is indeed protected speech under the first ammendment in the U.S, as is my calling Mujib a ghaddar. However, it is FACTUALLY inaccurate to call someone guilty of `genocide` or `war crimes` without providing any factual evidence. There is a clear distinction between the use of the 2 terms. Try calling Jinnah `a war criminal` guilty of `genocide`, and if he were alive he could indeed sue you. If anyone cares to sue me for calling Mujib a ghaddar i will be happy to provide my e-mail address, and even my mailing address in order to make the suit against myself possible for my doing so. The ACLU will show up in court with me, rest assured. However they WON`T be willing to do so on Mr.Hassan`s behalf for the reasons i articulated above. I hope he, and Chowk and its editors are willing to spend at least $250,000 and Up on litigating this issue because that is what a trial would cost them, if a suit were filed, and this is a VERY conservative estimate.

Re: Omar

I distinctly recall that the Blasphemy law in Pakistan can be used to disastrous effects against anyone sprouting disdain on the founder of the nation Mohammed Ali Jinnah. If this were true, and if and only if it were applicable in Bangladesh, then just imagine your plight for labelling Bangabandhu as a Ghaddar.

And now you are threating Jamal with Libel after a cold mouthed name calling of Bangabandhu by your most esteemed self. Talk about justice. Before you request an apology from Jamal don`t you think you need to apologize to him and all bengalis for labelling their leader as a Ghaddar. How would you feel if the fascist Hindus label Jinnah the same. Remember, what goes around does come around (once again)

Rishi

Re: Pakistani Brigadier`s daughter`s letter

Mohammad Nawaz Khan

I was following the debate with bated breath. I found a letter which can be a part of a film of the holocaust kind. Z.A. Khan wrote that when his two year old daughter was crying for milk on 25th March 1971 and when his wife was wailing, his servant brought a ton of milk packets.

When asked by his wife the place he got from, the servant replied that the army men are looting the only shop in the cantonment area which was then run by a retired Bengali army personnel. This is the shop which was looted (presumably the owner was shown the door of the Kayamat right away). So what does this anecdote mean?

The same two year old daughter is probably the writer aho is threatening Jamal Hasan, right? The same girl, who was then two years old. The same girl who lived because the baby food of many Bengali kids were snatched, the same girl who lives now on looted property, the same girl who lives now by being saved by provisions, which was obtained by killing Bengali kids and the parents of Bengali kids and looting Bengali properties. Is there any big wonder left, that the same girl would grow up and spew hatred and protect murderous fathers, and threaten human beings who chose to rise for their rights. What could be more co-incidental, more stranger and more dramatic (in a macabre comedy as it is) way of showing that the marauding evil force of General Yahya was simply living on looted property and their only business was to kill, rape and loot?

I must thank Z.A. Khan for the revelation and her

daughter for such a sub-conscious bursting open.

Clarification:

I don`t object to Jamal`s quest for long overdue

justice, i merely object to unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations with regard to Z.A Khan, whose only `crime` was arresting Bangabandhu

Mujib without bloodshed, though Jamal and other Bengalis won`t bluntly come out and admit this, but would rather go on a fishing expedition looking for `other`, `crimes` committed by him. Ofcourse this may seem like a `war crime` in an of itself to them, but technically, Pakistan was not at war with any other state at the time of Mujib`s arrest and transportation to West Pakistan (just another province of Pakistan) bY BRIG. Z.A KHAN does not in any sense amount o a `war crime`. Jamal`s definition of `war crime` thus reveals itself to be a politically motivated definition of the term which ignores the legal and actual definition of the term given the factual legal situation of the real sovereign in East Pakistan at the the time, the federal government of Pakistan. Hence these charges do not hold water against Z.A Khan. I will not comment on any of the others named, they may indeed, `fit the profiles of war criminals,`

but that is irrelevant to the issue i have addressed.

Being `a humanitarian` does not confer a liscence to libel, slander, and defame anyone.

That kind of `free speech` should and does carry a price. One should be prepared to pay it and bear the consequences if one indulges in any of the three aforementioned acts.

TO add to the discussion ..( which I I should add

has gone fairly of track ) ..a proper understanding of the contrast is only possible

if you more precisely define the events of Kosovo and the 1971 war

the Kosovo war can be called ``The result of a linguo-Culturo - religious rivalry with a long historical aspect , it is based on the negative form of nationalism of Demographic change , as a short term goal , and the destruction of the opposing group as a final objective ``

I have not used the word ethnic here as Kosovons and Serbs are both Slavs ..the Historial aspect is the usage of the Ottoman Empire of Albanians in crushing Serbian revolts .

While the 1971 War can be better described as ``

The result of an idealogically derived state apparatus enforcing it`s writ in defence of it`s idealogical boundries ``

These terminologies may sound confusing ..but do allow a person to make the contrast .



In Criticism of Omar74`s comments about the law of the land being sarcosanct above all else and how Baluchistan joined PAksitan .etc .

First of ( and this is in contrast to Kosovo )

The Bengali`s were the original founders of the Muslim League and Bengal was the only place where the Muslim League was a real mass movement and could hold mammoth rallies ..their commitment to Pakistan was much more then any other Province ( with the exception of NWFP which voted as par a referendum ) The Bengalis provided 2 Prime Ministers to the country , the man who tables the pakistan resolution was Bengali as well ...also did you know that the Awami League was a breakaway faction of the Muslim League ( it was originally called the Awami Muslim League )



I also object to the belief that the law of the state is above all , Dictatorships have always often legalised their actions ..does that mean they were just ?...To add to your knowledge pakistan is a signator of the Universal declaration of Human rights ..last I heard at least ..and the basic fundamental rights of man and women are above any law as far as I am concerned .

Another fact is that if the West Pakistani people were not lied to about what was going on in East Pakistan ..they might have stopped it much earlier .

One of the InterAct(ors?) said Pakistan is full of contradictions ..I would add to that by saying ..that a country based on providing a home for people from Hindu discrimination for some reason , almost like a victim of abuse , has time and time again discriminated against it`s own

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Re: mnkhan52

Just one question. If there is, as you say and shown by the articles you posted with your reply, a corpus of evidence against Pakistani generals and their conduct during the War of 1971, why was this evidence not presented to the International Court at the Haque back then?

There is no statute of limitations on war crimes, and nor should there be one, but what puzzles me is the delay in charging the Pakistani generals. Could you please explain to me what were the mitigating reasons which delayed the process for charging those gulity for 29 years? If the Bangladeshi government had evidence of war crimes, why did it not seek justice in 1971 when the crimes were still fresh in the minds of the victims?

I am sorry to say this, but this 29 year old gap, between the commission of the crime and being charged for it, simply amazes me and I fail to see any reason for the silence of the Bangladeshi government in this matter!

OMAR1974 POSTS DETAILED POINT BY POINT RESPONSE TO ALL Allegations made against Z.A Khan in all posts.

Dear Readers,

Today I came across the following write-up of Mr. Khaled Ahmed in Bangladesh Newsgroup. This write-up is very pertinent because Mr. Ahmed discussed Brigadier Z.A. Khan’s ``The Way It Was`` highlighting the civil rights violations (Yes, forcible death by firepower is the ultimate violation of one’s civil rights. Right?) of Bengalis during the brutal nine months in 1971.

Sincerely,

M. Nawaz Khan



In soc.culture.bangladesh Mr. Khaled S. Ahmed wrote on April 16, 1999:

``I would request the Brigadier’s daughter (Muneezae Khan) and Mr. Omar1974 to read very carefully the following article that I wrote for News From Bangladesh. Lt. Colonel (later Brigadier) Z.A. Khan’s role in killing Bengalis is graphically detailed in his own write-up. Lt. Colonel Z.A. Khan was the commander of a commando battalion that was very much involved in killing Bengali army officers and civilians in Comilla, Chittagong, and Chittagong Hill Tracts. He and his commando most certainly did cover much ground during the dark days of 1971. It won’t be difficult, believe me, to find people in Bangladesh who would be most willing to place the Lt. Colonel in the killing fields of 1971. Furthermore, his memoir that is full of incriminatory details would go a long way to prove beyond any shadow of doubt that his hands were stained with Bengali blood as was the case with the majority of 90,000 Pakistani soldiers.``



News From Bangladesh March 22, 1999

READERS OPINION

‘The Way It Was’ - Reading Between The Lines

Khaled S. Ahmed Maryland/USA e-mail: KhaledSA@aol.com

Nightmare came back as I was reading the series ``The Way It Was`` by the Pakistani Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN as he narrated Pakistan`s bloody, brutal and barbarous occupation of Bangladesh during 1971. While he could carefully, deliberately and faithfully hide facts obviously because of his guilt, it is also unfortunate that there is no remorse, regret or penitence in his text, phrase, wording and expressions. Further, in his efforts to hide his guilt subconsciously he mentioned about Hindus on two occasions without much relevance to the other parts of his writings, forgetting that they were in a land of 85% Muslims.

However, Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN deserves credit for revealing facts which can be read between the lines and may become much more damaging evidence of unconscionable, unethical, unlawful and cowardice behaviour of Pakistani Generals organising Genocide in Bangladesh.

Disrespect for International Law

Major General Rao Farman`s instruction to a Colonel to use his discretion in the event Sheikh Mujib would have escaped to Japanese Consul General residence is clear disrespect and disregards for international law. Rao Farman was clearly aware of that law but neither had the guts give straight instruction to violet the right of a diplomat nor the brevity to respect the international law which does not permit any intrusion to any diplomats enclave.

Because, I have intimately known the than Consul General Mr. Takenaka since1957, I could assure the readers that in the event Sheikh Mujib would have decided to escape to his diplomatic enclave it would not have been possible by all the Generals of Pakistan including the President acting together to arrest Sheikh Mujib without killing the diplomat. He would never have dishonoured his country, a country considers it to be much more honourable to admit guilt and ask for forgiveness.

Freedom Fighting

The valiant guard of Sheikh Mujib who pulled a Dah, a long bladed knife, to protect his master was much more courageous than those hiding Generals. He is a shining example of freedom loving Bangladeshis who were not afraid of automatic weapons. It is not that he did not know who is covering whom, presumably only thing he knew that he must fight for the freedom. Perhaps, he is the first freedom fighter responded to March 7th call for freedom movement of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Whatever ``way`` one attempts to describe the 1971 events of Bangladesh, those who fought for democracy and freedom shall be glorified and those who perpetrated the Genocide shall be cursed.

Disrespecting Democracy

Havildar Major Khan Wazir who gave Sheikh Mujib a resounding slap on his face, was not only a Havildar of Pakistan Army but he was representing Major General Rao Farman, Major General Mitha, Lt. General Tikka, General Hamid and the President General Yahya Khan while Sheikh Mujib, a democratically elected leader, was representing over 120 million people of Pakistan, from whom these Generals were earning their daily wages. I wish those Generals had the sagacity and wisdom to understand from the history of mankind that that resounding slap, will be reverberating all over the land of 65 million freedom loving Bengalis, and will eventually came back as thunderous humiliation of surrendering to the joint command Bangladesh and India within nine months. As long as history of mankind will be there that resounding slap will resonate louder and louder the atrocity, annihilation, brutality, barbarity, butchery, cruelty, carnage, crime, destruction, extermination, horror, killing, murder, outrage and rape committed by Pakistani Generals in Bangladesh.

After 28 years those Pakistan army Generals, officers and soldiers participated in that process must now be much closer to their graves (if not already in) and are in their fifties, sixties and seventies. Many of them are having children and grand children including teenage daughters and granddaughters. Dissemination of information through Internet shall make these innocent girls aware (if they are not already aware) what type of crime their fathers and grand fathers committed in during 1971 occupation of Bangladesh including rape and shall even for a moment try to look deep into their eyes to detect the perpetrators.

For new generations of Pakistanis I must tell that there were certainly some good people in their army but were out numbered by the sinister. During early part of November 1971 one such good, devout and honest 19 year old young Pakistani Militia (member of Para-Military) described his experience in Urdu as - Yea Qauom Nehi Rahe Sakta (this nation can not survive), Etni Jana-Bazi (so many rapes), Etni Beimani (so much betrayal - they were killing the young girls after having kept them in bunkers), Afsos - Yea Qauom Nehi Rahe Sakta (so pitiable - this nation can not survive). It is high time for Pakistanis youths to resound, reverberate and resonate the feeling of that Allah fearing holy young man and compel the perpetrators to ask for forgiveness.

Shivering Butcher Of Baluchistan

Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN wrote ``Just for fun, I told him that I had arrested a man that looked like Mujib and I thought it was Mujib but was not sure. On hearing this General Tikka shot out of his chair like a jack in the box, he called for Brigadier Jilani who had heard me as he was standing just inside the office entrance.``

It is known that when General Sahibjada Yakub did not support GeneralYahya`s plan of Genocide in Bangladesh and he was purged and General Tikka was chosen for the unholy task because of his reputation in ruthlessly suppressing a revolt in Baluchistan and eventually became object of fun for his subordinate Colonel on the very first day of his operation. When any one encourage violating law of the land they should not expect better treatment from their subordinates. To be an object of fun of their subordinate officers is the ultimate reward for the so called powerful Generals of Pakistan. For 65 million Bengalis these Pakistani Generals were no jokers, they were a perpetrators of Genocide.

Where Is The Whole Truth

It was the night of 25th March and the Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN wrote ``I was standing and smoking, a light machine gun, sited at the headquarters perimeter wire, either accidentally or the gunner saw something, fired a short burst. For a while after the burst was fired it was quiet, then every weapon in the cantonment and in the city opened fire. Not to be outdone the anti-craft regiment on the airfield also fired, green and yellow tracer arcs crisscrossed the whole of Dacca, after a few minutes the firing ceased as suddenly as it had started ``.

Did the firing really ceased ? Those who experienced the night knows that the firing continued through out the night, all over the city, killing well over 10,000 unarmed civilians including students and teachers of the Dhaka University. Neither it was started suddenly nor it was an accident, it was planned to surprise and terrorise the unarmed civilian in their bid to take away freedom of 65 million Bengalis. Every weapon in the cantonment and in the city can not open fire without plan and without plan how could they have had lethal weapons in the Dhaka city.

In the event Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN has the opportunity to write his epitaph presumably he may have to decide for - ``man sleeping in this place wanted to tell the whole truth``.

Rayban Glass and Hiding Commander

While the valiant, daring and bold freedom fighter Major Ziaur Rahman had his guts to put on Rayban glasses and two flags flying on his jeep, cowardly, timid and unstable Pakistani commander had locked himself in his room in the Circuit House and was not coming out because he thought if he ``gave any orders and something went wrong he would be sacked.``

Prisoner of War and Geneva Convention

Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN wrote ``..……. Bengali soldiers who were prisoners, officers and Bengali servants of West Pakistani officers were taken and shot ……..The Bengali element of the 3 Commando Battalion who had been locked up in the quarter guard, were also taken out and shot………….

While Major Khaled Musharraf of Bangladesh had the courage, dignity and honour not to shoot his prisoners Lieutenant Colonel Khizar Hayat, Major Sadiq Nawaz and other Pakistanis although he was operating in open paddy field in Brahmanbaria/Sylhet area, Pakistani Generals who had well over 300,000 Sq. mile under their control showed no respect for Geneva Convention in shooting those unarmed prisoners and it was extra-ordinary abuse of human rights done without any remorse and hesitation.

Looting of Bangladesh

Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN wrote- ``A few days after the military action started he (his batman Sowar Abdul Aziz) brought tins of powdered milk for my two-year old younger daughter who had been crying for milk and no milk was available. When my wife asked him where he got the milk from, he told her that soldiers were looting the subedar`s shop and he had taken the milk from there. The Bengali subedar from the Army Clerical Corps had been the personal assistant to the Commilla brigade commanders and after retirement had opened a general store in the Commilla cantonment market from where most officers used to buy items of daily use, his shop was amongst the first to be looted by the troops in Commilla.``

What better justification Pakistanis can have for looting Bangladesh other than for the purpose of feeding two year old ``Joy Bangla`` chanting innocent little angel - daughter of the Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN.

Battle of Belonia - A Major Against A Major General

Battle of Belonia was fought between Major Khaled Musharraf of Bangladesh and Major General Rahim Khan of Pakistan. Major Khaled Musharraf had his forces at a higher elevation when Major General Rahim Khan ordered his forces to march in and until almost entire of his two infantry battalions were wiped out he did not understand his foolishness. By the time commandos started marching Major Khaled Musharraf already decided to withdraw inflicting heavy casualties and therefore Brigadier (Retired) Z.A. KHAN certainly ``found that the commandos had successfully carried out the mission and returned``. After that Battle of Belonia a General in Dhaka cantonment said to have commented about Major Khaled Musharraf - we have trained him so well, we had to use a Major General against that Major.

At the time Pakistani Generals would not move around the country without a large contingent of escort and there was no virtual army movement after dusk, brave, defiant, courageous warrior Major Khaled Musharraf repeatedly came back to Bangladesh soil to launch guerrilla attack on Pakistani occupation army positions until he was seriously wounded and hospitalised. His and other sector commander’s courageous forces operated all over the country including Dhaka city, the Farm Gate incident narrated was one such operation.

It is not surprising that Generals of Pakistan army were having commandos posted as guards at their bedroom doors. It is not surprising that they were terrified to bring their dead back for even an honourable burial ceremony, perhaps Allah never wanted them to get that honour. It is not surprising that they became so much afraid of Mukti Bahini, they were begging of every visitors from Pakistan to pray for their safe return. It is not surprising that their so called ``Tiger`` General Niazi had that blank look to murmur -``kuch karo`` and millions saw that blank look while his gun and badges were taken off at Dhaka`s Race Course Maidan only a few yards away from the place Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman roared to declare independence of Bangladesh - ``Ebarer Sangram, Muktir Sangram, Ebarer Sangram - Shadhinatar Sangram.``

---END---

re:satyavadi

I agree that Pakistan is hypersensitive when it comes to their military might vs India. It`s very true that if Pakistan engaged in a ``healthy`` rivalry with India in other areas - such as you mentioned satellites, or for that matter any other technological research, it would be much better for Pakistan`s economy. But why stop with technology, why don`t they try to rival india in economic growth and acadmeic acheivements? Friendly competition can actually push people to greater achievements.

Regards,

Fozia

Re: Jamal

As is wont, this discussion too went into the almost regular pakistan vs India slang war.

And we end up digressing from your topic. Which was and is about ethnic cleansing practised by the serbs which according to you was comparable to the ethnic cleansing by the west pakistanis.

hope we can stick to this ...I indeed apologize for contributing to the digression (hope i was`nt as anti-pakistani as some anti-indian comments)

Rishi

Maliani : Kindly explain in detail what i already percieve as being the outlines of the most ridiculous argument. Baluchistan, in order to have been `occupied` by Pakistan, would have at some point had to be a SOVEREIGN entity. Now maybe my historical knowledge is lacking, but Sovereignity in 1947 passed from Britain to the Government of Pakistan, AFTER this province and others VOTED TO JOIN PAKISTAN. I doubt you can come up with a cogent well reasoned argument to support your position.

What about illegal occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan