Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights group, on Saturday said the claims of “genocide” by Hefajat and other opposition parties are unfounded and have only served to heighten tensions.
“The toxic swirl of rumor and rhetoric surrounding the protest of May 5-6 will only get worse unless the government acts quickly in a transparent manner,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch in a statement.
He said that Bangladeshi authorities should immediately set up an independent commission to investigate the large number of deaths and injuries during the Hefajat-led protests in Dhaka and elsewhere on May 5-6.
“Given the lack of trust between various parties, it is imperative that these answers come from an independent and impartial body,” Adams added.
The exact number of deaths during the May 5-6 protest remains unclear, with figures ranging from the official government figure of 11 deaths to Hefajat’s estimate of thousands. Independent news sources put the figure at approximately 50 dead, with others succumbing to injuries later.
“Bangladesh will see a plethora of demonstrations this year in response to additional verdicts from the ICTs and in the run-up to national elections,” said Brad Adams.
He went on: “Without an independent investigation, accountability, and improved policing methods, we could see serial bloodbaths.”
The commission should also investigate the violence that killed dozens in February, March, and April after protests and counter-protests broke out after the announcement of verdicts by the International Crimes Tribunals (ICTs), the statement said.
The rights group called on the government to publicly order the security forces to follow the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.
“The Bangladeshi government has a responsibility for the victims, whether protesters, bystanders or police, to ensure that an effective investigation is carried out into each death,” Adams said.
It also called on the government to ensure media and civil society are able to independently report on the protests.
Human Rights Watch in its statement said political tensions are likely to increase as more war crimes verdicts are handed down at the ICT and as elections scheduled for late 2013 or early 2014 approach.
Human Rights Watch called on opposition parties such as the main opposition BNP its ally Jamaat-e-Islam, as well as independent organsations such as Hefajat, to condemn and take steps to deter their supporters from carrying out unlawful attacks, including on law enforcement officers or members of the public with different political views.
It also expressed concern that Hefajat recruited boys from madrasahs to participate in the “siege”.
Source: UNBConnect