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Express Tribune
7 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
'Butcher of Bosnia' requests early release
Former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic appears in court at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague, Netherlands. PHOTO: REUTERS Former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 over genocide and war crimes, requested early release on Tuesday for health reasons. The notorious general, dubbed the "Butcher of Bosnia" for the atrocities he oversaw during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, said he only has a few months to live. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, sentenced Mladic, who is now over 80 years old, for his role in the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, in which some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed in July 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces. According to a request filed by his lawyer and seen by AFP, the former war leader suffers from an incurable disease and "his remaining life expectancy is measured in months". For years, his entourage has described him as sick and frail, requesting in 2017 his provisional release for health reasons. "Despite the reluctance of the (United Nations Detention Unit) medical service to give a definitive end-of-life expectancy prognosis on paper, it is undeniable and not in dispute that Mr. Mladic is imminently approaching the end of his life," his lawyer wrote. AFP
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
With charges against Sheikh Hasina, ICT in Bangladesh has come full circle
Written by Sreeradha Datta It is an ironic twist of fate to see the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT), formed in 1973 and revived by Sheikh Hasina herself to try those who had committed crimes during the Liberation War of 1971, now poised to indict her. Hasina, the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh, is being held accountable for the alleged crimes committed during her last tenure, specifically during the students' anti-quota uprising that led to her overthrow. Earlier this May, investigators submitted their report on the July–August 2024 killings, naming her as the one who issued the orders for the security forces to open fire on the protesters. To recall briefly, Sheikh Hasina took office in January 2009 with a huge mandate. To consolidate power, she ushered in amendments, including the abolition of the caretaker government (CTG) system in 2011 — a system unique to Bangladesh, which had served well in assisting the Election Commission to hold free and fair elections. Ironically, it was Hasina who had insisted on legally introducing the CTG in 1996. While she believed Bangladesh was ready to hold elections without a CTG, the opposition disagreed. Hasina then went on to use the Digital Security Act to silence any dissenting voices. The government's impunity was exemplified by elections marred by allegations of rigging, and the use of state apparatus to undermine the autonomy and independence of institutions, enabling a coterie that wielded disproportionate influence over policymaking. During the July–August uprising, security forces initiated a brutal crackdown on protesters. In the face of growing public anger and the Army's inability to guarantee her safety, she fled to India, where she continues to reside, reassuring her supporters of her return in glory to her homeland. Within days of Hasina's escape, the Interim Government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took over, promising to bring the accused to justice. The ICT, which has previously executed four Jamaat leaders and a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, will now hear the five charges filed against Hasina. A three-judge tribunal — comprising Golam Mortuza Mozumder, Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood, and Mohammad Mohitul Haque Anam Chawdhury — will be hearing the charges. Two others charged are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and the then IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The latter is in police custody, while Hasina and Khan remain outside the country. This is the first time Hasina has been formally charged by the ICT in connection with the crackdown that took place during the July-August protests. She has also been accused of running secret detention centres. The Interim Government has further alleged that she orchestrated the disappearance of more than 3,500 people. A report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted the excesses that occurred under her watch. The report also reiterated that up to 13 per cent of those killed during the uprising were children. Hasina will be tried on five specific charges, including the killing of unarmed protester Abu Sayed at close range, shot in the chest without provocation. The next hearing is scheduled for June 16. Whether physically in Bangladesh or tried in absentia, Hasina will be prosecuted under the ICT Act of 1973. Bangladesh has already requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina. There will now be a renewed attempt at a higher diplomatic level. However, the likelihood of India agreeing to extradite Hasina is low. Although a bilateral extradition treaty exists, the caveats are significant. From the Indian perspective, Hasina's trial, given the prevailing political atmosphere in Bangladesh, is unlikely to be free and fair. Apart from the ICT, requesting the involvement of the International Criminal Court is also an option for Dhaka. The writer is Professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs, O P Jindal Global University, and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore
Perth Now
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Uni degree review for genocide-accused ex-foreign PM
A top Australian university is reviewing the honorary law degree of a former Bangladeshi prime minister after they were accused of crimes against humanity for allegedly overseeing massacres and disappearances. The Australian National University's honorary committee is considering the honorary doctorate of law given to Sheikh Hasina in 1999 but has stopped short of committing to any decision before a larger review of its processes is complete. The confirmation came days after an arrest warrant was issued following allegations of abusing political power by Bangladesh's anti-corruption commission. Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal also issued an arrest warrant for Ms Hasina in October 2024 for alleged crimes against humanity after she fled to India months earlier following her ousting amid mass protests. She faces charges of genocide and murder, among others, allegations that she denies. More than 1000 people were killed during a crackdown on student-led protests against the prime minister, according to the interim Bangladeshi government's health minister in August. Human Rights Watch accused the military under Ms Hasina of being ordered to shoot on sight to enforce curfew orders. It called for international governments to demand the end to excessive force and hold troops accountable for human rights abuses, including attacking unarmed student protesters. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Meenakshu Ganguly called for "influential governments to press Sheikh Hasina to stop her forces from brutalising students and other protesters" at the time. It would be a historic move for ANU to strip the title. "Revocation of such a degree has not occurred in the university's recent history and no procedural precedent exists," a spokesperson told AAP. "The university is undertaking to develop a more detailed revocation procedure before deciding on any specific matter." Bangladesh police requested an Interpol red notice be issued against Ms Hasina, local media reported. A red notice is a worldwide request to law enforcement to help locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or legal action. Ms Hasina is reportedly hiding in India.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - From Rwanda to Ukraine, despots are fanning flames of tragedy
When I joined the United Nations-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as a judicial legal advisor in 2007, I was filled with hope for justice and a safer future. We aimed to hold accountable those behind the 1994 Rwandan genocide. But my confidence waned as we only pursued Hutu-led former government members, undermining impartiality. Rwandan officials prevented investigations into the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by commander and future President Paul Kagame, despite their significant atrocities against civilians. Nearly two decades later, I grapple with the realization that, rather than break the cycle of violence, we may have inadvertently contributed to the rise of a new tyranny. President Kagame, once celebrated as a liberator who ended the 1994 genocide, has evolved into a figure who wields power with an iron grip, suppressing dissent and leveraging the genocide narrative to cement his rule. His government's recent actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, supporting the M23 rebel militia in its capture of the eastern city of Goma, mirrors a dangerous global pattern of regional destabilization under the guise of national security. While the seizure of Goma — pulsing with millions of souls and rich in minerals critical to global industries — risks spiraling into a full-scale cross-border war, Kagame's regime seeks to stifle and annihilate any form of political dissent at home. Victoire Ingabire's ordeal is emblematic of this. On returning to Rwanda in 2010, after 16 years in exile, with hopes of cultivating a genuine democracy, Ingabire called for inclusive remembrance of all victims of Rwanda's violent history, regardless of ethnicity. This drew the ire of a government that tolerates no challenge to its version of history. Ingabire's subsequent arrest, trial, convictions on spurious charges of terrorism and genocide denial, and her unjust 15-year prison sentence, have been widely criticized as politically motivated. Her latest attempt to run for president in Rwanda in July 2024 was thwarted when the Rwandan High Court upheld a legal ban preventing her from running due to her previous convictions. Although she was pardoned in 2018, the court ruled that she remained ineligible to run because the limitations imposed by her pardon had not yet expired. Now, the threat of rearrest (or worse) looms large as Ingabire's pardon period ends in August 2025. In recent speeches, Kagame has ominously warned democracy advocates like Ingabire that 'their days are numbered,' explicitly stating that 'those who must be corrected, we correct them.' This rhetoric, suggesting imminent actions against Ingabire, is part of a pattern: Kagame has previously insinuated that she 'will not end up well' and that the government 'would find an appropriate solution' for her. In my view, this is evidence of how selective justice at the tribunal has had long-lasting implications. It emboldened Kagame's government and entrenched a narrative whereby any criticism of the Rwandan Patriotic Front is tantamount to genocide denial. The most obvious parallel in modern geopolitics is the case of Russia's assault on Ukraine, backed by twisted narratives based on revisionist history — indeed, the Economist headline was 'Rwanda does a Putin in Congo.' Both Putin and Kagame seem motivated by various manifestations of greed and hubris. This highlights a troubling global trend: leaders who exploit past traumas and conflicts as tools for maintaining power. The despots' actions not only destabilize their regions but also threaten to ignite broader conflicts, leveraging historical grievances and security narratives to suppress internal dissent and justify aggressive expansions. The international community's response, often muted by geopolitical considerations, fails to adequately address the resulting atrocities. The world must confront this head-on: There is a pattern of nations whose difficult histories have resulted in authoritarian governments peddling grievance. Only by acknowledging and addressing these complexities can we hope to support paths forward anchored in justice, respect for human rights, and true governance under the rule of law. The international community must recalibrate its approach and prioritize the restoration of genuine democracy in Rwanda to ensure stability in the Great Lakes region. As for Putin, of course, saving Russia from the grip of his cabal is one of several Holy Grails in geopolitics that lie ahead. Sheila Paylan is a human rights lawyer and senior legal consultant with the United Nations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
