From: rafatm@sage.cc.purdue.edu (unknown)
Subject: Re: bakwaz about 71 (Re: Victory Day in Bangladesh!!!)
Followup-To: soc.culture.bangladesh, soc.culture.pakistan
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 21:23:39 GMT

In article <NAEEM.92Dec19144545@occs.cs.oberlin.edu>, naeem@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Naeem Mohaiemen) writes:
> In article <1992Dec19.180659.13132@topaz.ucq.edu.au> salama@topaz.ucq.edu.au writes:
>    They should not forget the atrocities they had commited against the helpless
>    civilian nonbengalis far before Pak army moved in. 
>   
> [deleted]
> 
>    If the bengalis complain the army operation
>    then they should acknowledge their operations in Dinajpur, Santahar, Paksi,
>    Khulna, Silhat,... , long before Pak army started moving in. 
> ----
> Thank you for finally breaking the silence on the atrocities of Mukti Bahini 
> long before 26th March. Finally the untold history stands bare.
> 
> Looking forward eagerly to the news reports from accredited sources that you
> are going to post to back this up.
> 
> --
> Naeem Mohaiemen
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> "You may also tame some Bengali tigresses"
> 		[letter to Pakistani Army Lieutenant;source: Dhaka Museum]
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
   There is no denying that the mukti bahini comitted atrocities. However, the 
concept of the Pakistani troops comitting them and the mukti bahini`s actions
are not the same. The mukti bahini is was not even a cohesive fighting force. 
In fact, there was no central command that directed all the operations and 
coordinated all actions. These guerrelas were individuals who would often
band together and under some regional committee carry out covert actions
usually at night. The Pakistani army on the other hand was an organized 
fighting force under a structured command. For such an institution to commit
atrocities especially in the scale they did is not only unthinkable but 
repulsive. Hundreds and thousands of innocent Bangalees were slaughtered.

   The Mukti Bahini also commited actions that are shameful. The reason that
they are largely unheard of today is because of the magnitude. Over one million
Bangladeshi`s were slaughtered. By comparison, how many innocent people did the
Mukti Bahini kill? Many of their targets were collaborators including Biharis
who had the audacity to not only side with Pakistan, but to fight against the
independance movement. . Both parties did
deplorable actions, but comparing them is like comparing a gentle breeze with
a tsunami. Both are atmospheric disturbances, but they are so different in
destructive potential that comparing them is ridiculous.

   I do not want anyone to think that I am rationalizing the actions of the
Mukti Bahini. Those that commited atrocities have tarnished the name of this
otherwise legendary force. I would like to say that the reason many Bangladeshi`ss continue to harbor ill feelings against Pakistani`s is because many of them
refuse to acknowledge the genocide that took place. How many Pakistani`S will
ever say that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman`s party, the Awami League, won an absolute
mjority in fair parliamentary elections? How many of them will acknowledge that
Bhutto`s own greed prevented Sheikh Mujibur from assuming his rightful role as
prime minister. Furthermore, how many Pakistani`s will acknowledge that for a long time East Pakistan was the primary source of foreing earnings, yet a meagre
fraction of that income was spent on it? Just remember, all of these actions
took place before the 1971 war in which innocent lives from both sides were
lost. Untill Pakistani`s come to terms with history and the atrocities their
government commited, we will continue to see resentment from Bangladeshi`s
concerning 1971.

Rafat Sadiq
rafatm@sage.cc.purdue.edu
> 
>