The obligations of responsibility

Western nations are failing to fulfil their responsibilities when they ignore Bangladesh executions.

A supporter of Pakistan''s Jamaat-e-Islami shouts slogans during a demonstration to condemn the execution of Mohammad Qamaruzzaman [AP]
A supporter of Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami at a demonstration to condemn the execution of Mohammad Kamaruzzaman [AP]

On March 12, 1947, US President Harry Truman spoke to the US Congress, and delivered what became known as the “Truman Doctrine”.

The speech was in response to the spread of Communism and the Soviet takeover of many of the countries of Eastern Europe. Despite the passage of more than half a century, many of the principles remain true today, and certain passages of that speech have particular resonance when looking at many of the issues facing some states today.

In particular one is reminded of the passage where comparison is drawn between autocracy and democracy, and having examined democracy, Truman went on to say: “The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio; fixed election, and the suppression of personal freedoms.” 

Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina talks to Al Jazeera

Truman then went on to acknowledge “the free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms”.

Fundamental freedoms

In essence, Truman talked about the obligation of free and democratic states, specifically the US, but the principles are equally transferable to many other such nations, and here I would directly include the UK, a country, like the US, which is both seen as, and one which promote itself as, a bastion of free speech, a defender of human rights, and a country where the rule of law and protection of fundamental freedoms are paramount.

Successive leaders since Truman in the US and his counterpart at the time, Clement Attlee in the UK, have in their own way subscribed to and promoted this doctrine of responsibility.

Unfortunately, however, that doctrine has become twisted and undermined by the actions, or lack of action of the respective states when faced with complex issues around the world. Yes, there has been involvement, and condemnation of certain actions have been forthcoming, however, other issues have been ignored at the cost of political expediency, at the cost of economic relationships, or at the cost of strategic support to maintain the status quo.

It is here where the lasting legacy of the West’s modern foreign policy has been forged.

Fast forward 40 years, and Bangladesh develops the International Crimes Tribunal to address those crimes of the past, and to bring prosecutions against those who are alleged to bear criminal responsibility for their part in the 1971 War of Liberation.

 

The US, in particular, is failing to learn the lessons of its own recent past. In 1971, US diplomat Archer Blood sent the now infamous “Blood Telegram” to US President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger.

That telegram in essence put the US government on notice as to what was about to happen in Bangladesh, and yet the administration chose to turn a blind eye to a genocide, all at the cost of developing a relationship with China with whom contact had been made and fostered, by using Pakistani military leader “Yahya” as an intermediary.

International Crimes Tribunal

Fast forward 40 years, and Bangladesh develops the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to address those crimes of the past, and to bring prosecutions against those who are alleged to bear criminal responsibility for their part in the 1971 War of Liberation. Any such attempt at ending impunity and seeking justice for the countless victims must be applauded and supported.

The euphoria of ending impunity and the applause it received was short lived once it became apparent that the actual agenda was not about ending impunity and establishing a process of justice and accountability.

It is quite clear now, and the past four years bears painful testimony to the fact, that the Bangladeshi government has sought to establish its very own brand of “victors’ justice”, and in doing so, rather than seeking to end impunity, it has merely entrenched that of the ruling Awami League; rather than truly seeking justice, it has sought to destroy a legitimate political opposition; and rather than seize the opportunity to further the development of international law, its has merely shown to the world a blueprint of what must be avoided at all costs when seeking to try such crimes.

Two executions have now taken place in the pursuit of this apparent justice. Mohammad Kamaruzzaman was executed on April 11, following a trial that has been all but universally condemned from respected commentators across the world.

In these circumstances, where a defendant is to be executed following a fundamentally flawed trial process that amounts to a flagrant denial of justice, we expect certain countries to fulfil their obligations. Countries who value democracy and the rule of law at all costs.

A family member leaves the Dhaka Central Jail after meeting with Kamaruzzaman [Getty]
A family member leaves the Dhaka Central Jail after meeting with Kamaruzzaman [Getty]

However, certain countries have unfortunately been found sadly lacking, and thus betrayed the principles of Truman and those who came before and after, and likewise, failed to uphold the principles of Attlee and those that have since sought to abide by those principles.

Validation

The US in its statement, rather than seek to condemn the trial process, and further, seek a stay of sentence, has in effect validated the trial process where no such validation can be justified.

The UK government has failed in its obligations to seek to uphold the rule of international law, and condemn those that cannot even pay lip service to its principles.

Despite the fact that the Bangladeshi Supreme Court dismissed the “review petition” without considering the application on its merits; despite the fact that the whole ICT process has been tainted by judicial and prosecutorial misconduct, government influence, and ignorance of any domestic and international fair trial standards; those giants of international relations, foreign policy, democracy, and justice have in effect remained silent.

The execution of Kamaruzzaman, of Abdul Qadar Mollah before him, and indeed of any of those still awaiting execution, will be a permanent stain on the political history of these nations.

The US was asked in 1971 by Archer Blood and it was found wanting, in 2015, it has failed again.

Toby Cadman is an international criminal law specialist. He is a barrister member at Nine Bedford Row International Chambers in London and a member of the International Criminal Bureau in The Hague.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.