...1971 Bangladesh Justice...

We, the volunteers...

The International Crimes Strategy Forum (ICSF) has been launched in acknowledgement of the enormity of task involving prosecution of the war criminals of Bangladesh after a lapse of 39 years since the atrocities were originally committed. The Forum also recognises the complexities, confusions and differences that now surround the issue of prosecution.


Aims and objectives of this coalition:

1. Facilitating documentation, archiving and research based on existing data and evidence;
2. Carrying out new research on pertinent issues as well as gathering new evidence;
3. Generating consensus on key strategic issues;
4. Networking with other civil society actors and experts, both in Bangladesh and abroad, with a view to finding common grounds for collaborative activism and generating support;
5. Lobbying with the formal official actors and working with the media, both in Bangladesh and abroad;
6. Monitoring progress of prosecution initiatives and adopting strategies to counteract developments that can potentially delay or defeat the cause of justice;
7. Covering the trials thoroughly and providing in-depth feedback by involving experts in the process.

Core values and approcahes:

Democracy. Human Rights. Justice. Rooted in non-elite, non-exclusive, collective and participatory premises, the attitudes (as well as qualities) that we seek to promote within and outside the coalition are: excellence, dedication, boldness and perfection. All forms of elitist and/or self-propagating tendencies are, therefore, resisted. We believe, this is the kind of mindset that time demands of this nation in order for it to succeed in bringing the history back on track through securing long-overdue justice.


Volunteers and partners in the coalition:

Since its humble beginning in early February 2009, the Forum has come a considerable way. It had always been comprised of and run by volunteers who are committed to justice and fairness acting in concert to pursue the Forum's objectives. Our volunteer-base is now spread all over the world and the network is expanding. We have amongst us - students, teachers, policy makers, human rights and cultural activists, professionals such as lawyers, engineers, doctors, researchers, journalists and other media personnel, members in the armed forces, individuals who have fought in the liberation war and also those who have lost their dear ones resulting from acts of war crimes in 1971. With every passing day, more and more people and organisations are joining hands with us to volunteer and brainstorm in the projects. At present, in addition to volunteers contributing independently, the following organisational entities are also working together as partners in this Coalition (listed in order of joining):

(1) Muktangon;
(2) Genocide Archive Online;
(3) Cadet College Blog (CCB);
(4) Centre for Bangladesh Genocide Research;
(5) News-Bangla;
(6) Mukto-Mona;
(7) Bangladesh Centre for Genocide Studies.
(8) London Lawyers' Forum.
(9) Amar Blog;
(10) E-Bangladesh;
(11) Sachalayatan;