The Hindu : Musharraf regrets 1971 excesses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2002

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Musharraf regrets 1971 excesses

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA July 30. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today regretted the "excesses'' committed by his country's Army 31 years ago in the Bangladesh war of liberation, in which three million Bengalis were killed. On the orders of the then chief of the armed forces, Yahya Khan, the Pakistan Army had perpetrated the massacre to counter the liberation forces of East Pakistan, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Arriving here on a three-day official visit, Gen. Musharraf flew directly to the National Memorial at Savar where, after placing wreaths at the pedestal of the martyrs' memorial, he recorded his comments in the visitors' book: "Your brothers and sisters in Pakistan share the pain of the events of 1971. The excesses committed during that unfortunate period are regrettable.'' Gen. Musharraf, dubbed "an associate'' in the 1971 genocide by the freedom fighters and leaders of the Bangladesh civil society, wrote further: "Let us bury the past in a spirit of magnanimity. Let not the light of the future be dimmed. Let us move forward together.''

As the Opposition Awami League, led by the former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, cancelled a scheduled meeting with Gen. Musharraf, freedom fighters and leaders condemned the Khaleda Zia Government for according a red carpet reception to him.

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