WE’VE all heard stories of war, its terror, torture and exploitation of human rights at some point in our lives, be it in school, from our parents and grandparents or books we read.

We live in a country where people are generally welltreated, well-fed and at peace. So what do we really know
about crimes of war?

Make your way to the ‘Criminalise War International Conference and Exhibition’ in Putra World Trade Centre. You’ll definitely get an idea.

The four-day exhibition that began yesterday highlights the mass destruction and casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan due to the invasion by the United States military.

When the US launched its “War on Terror” in 2001, the world was divided some felt it was justified given the Sept 11 terror attacks on US soil that year while others were apprehensive, fearing that the very force combating terror would end up being the terror itself.

The exhibition in PWTC brings to life the fears of the latter half. The displayed images of abuse and torture of prisoners by US occupying forces at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were graphic and heart-wrenching.

Some of the images were so disturbing that it felt so good to be aware of them. At the ‘Haditha Massacre’ section of the exhibition, petite bodies outlining those of little children were bundled in numbered gunny sacks with ropes tied on top of their heads.

The Haditha Massacre in 2005 tells the tale of how 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha were killed by US Marines.

Those killed included women and children as young as three. Also filling that particular section of the exhibition were shrieks and shrills shouting torture from a taped audio that would send chills down your spine.

One can’t blame visitors for walking faster here. A contrast to that eerie feeling was, ironically, the ‘Torture Chamber’ section, which played the chirpy sounds of Boney M’s Rivers of Babylon.

Who would’ve imagined that the cheerful music of Boney M could be used as an instrument of torture?

But that was exactly what happened at Abu Ghraib the music was played at ear-splitting level till some fell unconscious.

Apart from using music, the Torture Chamber also showed prisoners interrogated in other abusive ways such as ‘thumbscrew’ (thumbs and fingers are crushed via a screwing device); ‘bastinado’ (foot whipping); ‘shabach’ (body positioning for long hours); ‘tucker telephone’ (via electric shock), wire jacket, mock execution, rape and sexual torture, and boiling.

Other information displayed at the exhibition include war casualties, military expenditures, economic sanctions, weapons of mass destruction and the depleted uranium used in it.

Make sure you are not left out from this unique learning experience organised by the Perdana Global Peace Organisation and head to the Exhibition Hall on Level 4 of the PWTC.

The exhibition is open from 9am to 6pm till Saturday. Admision is free.

Exhibition Saddens Many

THE ‘Criminalise War’ exhibition at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday was so disturbing to some that it was clear they couldn’t hold back tears at the sight of the images on display.

Chung Ru Dee, 16, was sobbing as she walked past some of the images and items on display at the ‘Iraq War’ section.

“I can’t help it. The images of torture are so disturbing! One can only imagine how those prisoners felt. “How can anyone be so inhumane?

Nobody deserves to be treated that way,” said the student from Mutiara International School in Ampang Jaya. Her views were echoed by classmates, Nadin Norzuhdy and Nur Shakina Sharani.

“After viewing all these pictures and learning about the facts on war, I am so grateful to be living in Malaysia which I consider a peace-loving country,” said Nur Shakinah.

“It certainly helps for us students to be aware of all this issues. This is a very good exhibition.” The trio was among 27 students from the school, who had visited the exhibition as a field trip for their history class.

Aside from Mutiara International School, Form Three students from Victoria Institution also attended the exhibition.

One of the students, Rais Abdul Razak, 15, said the exhibition was certainly an eyeopener. “Initially, I thought the United States had declared war to retaliate against the 9/11 attacks.

But I guess that does not seem to be the case at all, does it?”

When asked how he would use the knowledge he gained from the exhibition, Rais replied: “I believe it is now part of my responsibility to educate my other friends about crimes of war. This issue is something no one should turn their backs on.”

SEE MORE: Click here for the Criminalise War photospread

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