Bangladesh Newsletter
No. 8
September 10, 1971
Editorial
A CERE-TAKER FOR GOVOR’S HOUSE
Islamabad military junta has announced the appointment of Dr. A.M. Malik, a civilian, as the ‘governor’ of occupied Bangladesh. World at large is aghast with horror at the atrocities being perpetrated by the Pakistan army in Bangladesh. To make their case a little more presentable to the world in general and the United States in particular Islamabad has stage managed a “return to the civilian administration” simply by naming a civilian to occupy the Governor’s House at Dacca. (The Governor’s House was lying vacant for a long time anyway. General Tikka Khan, the so-called governo of occupied Bangladesh vacated the house in favor of the safety of military cantonment.)
Islamabad military generals must be congratulating themselves for hitting upon this great propaganda coup. Under general Tikka Khan’s gun, Dr. Malik will obediently play governor for the world consumption and keep the Governor’s House furniture dust-free. Undisturbed by the world attention the general can continue with his meticulous operation of extermination of Bengalis.
If the Pakistani generals seriously think that the world will be impressed by the appointment they must consider the world a place inhabited by a big bouch of imbeciles. General Tikka Khan has been replceed by General Niazi as the Martial Law administrator of occupied Bangladesh. General Niazi has been responsible for field operations in the carnage that began on March 25. This bloodthirsty general has expressed his ardent desire to see the end of Bengali aspiration to gain political power once for all.
U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO YAHYA
Cracks in the “embargo” have been apparent since June 22 when the New York Times reported the departure of Pakistani ships carrying military equipment and ammunition from the U.S. The State Department conceded that military supplies would continue to go to Pakistan since the announced suspension of arms deliveries did not (contrary to the impression given by earlier statements) cover licenses issued before April 6. It estimated then that the value of outstanding supplies in the pipeline was $15 million. It may be possible to reconcile the two figures because of possible undisclosed assistance via the Pentagon’s military Assistance Plan (which is not appropriated under the Foreign Assistance Act). Secret deliveries cannot be discounted in light of the acknowledged goal of leverage over West Pakistan’s policies. Recent events underscore this : the U.S. has secretly delivered 65 warplanes and ferried military supplies in U.S. transports to Jordan in recent weeks. The Senate hearings on Laos have thrown further light on U.S. clandestine military activities.
How much military equipment has been delivered since June is not clear. The Padma and the Kaptai carried ammunitions and equipment worth $2 million. During July and August 6 ships were scheduled to be loaded at ports along the Eastern seaboard. However, about two weeks ago it was reported that $10 million worth of military licenses had expired unused. According to the State Department $3.6 million worth has been shipped since March 25 and $2.6 million worth of materials remain to be shipped.
“Merchants of death” a myth?
One blatent example of covert American military assistance to Yahya Khan was recently exposed…The Pakistan Army has been using 2 leased Boeing 707s from World Airways to transport troops between West Pakistan and Bangladesh. These aircraft are also capable of being used as freight carriersm i.e., heavy military equipment. World Airways does half its business with the Pentagon and is on contract to the U.S. Military Airlift Command. The lease was explicitly authorized by various Federal aviation Agencies and after the U.S. “embargo” was imposed. Mr. Raymond J. Rasenberger, counsel for the World Airways, in a letter to the editor of Washington Post, defends that the lease was renewed prior to the beginning of the “current controversy in Pakistan” and suggests that “government policy has encouraged such leases (aircraft leases to foreign carriers) as a means of bleeding off excess capacity formerly required for U.S. military and civilian transportation, and improving the balance of payments”.
Surplus Military Equipment for Population Control
As the U.S. phases its manpower out of Vietnam it leaves the Pentagon with surplus military equipment. As was revealed at Congressional Hearings during past years there has been sizable assistance to countries through the disposal of such equipment at considerably reduced prices. The State Department denies knowledge of any arms sales to Pakistan from Vietnam. It acknowledges that there is also other surplus equipment for sale such as bulldozers which could be used for rebuilding or leveling in Bangladesh. It needs reminding that the Padma was reported carrying “excess Defense Department stocks” and that State Department Officials said that they had been informed by the Defense Department that no military equipment had been delivered since March 25. The Sunderbans had sailed on May 8.
Embargoing the Embargo
In the original version of the Gallagher Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act there was a clause authorizing sanctions against other UD aid recipients if they decided to supply U.S. military equipment to Pakistan. This clause was not present in the Amendment when it passed the Foreign Affairs Committee nor when it passed the House. the possibility of undetected military supplies being passed on through other countries therefore remains. While the 1965 embergo was in effect Pakistan purchased 90 American Sabre fighter-bombers from West Germany, benefiting from the West German’s desire to be rid of obsolete NATO equipment. Turkey and Iran are possible suppliers now. Turkey is a NATO member and hence a major recipient of U.S. military assistance. The U.S. is embarking on a joint (with U.K.) military assistance program for Iran which will exceed a billion dollars over the next few years. Relations with Iran are so close that the recent documents of recognition of Communist China were signed in Islamabad by the respective ambassadors to Pakistan.
We suggest that the victory in the House is only the beginning of the matter. The House debate makes clear that the Gallagher Amendment will not affect outstanding aid commitments. What it essentially does is to make the Administration pause before it lifts the embargo on new aid coimmitments. But our people continue to die by American bullets firing from American guns. Spares keep rolling in to keep the Pakistan military machine oiled to rain death on Bangladesh.
House Foreign Affairs Committee has before it H.J. Res765 introduced by Congressmen Morse. This legislation would place a total embargo on all military items going to Pakistan for 365 days unless the President deems it otherwise in national interest. It has 41 co-sponsors. Efforts are necessary to get it to the House floor urgently. It is going to be difficult since Congress will take up President Nixon’s recent Economic proposals first. The immediate thing is to write Dr. Morgan as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee requesting him to bring the Resolution up for discussion in his committee.
The license granted to World Airways by the State Department can be revoked if the aircrafts are used for unauthorized purposes. One specific prohibition is against use in a war zone. Cleraly, the use of the aircrafts to ferry troops is such a violation. The Pakistan Army has replaced World Airways markings by those of PIA, hence making detection difficult. We must prevail upon the State Department to recognize this violation and to revoke the license. The World Airways office (Oakland, California) should also be convinced of the revolting nature of its contracts.
The Foreign Assistance Act has still to clear the Senate. Support for the Saxbe-Church Amendment must not be let up.
CAMPUS FALL OFFENSIVE
There is a continuing need to keep information flowing to the American public. Universities and colleges are an important outlet for distributing materials and involving Americans in our cause. As the school year starts a system for continuous flow of material’s must be arranged. The initiative must be taken by for gathering a group of dedicated volunteers to help with the distribution.
At the minimum we suggest a weekly desk to distribute materials and at least one week-long daily distribution of materials. One arrangement that immediately suggests itself is : to start with daily distribution for a week through which appeals for volunteers must be made. After that distribution be made once a week for the rest of the semester except for another week of daily distribution. Conditions on a particular campus would dictate optimal timing during the day for distribution of material. One general suggestion is the time when classes break for lunch through dinner. From the experience of some of us another suggestion emerges : if it is possible, leave material on a table where it can be picked up without your continuous presence. Most people are bashful about revealing their unfamiliarity with foreign events and my be embarassed to pick up materials with someone staring at them from across the table. One suggestion that is more important : the collection of relief funds must be at hours separate from the distribution of materials. Again, the reason is that people may be embarassed to pick up materials if they feel they cannot contribute to the relief effort. We are planning to supply materials for distribution. Your own efforts at reproduction of materials will help in the effort. Do keep us informed of your program. We may be of assistance.
BREAK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS URGES SENATOR KENNEDY
The U.S. should break diplomatic relations with Pakistan unless peaceful political accommodation replaces military repression in East Bengal, said Sen. Edward. M. Kennedy.
Kennedy noted that he was not recommending a break “at this time”, but said Washington should cut its ties with the regime of President Yahya Khan “if we are not assured that terror campaign which still continuing today is halted”.
In an address to the National Press Club, Kennedy called on President Nixon to “make personal representations” to Yahya. He also proposed that the U.S. use its influence in the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization to bring about a modification of official Pakistani policy in East Benagal.
“If no alleviation of these policies is immediately forthcoming, the U.S. should lead the other SEATO nations in seeking to terminate the participation of Pakistan in the organization”, he said.
Kennedy, who returned last week from a week-long tour of Bengali refugee camps in India, termed conditions in the camps “the most appalling tide of human misery in modern times”. Nearly 8 million refugees have poured into India since the Pakistani army cracked down on Bengali dissidents March 25…The refugees are still streaming into India at the rate of 25,000 a day, Kennedy said.
America’s image in India and Pakistan today, Kennedy said, is similar to its image in Southeast Asia over the last decade. “It is the image of an America that supports military repression and fuels military violence”, he said, “crowing about its commitment to selfdetermination, while it services military juntas that suppress change and ignore a people’s aspirations”.
Kennedy drew comparisons between American actions in Indochina and current U.S. policy in Pakistan and India. After sacrificing nearly $100 billion and 45,000 lives to support democracy in Indo-china, he said, “America is being asked by its leadership….to cooperate in a conspiracy against the results of a free
election” in East Bengal.
He deplored the continuing flow of U.S. military supplies to Pakistan, “apparently under instructions from the highest official in our land”. He added, “they could be halted with a simple stroke of a pen”.
BANGLADESH INTELLECTUALS MEET KENNEDY
Mujibnagar, Aug. 12 : A group of Bangladesh intellectuals from the refugee community met Sen. Kennedy in a delegation consisting of Dr. A.R. Mullick, Amirul Islam, Bar-at-Law, Dr. T. Hossain, Mr. Mustafa Sarwar, Dr. Swadesh Bose and Dr. Ashabul Haq. They apprised the Senator about the situation inside Bangladesh. The delegation expressed serious concern about the security of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family. They discussed with the Senator about the possibility of filing petition in the Human Rights Commission as the trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in camera militray court is in gross violation of universal declaration of Human Rights.
The delegation further stressed the desirability for the relief agencies not to allow any relief material to be distributed under the auspices of the military Government which would merely mean helping the war efforts of Yahya’s Government instead of bringing any relief to the people.
The delegation further expressed their disapproval of U.S. Government sending technical aides to repair bridges and build up communication in the neme of relief team which will directly help Yahya’s military design. The delegation also urged for taking effective measures to stop all aids to Yahya Government and condemned the action of Nixon administration in helping and aiding fascist Government in repressing unarmed civilians and thereby causing endless miseries to human beings.
The delegation also expressed their appreciation for the stand Sen. Kennedy has taken and conveyed their gratitudes to democratic people of America who voiced their opinion in favor of Bangladesh and further appealed for all out efforts to secure release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
BANGLADESH PRESIDENT’S CALL TO WORLD POWERS
Mujbnagar : The Acting President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam urged upon the world to get release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family to pave the way towards peach.
In a statement he said, we feel alarmingly concerned at the reported trail of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by the Army Junta of Islamabad. This gruesome farce in the name of trial is going to be one of the greates tragedies of civilization.
Vindication of animalism and animosity of this nature does call for immediate and prompt imtervention by the United Nations and all the peaceloving powers of the world. We want to clearly convey to all nations of the world that any attempt to try and execute Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will enjoin an obligation unto death on every man, woman and child of Bangladesh to avenge his murder. The situation is bound to escalate and engulf this area of the world into the eruptions of the volcano.
In the name of civilization, democracy, humanity, justice and fair play I urge upon all Heads of States of the world and the U.N. Secretary General to intervene and get unconditional release of the Sheikh and his family to pave the way towards peace.
LAWYER IN EXILE OFFERS TO DEFEND MUJIB
A member of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s team of legal experts has volunteered to travel to West Pakistan to defend the Bangladesh leader, who is being ‘tried’ for treason by a secret military tribual.
The advocate, Mr. Moudud Ahmed a close confidant of the Sheikh Mujib, announded that he and a group of lawyers who fled to India early this year were prepared to go to West Pakistan if their safety was guaranteed by international assurances.
Mr. Ahmed said that he and other lawyers were perturbed by reports that no impartial observer had so far been allowed to meet Sheikh Mujib and by the Pakistan Government’s announcement that he would be allowed to brief only Pakistani counsel.
“In addition, we have now heard the alarming news that the regime has declared that the Sheikh has refused to brief counsel. The trial is being conducted in such a fashion that it gives the impression that they have already executed our client”.
PREVENT FAMINE IN BANGLADESH
The governments of the Western world were urged to act quickly to prevent further misery in Bangladesh : widespread famine predicted to strike within the next six months.
A two-day meeting at St. Micheal’s College heard Dr. Jon Rohde of Boston predict that 5,00,000 to 10,000,000 people will be affected by the famine. Dr. Rohde, who recently returned from Dacca, said they either will flee to India ro they will die.
The meeting, attended by men and women close to governments in Canada, the U.S, Britain, and India, called for an end to all economic and military aid to Pakistan. It asked all governments to intervene with Pakistan to save the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, imprisoned leader of the East Bengalis.
The meeting, known as the South Asia Conference, was financed by Oxfam of Canada, which is heavily involved in raising money for the refugees. They said the aim was to bring together in a closed meeting people knowledgeable about the situation in India and Pakistan who could then bring pressure to bear on their own governments.
Chairman of the meeting was Hugh Keenleyside, former Canadian ambassador and spokesman at the U.N, and delegates included Ajit Bhattacharya, resident editor in Bombay of the Times of India, and Neil MacDermont, general secretary of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva. Britain was represented by conservative MP Bernard Braine and ex-labor minister Mrs. Judith Hart.
U.S. economist John Kenneth Galbraith, former ambassador to India, could not attend because he is recovering from a minor injury. He was consulted by telephone.
Conference delegates agreed the problems of the refugees and the situation in Bangladesh cannot be considered separately. “In the long view, there can be no solution that does not allow the refugees to return and live in security in their homes”, the final declaration said.
According to estimates at the conference, it will cost $400 million during the next months to care for the refugees now in India. So far, $160 million has been donated or pledged by governments and organizations, leaving about $250 million for the Government of India.
This figure does not include the cost of caring for the additional refugees crossing the border every day, nor does it make any allowance for an expected doubling in the refugee flow if famine strikes Bangladesh. The declaration calls the situation “one of the major disasters in man’s history”.
Dr. Rohde said that while it is impossible to predict accurately when a famine will occur, “many of the elements present in many documented famines are present in East Bengal. In previous famines, all the elements were ignored until it was too late. It may be too late now”.
Based on figures gathered by U.S. Government agencies, he predicts that in the 12-month period ending next July, East Bengal will need 2.9 million tons of food but at best it will be possible to send 1.5 million tons. If everyone is reduced to the minimum possible diet of one pound of food a day, 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 people out of the East Bengal population of 72,000,000 will starve unless they flee to India.
Bangladesh delegation to the conference consisted of several members. Their case was summed up by the Bangladesh Ambassador to the U.S. Mr. M.R. Siddiqui : “Pakistan today lies buried under a million dead bodies. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Pakistan together again.
“There is no other solution than an independent Bangladesh”.
No delegates came from Pakistan. Conference organizers said two were invited : one said he was coming and the other that he would try. Neither came.
WEEK-LONG DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WORLD AIRWAYS
Members of the Chicago Friends of East Bengal organized a week-long demonstration beginning on August 24 against World Airways, Inc. Demonstrators gathered everyday outside the Equitable Building in downtown Chicago carrying signs protesting the lease of two Boeing 700s to Pakistan for ferrying troops from West Pakistan to Bangladesh.
PIA, Pakistan’s official flag carrier, has seven of its own Boeing 707s. The two leased from the World Airways have been added to the fleet…PIA is paying the Oakland, Calif., based World Airways 170,000 dollars a month for the two leased planes.
Demonstrators were throwing a large number of paper planes “carrying tanks and troops” to draw the attention of the public to the collaboration of the airline in the massacre that is being perpetrated in Bangladesh. Roadside lectures by the demonstrators were attended by large group of sympathetic listeneres everyday.
To reenact the heaps of dead bodies floating through the rivers in Bangladesh the demonstrators put a number of human body shaped balloons bathed in red dye in the water.
Dick Murray and William Hogan, two organizers of the demonstration, were arrested on Monday (August 30) oin charges of polluting the water.
Demonstration ended on August 31. Chicago newspapers and television gave detailed coverage to the demonstration.
BENGALI DIPLOMATS DEFECT
Pakistani Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Abul Fatah announced his defection on August 21. In a press conference in London he declared his allegiance to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh and put his services at their disposal. Top Pakistani diplomat in Hong Kong Mr. Mohiuddin has severed his relations with the government of Pakistan and declared allegiance to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.
MUKTI BAHINI NEWS
(We are receiving from our Mujibnagar correspondent detailed reports of the Mukti Bahini activities. We regret our inability to reproduce these reports due to shortage of space. Only a summerized version is presented below. Editor)
Mukti Bahini GHQ, Mujibnagar : Mukti Bahini have intensified their activities in all sectors inflicting heavy casualities on Pakistan troops, Razakars and their collaborators…Engagement and harrassments of Pakistan troops by Mukti Bahini are continuing in all sectors.
August 14 :
Reports received here on Augist 14 from different sectors put the number of Pakistan troops killed in various engagements at 318. A total of 73 enemy troops were wounded. 50 Razakars have been killed and 8 captured. Mukti Bahini also killed 13 Pakistan collaborators, captured 42 arms of various types. They destroyed or damged 5 vehicles used by the enemy troops. They also blew up 5 road bridges, 5 railway bridges, destroyed 5 power pylons and an electric sub-station.
August 15 and 16 :
Reports received here on 15th and 16th August from Different sectors show that Mukti Bahini units killed 146 Pakistan troops including four officers and have wounded 61. They have also killed 70 Razakars and captured 14. Mukti Bahini captured 38 arms of various types. They have destroyed 3 Pakistan vehicles used in carrying troops. 5 road and 4 railway bridges been damaged or destroyed.
Thd freedom fighters have cleared Nabinagar area in Comilla of Pakistan troops and captured a large quantity of ammunition. They have demolished an important railway bridge at Saguni area in Dinajpur district. This has disrupted the railway communication between Dinajpur-Pirganj-Thakurgaon. They also demolished a railway culvert disrupting rail communication between Phulbari and Parbatipur.
Razakars are surrendering to the Liberation forces in large numbers. They all complain of being ill-treated and sitrusted by the Pakistani authorities. They also feel that they are being used as cannon fodder by the Pakistan Army.
August 17 :
Reports of Mukti Bahini activities received here on August 17 show that the liberation army have killed 173 Pakistan troops including one major, one captain and 2 JCO’s. They have wounded 38 enemy soldiers. 51 Razakars and 25 collaborators were also killed by the Mukti Bahini.
August 18 :
According to reports received here today Mukti Bahini have killed 110 and wounded 55 Pakistan troops ; 47 Razakars and 11 collaborators were also killed. Freedom fighters demolished 3 road bridges disrupting communication in the occupied territory.
Mukti Bahini have intensified their activities around Dacca city. They have completely demolished an important road bridge on Dacca-Narsingdi road resulting in disruption of traffic between Dacca and Narsingdi. It may be mentioned that railway communication has already been paralyzed due to the destruction of several railway bridges by the Bangladesh guerillas on Dacca Narsingdi railway line.
Pubali Jute Mills at Narsingdi has been heavyly damaged. Many other factories around Dacca have been damaged by the liberation forces.
Bangladesh guerrillas killed Syed Masud Mostafa Al-Madani, one of the vice-presidents of the All Pakistan Nizam-e-Islam while he was addressing a group urging support for the Pakistan troops in the outskirt of Dacca city. They have also killed some active Pakistan collaborators in Rupganj, Jinardi and Ghorasal areas.
On the night of August 17-18, Mukti Bahini raided a Pakistan position at Chutipur near Sharsa in Jessore district and killed 11 Pakistan soldiers. They captured some arms and one infantry wireless set from the enemy troops.
Late news :
SHIPS BLOWN UP
Two ships which are used by the Pakistani occupation army to ferry troops and supply from Karachi have been blown up on Chittagong Port by the Bangladesh freedom fighters.
On August 21 a 900 ton coasteal vessel and a large river vessel were sunk near Chandpur.
BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST
August 14 :
Le Monde Weekly : Correspondent Gerard Viratelle quotes Pakistan Army officers on U.S. transport vessels supplied for relief : “This will help us get to the villages which we have go far been nuable to reach”. World Bank has postponed consideration of the Brahmaputra Delta Development scheme pending satisfactory “settlement of the Bengali problem”. Explaining continued U.S. military deliveries to Pakistan Army : “for American strategists the Islamabad regime represents a vital link in the chain of pro-western countries which, from Greece to S.E. Asia, encircle the Soviet Union”.
Manchester Guardian : Correspondent Martin Wollacott reports that the Pakistan. White Paper fails to present any evidence on the charge of planned armed rebellion for March 26.
Economist : “No military tribunal is likely to overturn the judgement of the President who on March 26 called Sheikh Mujib a traitor. The evidence against him will not be very convincing but that will not prevent his conviction”. On possible diversionary attacks by Pakistan Army : “The Pakistanis have two tempting targets”. One is the 18-mile wide Siliguri gap between Bangladesh and Nepal which these access to the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. The flow of refugees is likely to increase due to vanishing food stocks and the doubtful success of U.N. efforts to organize distributioin of relief in good time.
London Times : Dr. Navin Scrimshaw of the Nutrition department at MIT warned that hundreds of children were in danger of dying within days because of undernourishment at refugee camps. Dr. Scrimshaw was accompanying Sen. Kennedy on his tour of refugee areas. Mr. Julian Francis, coordinator for the Oxfam operation, said that hundreds of children are dying daily from malnutrition in the refugee camps and that the malnutrition is worse than in Biafra”. Yahya Khan said that the East Bengal crisis had made Pakistan a “stronger and prouder nation”. Moudud Ahmed, Bengali lawyer in exile, offers his services to defend Sheikh Mujib.
Indianapolis Star : Sen. Kennedy estimates refugees will rise to 12 million by December.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch : Senator John Serman Cooper (Ky) asked for termination of all military aid to Pakistan.
August 18
Wall Street Journal : 65 U.S. war planes secretly delivered to Jordan in recent days ; U.S. transports have ferried military supplies to Jordan.
August 19
Christian Science Monitor : Tikka Khan orders 30 Awami League National Assemblymen to appear before Martial Law courts.
Philadelphia Enquirer : 6 Bengali seamen claim threats of violence as reason for leaving Al-Ahmdi to seek political asylum in U.S.
Toronto Globe & Mail : 3 Bengali seamen leave Sutlej at Montreal harbor…
August 20
London Times : 190 Awami League members and 1 independent member from Provincial Assembly disqualified. Must answer charges.
August 21
Toronto Globe & Mail : Harvard Economics Professor John Kenneth Galbraith calls for termination fo all aid to Pakistan which can directly or indirectly help suppression in Bangladesh.
London Times : Pakistan Army assigns A.K. Brohi to defend Sheikh Mujib.
Christian Sciene Monitor : Agha Shahi of Pakistan U.N. mission proposed on August 11 a visit of Security Council inspectors to prevent fighting between India and Pakistan.
New Republic : “Today, U.S. grainships carry U.S. armed Pakistani troops to shore up Khan’s regime against the majority in the East ; M-24 tanks and F-86 aircraft were arriving up to June”.
August 23
London Tiemes : Lt. Gen. Muhammed Yusuf recalled from retirment to be U.K. High Commissioner. He served in the same post under Ayub regime from 1959 to 1963.
US News & World Report : Dispatch from Dacca. Army patrols enforce “unofficial” curfew in city after 8 P.M. Wid stretches of countryside as deserted as city. Dacca streets being renamed. Bus signs being converted to English or Urdu. Pakistan Army troops continue to take sizable casualities at the hands of the resistance. Chances of famine strong with ports unable to handle the needed 3 to 4 million tons in imports of food and a shattered distribution center. Pakistan military commanders doubt success at restoring the Dacca-Chittagong main railroad which has been rendered useless by the Resistance. Pakistan diversionary
72
action in Kashmir possible. Famine may hit by September or October causing as many as 7 million additional refugees to flee to India.
New York Times : Mukti Bahini successfully overcome Pakistan Army and Razakars to destroy police station in Hohiljang.
August 24
Christian Science Monitor : 60% of crops destroyed by floods. 13000 villages directly hit by floods.
London Times : At the 3rd. General Assembly of Press Foundation of Asia held in Bali, a special PFA report presented on “decimation of the Pakistani press”. According to the report, People, Ittefaq, and Swaraj destroyed or badly damaged by the Army during March and April. Sangbad burnt down by non-Bengalis. 7 newspaper workers killed in the fires. 30 journalists fled after others were arrested and tortured by Pakistan Army. Strict censorship is applied to the remaining press in Bangladesh.
Washington Post : 2 Boeing 707 aircraft leased by World Airways to Pakistan Army. The jets are used to carry wounded troops out of Bangladesh and to bring in replacements from West Pakistan.
August 24
New York Times : Tikka may be replaced Governor but may continue as Martial Law Administrator. Probable replacement is Dr. A.M. Malik, special assistant to Yahya Khan. Tikka awared military decoration. 195 Awami League Provincial Assemblymen disqualified. The League had won 288 out of 310 PA seats.
August 26
Washington Post : Heavy flooding increased threat of famine. In July U.S. agricultural expert Leon Hesser had forecast a drop of 12% below last year’s rice production assuming normal weather conditions. At that time he had recommended top priority to grain imports if potential famine is to be averted”.
August 27
Boston Globe : Sen. Kennedy demanded an end to U.S. association with the monumental slaughter in Bangladesh. He asked the Administration for an immediate cease to all military and economic support of the Pakistan govt. Kennedy suggested that Pakistan to exelled from SEATO and that the U.S. consider breaking diplomatic relations with Pakistan. He termed the present U.S. relief assistance as “bankrupt response” to the refugee crisis.
Christian Science Monitor : Dr. Jon Rohde, who recently served for 3 years in the Pak-SEATO Cholera Research Lab. in Dacca, warns that USAID agricultural officials report that famine has already begun in Bangladesh, and that it ‘will reach unimaginable proportions by the fall’. according to Rohde.
August 28
Boston Globe : Mary McGrory, syndicated columnist, writers : “The official explanation for the continued arms shipments to Pakistan is that they are bent on averting war between India and Pakistan…This takes no account of predictions that 20 million could die of famine between now and October. War could hardly visit a much greater catastrophe on the innocents…The Nixon Administration feels there is no substitue for power in foreign policy and no place for shame.
Washington Post : State Department confirms U.S. willingness to begin new economic aid programs for Pakistan. Maurice Williams, second ranking official in USAID is reported to have returned from Pakistan with new economic proposals formulated by Islamabad. Robert J. McCloskey of the State Department pointed out that the U.S. looks forward “to resuming support for what was a promising development effort”. 38 U.N. observers have arrived in Dacca to begin administering U.N. relief operation.
August 29
New York Times : Sen. Charles Percy called for termiantion of all aid, except humanitarian supplies, to Pakistani until there is stability in Bangladesh. The humanitarian aid should not go through the Pakistan Army but through an international body like the U.N. Although Sen. Percy repeatedly expressed his horror over events in Bangladesh be avoided any outright denunciation of the Pakistan Govt. or the Nixon Administration policy of continuing arms shipments.
August 30
Nashville Tennessean : The editorial quotes Sen. Kennedy : “We are providing millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan and blood money to look after the refugees”. The editorial believes that there is sufficient “documented evidence already will known in Rawalpindi” for President Nixon to “act positively and promptly on the Kennedy plea” to stop all assistance to Pakistan. The editorial calls on Nixon to rechannel the military aid funds for Pakistan into a program to help the “300,000 children now dying of malnutrition and cholera in the 1150 refugee camps in India.
August 31
Washington Post : Yahya’s representative Agha Hilaly charged India with using international relief fund to train guerrillas. The State Department denied any knowledge of the this allegation. Hilaly accused Kennedy of being only a step behind declaring war. The ambassador acknowledged that Pakistan was currently receiving “lethal spares” because, as he put it candidly, “Our armed forces-army, navy and air force, are armed with U.S. equipment, and so we must have spare parts”.
WHO SHOULD KNOW BUT HILALY!
Agha Hilaly, representative of the Yahya regime, was kind enough to substantiate speculations on the extent of U.S. military assistance to the Pakistan Army. In October, 1970 the Nixon Administration lifted the embargo on arms sales to Pakistan and offered to supply 300 armored personnel carriers. 18 Starfighters and 7 B-57 bombers. On June 22 when the news first broke about continued military shipments to Pakistan the State Department deined that any of this equipment had been delivered. They maintained that only “non-lethal” equipment was flowing to Pakistan since 1967 and that this would continue till previously issued licenses were honored. Now Hilaly informs us (Washington Post, August 31) that the military equipment being currently delivered includes “lethal spares” and that part of the arms under the October deal have been delivered. Maybe the State Department does not know what the Pantagon is up to. But who should know better than Hilaly? This admission of Hilaly must be impressed upon the public and the Congress in the case for a complete embargo on military assistance to Pakistan.
DEFENSE LEAGUE MEETING
A meeting of the Bangladesh Defense League will be held in Chicago on Saturday, September 11 to review the activities of the League and adopt a comprehensive program for fall. All are encouraged to attend. For details call (312) 288-0728.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CLC
National Conference of Clergy and Layman Concerned held their national conference at Markley Hall, Ann Arbor on August 17. The conference decided to extend allround support to the national lieberation movement of Bangladesh. A plan was drawn up to further the cause of Bangladesh liberation struggle.
Issued by
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.