Kennedy will be on a mission
From Our Special Correspondent, Mr. Edward Kennedy, Chairman of the us Senate Sub-Committee on Refugees, will arrive in Calcutta today. This not so quite American will undoubtedly receive a thumping reception in this turbulent city. For he has been, since the beginning of the freedom struggle in Bangladesh, one of the few isolated but powerful voices which thundered against US official realpolitik taking a soft line towards Yahya’s genocide. And down here he will be on a mission dear to the Bengali heart—the welfare of the evacuees from Bangladesh.
The Kennedy name is inextricably linked up with American politics of the 60 and 70’s. It is a name that represents the finest strand of liberalism in contemporary American thought. True, the minds of the Kennedys were nurtured on the very best things that the affluent society can offer. But that, if anything, has sharpened their sensitive response to the underprivileged sectors of the world. For such broad humanity a price has to be paid in this human jungle. John and Robert paid it with their own blood. Edward has also had to weather many crises. Such, however, is the hazard of being out of the common rut.
Lake his two brother, Edward achieved political recognition fairly early in life. He was born on February 22, 1932. His education was full and varied-Milton Academy, Harvard College, University of Virginia, Law School. This was followed by a stint in the US infantry. By 1962 he was a Senator at the age of 30 and in 1969 he was elected Assistant Majority Leader. A steep rise but, of course, no one can tell now whether he will one day step into J. F.’s shoes.
Mr. Edward Kennedy’s fame spread in this part of the world with his denunciation of and Cassandra-like warnings against the brutalities of Yahya’s hordes. On May 29 he said that the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent was “moving to the brink of war.” Fulminating against US policy he added. “The inaction of our Government and the world community towards the critical situation developing in South Asia threatens the peace and stability of the entire region.” That calamity has not yet come to pass does not diminish the danger. Mr. Kennedy proposed action on four fronts: stronger efforts by individuals, Governments and the U.N. to facilitate political accommodation: the placing of higher priority by the US Government on emergency relief in Bangladesh: initiatives by Governments to ease Indo-Pakistani tension and finally US Government response to India’s appeal on a bilateral basis.
On July 14 the Senator released a report prepared by two US officials on the appalling situation in Pakistan and commented that the information obtained made “mockery of the Administration’s policy towards Pakistan” and should “finally shatter the official optimism of our Government.”
Hard on the heels of this scathing statement came his suggestion that the General Accounting Office should investigate in what circumstances US arms were being sent to Karachi despite the assurance that arms aid to Pakistan had been suspended.
On July 22 the fiery Senator dropped another bombshell. He released confidential State Department cables from Pakistan issuing gloomy threats about famine in Bangladesh. And now that Mr. Kennedy is bang on the scene of action, one might reasonably expect the international ice on the issue of Bangladesh to start cracking.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 08.08.1971