THE WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, OCTOBER 2. 1971
Editorial
THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER
By now, the world has a clear picture of the Pakistani army’s six-month campaign to crush the Bangali independence movement in East Pakistan.
The picture is a genocidal horror: the murder of countless thousands of helpless Bengalis, the burning of their villages, the fight of the incredible number of nine million starving refugees into neighboring India.
Not enough is known, however, of the devastating effect of the refugees on India, which, even before they came, was one of the poorest and most overpopulated countries on earth.
A recent study by the World Bank says the refugees will cost India: $700 million in its 1971-72 fiscal year. Foreign nations have proposed $200 million in relief aid. Even if all is delivered – India, the innocent bystander-will be out $500 million this year and more in the future.
India’s own population grows by 13 million a year, and the $ 500 million loss is one- fifth of its economic development programme, which is designed to provide food and work for these new people.
The $ 500 million loss is also greater than the $ 400 million net in foreign aid for development that India will receive this year. These figures show the setback to India’s economic progress that Pakistan has provoked.
By the grimmest of ironies, Pakistan’s military rulers have done more, damage to enemy India by slaughtering part of their own people than if they had openly declared war on India, which they would lose.
Bad as it is, India’s situation is only getting worse. The Pakistani army continues its depredations, and close to one million refugees famished, disease-ridden and exhausted- continue to pour into India each month.
The so-called civilized world is clearly unwilling to interfere with Pakistan’s “sovereign right” to butcher its Bengalis. That being the shameful case, the international community should at least help India bear the burden unfairly thrust upon it.
What can be done? To start with, the United States, the United Nations, the World Bank and other aid-giving agencies should halt all assistance to Pakistan. All of the withheld aid should be re-channeled to India.
This would be a penalty for genocide and justice to those who give refuge to its victims.