China pulling a double face on Bangla issue?
From Our Special Reporter, Communist China’s attitude towards the freedom struggle in Bangladesh seems to have been sorewhat flexible.
A recent issue of Peking Review, in its official commentary on Bangladesh, spels out Chinese support for President Yahya Khan. At the same time the Review notes that in certain isolated pockets of Bangladesh, local Marxist-Leninists are talking over the fight and meeting the Pakistani troops in armed combats. They have been able to “hold out” in some of these areas, although previously these forces did not enjoy much popular support, the Review adds.
It may be recalled that the Marxist-Lentinsts of East Pakistan, whose party is the EPCP (M-L) received theoretical support of the CPI (M-L) of West Bengal. Last May, a pamhplet issued in the name of Mr. Charu Mazumdar stated that the EPCP (M-L) was carrying out the struggle in Bangladesh By early April, its supporters carried out at least 15 operations in Jessore, Khulna Mymensing, Barisal and Chittagong, it reported. The pamphlet criticised the “people who did not realise the significance of this struggle in the face of very difficult circumstances and thereby adopted a ‘liquidationist line’. This was a probable dig at the group within the CPI (M-L) led by Mr. Ashim Chatterjee, which had in a previous publication extended all-out support to President Yahya Khan, denouncing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a stooge of the imperialists.
According to information available with the authorities from across the borders, and the strugglers crossing into India, the extremists have become quite active of late against Pakistani Army. In Mymensing and Barisal, they have taken the initiative in keeping the few shops still owned by the Hindus open. Also, they have made lists of Muslim League supporters and Peace Committee members and are harassing them. The operations are almost solely the work of local youths, though it is not quite clear under whose leadership they are operating.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 27.07.1971