AMRITA BAZAR PATRIKA JUNE 2, 1971
GET WORLD INVOLVED IN BANGLADESH
Dinesh Singh M.P.
( Former Minister of External Affairs)
The heroic struggle of the people of Bangladesh has to be seen in the context of the developments in the Indian sub-continent. The elections in India. Pakistan and also Ceylon have established beyond doubt the people’s choice in favour of democracy, change and stability. In selecting their leaders and parties people have, unmistakably, expressed their desire for rule by the people even in the face of military domination. They have equally opted for rapid transformation of their societies peacefully and have given their over-whelming support to those who they thought would be able to realize their aspirations.
It was against this background that India lent full support to the Government of Ceylon, when it felt that an attempt was being made to thwart the expressed will of the people. Therefore it was only natural that when a similar situation was created in Pakistan, India should have taken the same stand. Our Parliament’s pledge to extend sympathy and support to Bangladesh was based on the same considerations. The will of the people had to be respected. A society governed by democracy has no other option. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s bold statement in the Lok Sabha on May 24, 1971 was a continuation of the sympathy and support resolved by Parliament and it should be welcomed.
Bangladesh is, therefore, not an exercise in isolation but a manifestation of the aspirations of the people living in this part of the world. It is a reflection of the struggle of the people 0 f Pakistan to throw off the yoke of military domination. It is a movement for the establishment of democracy and fundamental human rights. This is clear from the results of the elections held in Pakistan not long ago under the martial law administration. Out of 313 seats in the National Assembly (169 in East and 144 in West Pakistan). Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League and its supporters were expected to command the allegiance of 702 members. A clear majority in the Assembly.
Their six-point plan was certainly not a recipe for secession either. Why should a majority want to break away from the minority? And President Yahya Khan had acknowledged Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the future Prime Minister of Pakistan. Besides, in the six-point programme presented by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a Federation of Pakistan was the first point. It was the sudden, unwarranted and ruthless attack by the West Pakistani armed forces in Bangladesh against defenseless civilians that split Pakistan.
Upsurge
Therefore, it is a case of the upsurge of the people of Pakistan against military dictatorship established by colonialist intrigue. It is a question of our lending support not to a secessionist move as Pakistan is trying to make out. but to the upsurge of the people of Pakistan to establish a democratic society.
This has been our traditional approach in foreign affairs. Should we not extend help to those across our borders when they are fighting for the same values we have supported in international forums? when we raise our voice against apartheid in South Africa. When we support armed intervention against the minority regime in Southern Rhodesia, when we press for the liberation of peoples under Portuguese domination, can we be mute spectators to the unprecedented atrocities across our borders? Can we shut our eyes to the ruthless repression, the wanton killings in Bangladesh? Are they not entitled to fundamental human rights? Will not millions of refugees come to India if this carnage is not stopped? Should we not help them? Never since independence have our national interests and our ideals converged so closely as they have done in Bangladesh.
We have the refugees now. Four million today; seven million tomorrow and ten million the day after. Nobody knows how many will come; how much we shall have to spend on them; and for how long.
How can this be Pakistan’s internal affair? When large numbers of people are forced out of a country’s borders into another country it is no longer an internal affair. It is a form of aggression, occupation of the territory of another country. If people can be forced out of a country into another without firing a shot to ease economic pressures and to find solutions to political problems, why go to war? Pakistan cannot be permitted to balance the problem of numbers between East and West Pakistan this way. Bangladesh is an international issue today. A case of genocide, trampling of fundamental human rights and the violation of the frontiers of a neighbouring country.
But we are losing time. We have already missed the critical first three weeks in the euphoria (hat got built up. It should have been assessed that Pakistani repression would sent a flood of refugees to India. If we could have assisted the Mukti Fauz to consolidate its position in the liberated areas, the refugees may not have been forced to come to India. And, even if they had come to India, they could have been sent to the liberated areas. The Government of Bangladesh could have sought international support and the pressure would have been on Pakistan to settle the matter. The pressure today is on us. There are no refugees in Pakis tan.
Recognition
The question of formal recognition of Bangladesh and the timing of it must be left to the Government to decide. Of course, recognition will give strength to the freedom fighters and there are no legal or constitutional barriers. The question now is of future action.
If the Mukti Fauz could give protection to people over a substantial area against attacks of Pakistani army, the refugees from India could still be moved to Bangladesh. Alternatively, a determined effort will have to be made to involve the international community in sending the refugees back. They will not want to go back unless their security can be guaranteed-unless they can be protected from the atrocities of the Pakistani army.
The approach to the world community has to be a positive one. We can certainly ask for more funds. But the response to the appeal of the U.N. Secretary General has been disappointing. May be, we shall get some more money. But that will not solve the problem. Pakistan must be made responsible by United Nations to reimburse us in full the expenditure we incur on the refugees. The international community must assume the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the refugees.
Refugee camps should be established in East Bengal under U.N. supervision to house the refugees now in India, and others that may come later, till a settlement is reached to establish Bangladesh on any basis freely acceptable to the people of East Bengal.
The military junta of Pakistan is desperately trying to cover up its ignominious action by creating an impression of Indo-Pakistan issue or even conflict. We must not allow this to happen. The matter has to be settled between the military Government of Pakistan and the Government of Bangladesh with international good offices as necessary. We must, therefore, give every support to the Government of Bangladesh. There is equally a danger of Pakistan fanning communal feelings. This must be firmly resisted. That is why the refugees must be sent quickly to camps to be established by U.N. in East Bengal.
Pakistan’s diplomacy has succeeded so far in preventing intervention by India; they have successfully kept up China as a counterpoise and they have maneuvered to keep the United Nations and the big powers out. We need to take a vigorous international initiative to demolish the house of lies built by Pakistan, and simultaneously present specific proposals for international action. We must get the world involved in Bangladesh quickly.
No matter how long it takes-whether a couple of weeks, a couple of months or a couple of years, the people of Pakistan are bound to wrest their freedom from military domination and the people of Bangladesh are bound to win their independence or make any other arrangement they choose. We must wish them every success. – (INFA).