THE STATESMAN, SEPTEMBER 28, 1971
U.N. Debate Begins
SWARAN SINGH DEMANDS POLITICAL SOLUTION
OF BANGLADESH PROBLEM
U.N. H.Q., Sept. 27-India’s Minister for External Affairs Mr. Swaran Singh today called upon the U. N and other international organs “to impress upon the military regime of Islamabad that force will not succeed and that a political settlement between the military regime and the already elected members is essential”, reports PTI “we consider it wholly short sighted to wait until worse crises have arisen” he
said.
“Bilaterally all Governments can do their utmost to ensure to them that the military regime stops its repression and enter into negotiations with the elected leaders to achieve a political settlement with their consent and sends the Army back to the barracks”. Mr. Singh said that only by these measures would the flow of refugees be stopped and those already in India could return homes.
Mr. Swaran Singh was speaking in the general debate which open in the U.N. Assembly today India was the second speaker in the debate which is expected to continue for several days. Brazil was the first participant. Pakistan is expected to speak in early October.
In a comprehensive speech in which he covered important world issues including U. N. membership to China, Vietnam, Middle East, disarmament and world economic crisis. Mr. Singh dealt with the problem of Bangladesh and the reign of terror still prevailing there.
He conveyed India’s felicitations to the new General Assembly President Mr. Adam Malik and also to the previous President Ambassador Edward Hambro of Norway.
On Chinese membership Mr. Singh affirmed India’s view that there was only one China. He expressed the hope that this issue would be settled during the current session. “There is one Chinese seat and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is entitled to occupy in the U. N.” he said. “We have always been convinced that the presence of the People’s Republic of China will make this organisation more effective.” Mr. Singh said: “Too long we have postponed a realistic decision on this issue, let us not procrastinate any further.”
On Vietnam Mr. Swaran Singh regretted that there had been resumption of bombing in parts of North Vietnam. He hoped that through negotiations in Paris and elsewhere “the agony in Vietnam will be put to an end without further delay that American and other foreign troops will finally be withdrawn by a definite date and the people of Vietnam will be allowed to settle their own future in accordance with their own wishes without any outside interference”. He said the seven-point proposal made in Paris appeared to provide a reasonable basis for a negotiated settlement.
On the Middle East Mr. Swaran Singh regretted that the ceasefire accepted as a temporary measure to help the parties negotiate a settlement through the U.N. Ambassador Mr. Gunnar Jarring had tended to freeze the situation in favor of the aggressor.
Mr. Singh devote the bulk of his speech to the Bangladesh problem tracing the events in Bangladesh including the outcome of elections.
6- Point Programme
Mr. Swaran Singh recalled the six-point programme, which envisaged a greater degree of autonomy for East Bengal with a view to putting an end to discrimination and exploitation. “Apparently the results of the elections so startled the rulers of Pakistan that they saw in them the risk to their economic, military and political domination over the east wing. This explains their swift action and their desire to continue the military rule”.
Mr. Singh said that what the Army did in East Bengal and was continuing to do in its massive assault on the civilian population was well known. A reign of terror prevailed and is still prevailing.
Killing, burning, raping and looting had become widespread and the inevitable consequences followed. People fled from terror and violence to India leaving behind all that they had. “Their number exceeds nine million and the exodus still continues. This is an exodus of refugees unprecedented in human history across any international frontiers.”
Mr. Swaran Singh said. “Apart from accusing others for their own most unwise and deadly activities the rulers of Pakistan have taken a number of measures which are no more than an eye wash. How unrealistic these measures are can be judged from the impact that these had on the flow of refugees. The President of Pakistan has from time to time called upon the refugees to go back, yet the flow continues in ever increasing numbers into India”.
Civilian Set-Up
Mr. Swaran Singh said, “A so called civilian Government has been formed in East Pakistan which consists of men who have no representative character whatsoever and who are mere figure-heads obliged to take orders from their military commanders. An amnesty is proclaimed but Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other elected representatives are at the same time treated and tried as traitors. We witness the strange spectacle that the party which would have been by right formed the Government of Pakistan has been banned and disqualified from political activities. Half the elected representatives have been disqualified from sitting in the National Assembly. In our view the flow of refugees will not stop nor the refugees already in India go back until a political solution acceptable to the elected representative” of the people have been found.
Mr. Swaran Singh said, “The Secretary General, U Thant and many other distinguished statesmen politicians and leaders of public opinion have consistently maintained that the problem is essentially political.”
He said that as the first step towards a political solution Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be set up liberty without delay and negotiations started with him.
Mr. Swaran Singh continued, “Apart from these actions which the Pakistanis themselves can take what can the international community do in these circumstances ? The first and foremost action which this Assembly and all other international organs within or without the U.N. can do is to impress upon the military regime of Islamabad that force will not succeed and therefore, a political settlement between the military regime and the elected leaders is essential. We consider it as wholly shortsighted to wait until worse crises have arisen”.