India Decries Move To Send Observers
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, July 21.—India has taken a tough line on proposals for the posting of U. N. observers in its territory-it would regard a suggestion to this effect by any country as an “unfriendly act.” And those who sought to sell this idea to New Delhi have been bluntly told that there is no question of observers being sent to India.
Though the origin of the proposal is not clear, the U.S.A., it appears, recently put it to U Thant. This process was preceded by some canvassing at the time of the Economic and Social Council meeting in New York. Votaries of U. N. presence on both sides of the India-East Bengal border argue they are prompted by a desire to facilitate the return of refugees.
Indian objections, according to official sources are based on political legal and practical factors. Posting of a few observers on either side of the border would not amount to the type of corrective action needed in the present situation. On the contrary, it would create only a facade of action lulling the world community into a false belief.
Secondly, India sees no justification for Induction of foreign personnel into its territory to prevent the mass exodus from East Bengal the cause of which lies deep in the interior or East Bengal. New Delhi, naturally, would object if anyone were to suggest to India the stationing of observers to check the genocide in East Bengal
Thirdly the “observation” under the auspices of the U. N.’s refugee organization is seen as a clever move to bypass the Security Council. According to Chapter 6 of the U. N. Charter, maintenance of peace and security is the business of the Security Council, for which specific modalities exist. This concept is sought to be transferred to the U. N. refugee organization, a subsidiary body which normally works under the direction of the General Assembly. To make this organization the starting point of U. N. action is considered distortion of the world body’s role.
Lastly, New Delhi sees in the new proposals a subtle attempt to equate India, the victim of civilian aggression in the form of massive influx of refugees, and Pakistan, which has driven away millions of people as part of calculated plan.
New Delhi is equally unhappy with the emphasis by “U. S. embassy sources” here on the urgency for helping the East Bengal population, now facing starvation. This is described as a case of a vicious circle—the USA gives arms to Pakistan, enabling it wage a war on civilian population, then gives some help to India for relief of East Bengal refugees and now talks of help to the 39 million unsettled people.
UNI adds: Informed sources in New Delhi said that if any observers were needed at all they were more urgently required in East Bengal where the West Pakistan Army had unleashed terror and was forcing the people to flee to India. What would these observers do in refugee camps any way, the sources asked.
The sources also suspect a connexion between the suggestion to post observers and the recent intensified activities by the Mukti Fouj.
The stepped-up activities of the Mukti Fouj must be causing great concern to the military rulers of Pakistan. Close on the heels of reports about the attack on the Dacca power plant a report received today said the Mukti Fouj had hit the power plant at Meherpur in the Jessore sector.
AP adds: The U. S. State Department yesterday expressed in Washington its pleasure at reports that President Yahya Khan was prepared to have U. N. observers supervise the return of refugees from India.
The USA “welcomes any sten which may lead to the return of refugees to East Pakistan”, the department spokesman, Mr. Charles Bray, said.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 22.7.1971