Malaysia understands India’s problems over evacuees
KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 26. – Malaysia has a “fairly good understanding” of the refugee problem faced by India following the East Bengal crisis, an official spokesman said here yesterday, say agencies.
He was commenting on the meeting between the Indian leaders. Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan and the Malaysian Deputy Premier Mr. Tun Ismail on Friday.
The Malaysian Government has announced a donation of Malaysian $4,000 (about Rs. One Lakh) for relief of the refugees.
The Government statement however added that the donation was in response to an appeal made by the UN Secretary-General U. Thant.
The Civil Aviation Minister, Dr. Karan Shingh, told at Prague yesterday that he appreciated the “realistic and humane attitude” of the socialist countries to the refugee problem in India, say agencies.
Dr. Singh arrived in Prague on Thursday to explain the attitude of his Government to the present developments on the Indian subcontinent.
He met the Czechoslovak Prime Minister Mr. Lubomih Strougal and Foreign Minister Mr. Jan Marko during his stay.
India’s Minister for Agriculture Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed now touring West Asia as the personal representative of the Prime Minister, arrived in Cairo on Friday night from Beirut
Mr. Ahmed who had talks in Beirut with the Lebanese President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister told PTI that they appreciated the seriousness of the refugee problem and there was agreement that conditions must be created for their return to the homeland.
Mr. Ahmed is leaving for Baghdad today.
The Syrian Premier Major General Abdel Rahman Khalifa Wil said last night that Syria was prepared to exert all possible efforts with friendly Pakistan to stop the flow of refugees from East Bengal to India and ensure their repatriation.
Official sources said Major General Khleifawil made the offer to the Indian Agriculture Minister Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed when he received him here.
The Indian Minister of State for Steel and Mines Mr. Shah Nawaz Khan left Amman yesterday for Aden and Sanaa after a two-day visit to Jordan.
During his stay at Amman Mr. Shah Nawaz Khan conferred with the Jordanian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the culture and information Minister.
The Catholic Church in West Germany has given 32 million marks (about £270,000) to the refugees from East Bengal, a spokesman announced in Boun yesterday at the end of the German Episcopal Conference.
This money will help the refugees in the Salt Lake camp near Calcutta where there are about half a million people.
The German Democratic Republic is completely in agreement with the standpoint of the Indian Government on the situation which had arisen in East Bengal due to the intervention of the Pakistani Army, according to Mr. H. D. Immer, Vice-Consul of the GDR, in Calcutta.
The Director-General of Yugoslav Foreign Office, Mr. Linear, yesterday discussed the international situation with particular reference to Bangladesh with a number of senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry in Delhi.
He is believed to have handed over a letter to Mrs. Gandhi from President Tito when he called on the Prime Minister.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 27.06.1971