Operation Omega begins today
By A Staff Reporter, Operation Omega which begins today, is the name of a radical London-based scheme to rush relief to starving millions in Bangladesh.
Islamabad has so far spurned all efforts to send relief through usual channels to Bangladesh keeping it a closed country for the outsiders even when a specter of famine stares at the people. A famine of catastrophic proportions is forecast for September-October in Bangladesh.
Eight Omega volunteers have, therefore, decided to defy even gunfire to help the people of Bangladesh overcome the prospect of a famine. They will cross the Indian border at Petrapole today carrying with them supplies of food and medicine.
Operation Omega refuses to recognize the legitimacy of a boundary “which attempts to separate those in pain from those who can help”. “Human beings do not need permission to aid those threatened with death.” They hold. That is why the volunteers have not sought permission to cross borders other than from Indian or West Pakistan Governments.
According to a spokesman of Operation Omega : “The growing famine in East Bengal is not an act of God or a failure of nature. It is the direct result of the suppression of the people and the destruction of their crops and transport system by the Pakistan Army. That is oppression continues.”
The idea behind the operation is to emphasize the impending calamity in Bangladesh. Mr. Roger Moody, 28, a journalist, is the leader of the team planning to reach what he calls “the artificial and unnatural boundary”. The team attaches more importance to human lives than politics. Hence the attempt.
Four women members of the team are Doreen Plumping, 45, a nurse from Finchley; Christine Pratt, 32, a secretary from Rulslip, Middlesex: Ellen Connett, 28, a housewife from London and Joyce Keniwell, 24 a Secretary from Burniston, Yorkshire.
This unique experiment to avert a human tragedy is being supported by a number of organizations and groups, including Action Bangladesh, the Manchester Community Research Action Group, War Resisters International, the Peace Pledge Union Fellowship of Reconciliation and Peace News.
The Omega has already purchased rice, powdered milk, baby food and medicines worth about Rs. 36,000 raised through voluntary contributions. Two Land Rovers of the four vehicles left by the Kastur relief group will carry the supplies from Calcutta to Bangladesh. Several such relief trips are planned.
The team will carry with it a letter of identification signed by Senator Eugene McCarthy, Rev. Trevor Huddieston, the Bishop of Stepney; Rev. Charis Claxton, the Bishop of Blackburn; Mr. Frank Allaun, Labour MP; Lord Fenner Brockway and Lord Gifford.
Mr. Daniel Grotten 26 an American member of the team is convinced that the Indian Government will not stop them in crossing the border. “If the Pakistani Army stops us, we will try to convince them of our mission and try to persuade them through non-violent means. We will offer Satyagraha, we will court arrest if necessary”, he said.
“After all, it is a peaceful mission to demonstrate the fundamental human right to help fellow men in distress”, he remarked.
The team expects to find a bottleneck in the borders with an unending stream of evacuees pouring into India. Already 7.5 million people have crossed over to India from Bangladesh and more are on the move. This itself is evidence of a condition of distress and despair prevailing in Bangladesh.
If the team succeeds in its efforts to break the barriers put up by Pindi in Bangladesh through brute force, it will have opened up opportunities for others willing to help the people of Bangladesh but so far denied the facilities to send relief to the distressed people. To that extent Operation Omega is an experiment worth trying.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 24.06.1971