March to Desh
Express News service, CALCUTTA, Sept. 7. – A “freedom march” to East Bengal sometimes in October is being organized by the Gandhi Peace Foundation.
At least a lakh of Bangladesh evacuees living in different camps, will return to their homes in batches of a thousand and live there as citizens of Independent Bangladesh.
They will not cooperate with the Pakistani Government and organize their own administration in their areas.
The Peace Corps, as they are called, will move into Bangla Desh by main roads openly.
Peace workers of different countries are expected to join the march. Two Americans, Mr. Charlie Walker and Mr. Alexander Paul, who resisted the loading of the Pakistani ship “”Padma” with war materials, had already arrived in India. Workers of the “Operation Omega” are also likely to join the march.
The Foundation has already selected 50 youngmen each of whom will lead a group of 1,000 evacuees.
At a convention today various aspects of the “march” including what the marchers will do in the event of the Pak Army blocking their way were discussed.
Besides an “Omega” representative, Mr. Walker, an American pacifist will join them.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 08.09.1971