East Pakistan rice crop hit by fighting
By Vincent Ryder, Diplomatic Correspondent
Despite his “hands off” policy towards East Pakistan the British Government may be dragged into the crisis by its humanitarian interest in relieving suffering. There are signs that the Pakistan Army may use the hunger of the rural population as a strategic weapon.
The Army holds the main towns but is leaving the rural areas alone. Chaos brought on by the fighting and fleeing refugees has disrupted the rice planting season. Many thoussands have not yet reestablished themselves after last year’s cyclone.
Relief will be needed in the coming months. Britain and other Western countries are anxious to help but will face a dilemma if the Pakistan Government insists on it being distributed by the Army.
Food would almost certainly become a condition of Army rule. If it were distributed by the International Red Cross or its allied organizations the Army would feel the rural population was being sustained in a long siege of Army-held towns.
So far the Pakistan Government has not asked for ald. Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Foreign Secretary, has promised that Britain is “ready to play our part in an international effort to help in mitigating suffering in East Pakistan, should we be asked to do so.”
The Labor Party International Committee yesterday urged “All possible help to be offered to alleviate the immediate misery and suffering and the longer-term economic and social consequences of the conflict.”
While the Government treads warily in its dealings with a Pakistan Government which is acutely sensitive to any hint of criticism, supporters of an independent East Pakistan are mounting an intensive publicity campaign.
The “Bangla Desh Action Committee” claimed in London Yesterday that an authoritative account smuggled out of East Pakistan said 20,000 had been killed in Dacca. 25,000 in Chittagong, 12,000 in Rajshahi, 9,000 in Jessore and 40,000 in other cities.
Reference: Telegraph. 07.04.71