The Role of the U.N.
Vis-a-vis Bangla Desh
By Drs. Hadi Salim
Despite all efforts by the military regime of West Pakistan to conceal the real facts about East Pakistan, the magnitude of the tragedy is now known to the whole world. About a hundred of thousands of unarmed Bengali civilians including women and children were killed by General Yahya’s troops during the first few days of army crack down. The killing is going on unabated. Political and intellectual leaders, technical brains, teachers and students have been the main targets of the army. The calculated aim of the West Pakistan millitary junta appears to be to decimate Bengali population, particularly to finish leadership, intellectuals, and growing thinking generation in East Pakistan. This madness has no parallel in history. It is yet to be seen how long a nation of 73 million can be cowed down and ruled by outside military rulers.
Available reports indicate that loss of life and property in East Pakistan has been colossal. The entire population is directly or indirectly affected due to army action. The economic life is shattered, communication disrupted. Cities are deserted. For fear of death and dishonour at the cruel hands of West Pakistan troops, people are fleeing from cities to villages, from villages to the border and from border accross the Indian territory. About two million people have already crossed over to India. International organisations are coming forward to help India in feeding and saving inereasing number of East Bengal refugees. Conditions need to be created to stop further influx of refugees and encourage the existing ones to return home. Urgent steps need also to be taken to save many millions of Bengalis in East Pakistan who face starvation, disease and ultimately death. Gen. Yahya Khan or Gen. Tikka Khan has disowned the refugees in India. Their attitude towards the Bengalis in East Pakistan is naturally unsympathetic. While their intention is to kill the Bengalis, they will be happy to find them perished out of hunger and epidemic. They therefore, claim that situation in East Pakistan is normal and supplies of food and medicines are adequate. Intervention by United Nations and big powers is necessary to save a nation from destruction.
By all standards Bengalis of East Pakistan are a distinct nation and they have right to self determination in their own home land. They have a territory of their own separated from West Pakistan by 1000 kilometer of Indian territory. Their language, literature, culture, customs, habits are all different from those of West Pakistanis. This was perhaps the first and last experiment to form one state on the basis of a common religion by two separate territories. The extreme exploiters and hot headed generals of West Pakistan should have considered that such an unnatural state could have continued for some time more if they had understood Bengali sentiments and allowed reasonable if not due share to East Pakistan in economic development, administration civil and military services. Glaring injustices in all fields have all through been done to East Pakistan by the rulers of West Pakistan. They have denied their fundamental civil and political rights. In the last general election which was held under the control and supervision of absolute majority party. Gen. Yahya hailed Sheikh Mujib as the future Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Generals of West Pakistan then came to realise that transfer of power to the Bengali leader and his party would mean end of exploitation of East Pakistan and of military rule in the country. Gen. Yahya forgot his promises, disregarded his promises, disregarded his own Legal Framework Order branded the popular leader of the overwhelming majority as traitor, banned Awami League and ordered his Punjabi-Pathan troops to crush the Bengalis and their demands for democratic rights and economic justice. The bloody path folowed by the stupid generals has destroyed the country beyond repair. East Pakistan is faced with a dangerous situation. West Pakistan also can not escape economic and political crisis for iong. While East Pakistan is on the verge of ruination, West Pakistan is facing disintegration.
Journalists, jurists, econonists, scholars, political thinkers, right-thinking, peaceloving and democratic-minded people of most of the countries have condemned the atrocities committed by West Pakistan troops is East Pakistan. This condemnation alone cannot save a nation of millions form ruination. Some big powers have taken care not to annoy West Pakistan government. The non-interference attitude of the big powers has no meaning. They should understand the situation and the reality. The RCD and the IPECC partners of Pakistan should also appreciate the alarming situation and advise Yahya to take hands off East Pakistan. Brute force cannot keep a people under subjugation. A government not based on popular support can not rule a people. In the ultimate analysis Pakistan has already been split into two states. The earlier it is recognised, the better for both East and West Pakistan. If individual states hesitate, the United Nations should initiate actions and recognise Bangla Desh. The UN charters on human rights and self-determination of a people enjoin on the world body to take such an action and very quickly so as in minimise human sufferings.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 25.05.1971