Bloodiest Military Campaign Since World War II
WORLD BANK MISSION REPORTS. TERROR AND IMPENDING STARVATION IN EAST PAKISTAN
Washington, July 12 (AP).- A World Bank mission in a secret report paints a picture of East Pakistanis living in terror of President Yahya Khan’s army and stalked by the specter of starvation.
The report, circulated to members of the Bank’s directorate and their alternates, was made available to the Associated Press by qualified authorities.
“As it saw the situation at the time of its visit the first half of Jully-the obstacles in the way of normalization appeared overwhelming. “The mission said in its report.
In particular it cited near-destruction of East Pakistan’s transportation system, failure of local administratiors to grasp the complex problems of economic recovery and an “all-pervasive fear” which has said to be “the major inhabiting factor.”
The World bank mission was led by Britisher M. Cargille-Director of the South Asia Department, and included nine other agriculture and banking specialists in economics, from several nations.
Its findings are under study by members of an 11 mation and Aid-Pakistan Consortium which includes the United States. Pending production of a new plan for national recovery, the consortium has suspended action to make fresh aid available to civil-war-torn South Asian republic.
In its report, the mission said it had gathered its information “By travelling, observing, asking questions, filtering answers and figures obtained and evaluating the information obtained for accuracy and consistency.”
But it added this qualifier :
SNOWBALL EFFECT
Just as at the time of the mission’s visit all the major elements in the situation appeared
to reinforce each other in making early normalization improvement in one of them may have a ‘snowball’ effect.
“Thus it is possible that the railway will function better than the mission thought likely and that, if in addition the carrying capacity of the coastal fleet is increased considerably and thus incentives for renewed economic activity by strengthened to the point where the psychological constraints lose some of their power.”
The mission then underlined the need for a restoration of confidence.
“If somehow the element of fear, distrust and uncertainty were removed from the scene and if conditions were created that allowed the administration to function effectively,” the report continued, “then it may turn out that the physical constraints are less formidable than they now appear to be.”
But the mission added immediately:
“At the time of its visit there was no concrete evidence that improvements of the kind mentioned were about to happen. Hence the mission found itself unable to come to a more encouraging view of the outlook for rapid economic recovery.”
East Pakistanis early this year came out in favor of a semi-autonomous status for their part of the country which is separated from its Western and long-dominant segment by hundreds of miles of Indian territory. Later, President Yahya sent an army of West Pakistani troops into the province to crush what was called an insurrection.
Leaders of the Awami League-who favored autonomy-were jailed and in bloody fighting scores of thousands were reported killed with some estimates placing the toll at more than 200,000.
Speaking privately some World Bank official have described the situation as representing the bloodiest military campaign since World War II.
Reference : Indonesian Observer, 14.07.1971