BILLY’S MAIL BOX
Dear Billy, Through your esteemed paper may I explain to Mr. Sunarto the real situation about the Pakistan crisis (your paper of 4.5.71)
Your opinion that East Pakistan is separated far away from West Pakistan and entitled to be independent is, logical. The Indonesian Government stand of noninterference is quite correct.
May I Inform you that East Pakistan is not more distant from West Pakistan than Hawaii is from the U.S. main land or West Irian from Djakarta. Still those far away places are forming part of each other. We can reach East Pakistan by air in 2 hours and by sea in 5 days, as you can reach Djajapura from Djakarta by sea and air. Moreover, East Pakistan become part of Pakistan through a referendum before independence and not by force or by proclamation only.
The so-called Bangla Desh movement in East Pakistan is not different from the RMS Affair, PRRI/PERMESTA and the GPM. Each of those movements claimed to have nothing to do with the Central Government of Indonesia and wanted separation. But all such separatist movement were crushed for the sake of preserving a united Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke. All such movements usually have a foreign backing. So is the case with the present crisis in East Pakistan, which is being instigated and backed by our hostile neighbour India. If Ir. Manusama and RMS band is still roaming in Holland, the Bangla Desh has its Headquarters in Calcutta, India. The only different is that Ir. Manusama’s counterpart in Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is now in custody.
India want to disintigrate Pakistan by separatng the Eastern Wing, as a first step. But the people and Government of Pakistan are united and have succeeded in foiling the Indian design. And to preserve its independence and intigrity, the Government of Pakistan is doing whatever any Government will do anywhere to crush foreign interventin.
An Indian Cobra can be tamed with a flute, but not a miscreant.
Yours sincerely,
(Mahmoed)
External Services Radio
Pakistan, Karachi.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 02.06.1971