BETTER DISTANTIATE
Answering press questions, Foreign Minister Adam Malik reiterated Indonesia’s stand not to interfere in the East Pakistan crisis as it is the internal affair of Pakistan. Malik’s statement reflects the official Indonesian attitude towards the crisis in Pakistan and few will object to it. What we regret is that Mr. Malik has not referred to the reign of terror in East Pakistan, where thousands of innocent men, women and children fell victim to the bayonets of the Pakistani army. This is something we and the rest of the world cannot condone. The Pakistani governments, in its effort to keep the nation from spilitting into two irreconcilble parts, may be right to deny the autonomy the Bengalis demand after having tolearated wrongful domination by West Pakistanis in many sectors since the beginning of Independence. But to resort to wilful slaughter and terror to enforce central governemnt power, which in this case is similar to rule by the minority, goes beyond all notions of decency and humanity.
It’s to be deeply regretted that the Pakistani government has not replied to the grievances expressed by the Bengalis with fundamental corrections in the administration and mangement of East Pakistan.
The Pakistani central government continues to this day its policy of terror in East Pakistan. Our government, in maintaining its policy of non-interference, better distantiate itself from the present rulers of Pakistan who prefer calculated terror to cool-headed reasoning in dealing with the Bengalis. We cannot ignore the plight of 70 millions of those Bengalis.
Reference : The Indonesian Observer, 21.04.1971