06 AUGUST 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Army called into restore order; white paper on East Pak Crisis; AL plan to secede revealed.
- Another 2m. dollars US grant for coastal vessels.
- Details of atrocities.
- Come forward in big way to revitalise economy : Tikka's call to bankers.
- Razakars kill 6 Indians in Kushtia.
- Nixon for continuing aid to Pak.
- Bank of China branches given over to Pakistan.
- India preventing refugees from returning homes.
- Sardar Qayyum stresses need for moral rearmament.
- Peace Committee formed at Cox's Bazar.
- No genocide in E. Pakistani Home.
Other Headlines:
- India giving training to insurgents.
- India's role exposed.
Islamabad Aug. 5 (APP): A White paper on the crisis in East Pakistan issued here
by the Pakistan Government today said that the Armed force in East Pakistan were
asked to restore law and order and the authority of the Government which had been
gravely undermined in the 25 days of Awami League's non-
The 125 page white paper for the first time give the inside story of the Mujibur-
It narrates the Awami league plan and proposed constitutional drafts to escalate
the electoral mandate for provincial autonomy into a bid for secession through organised
terror and Indian collusion. It lists direct evidence of Indian collusion with anti-
It also brings to light some of the innumerable atrocities and acts of lawlessness committed by the Awami League militants prior to March 25, 1971.
It pointed out that the Awami League region of terror unleashed from March 1. 1971 onward had claimed the lives of more than 100,000 men, women and children besides incalculable damage to the public and private buildings, transport communication and industrial establishments.
Confederation
It pointed out that Sheikh Mujib and other leaders of the Awami league had progressively escalated their demands, with complete disregard for the fact that their mandate was for autonomy within a federation, even in terms of the League's own six points, Towards the concluding phase of talks, other draft proclamation spoke of a "confederation" which was a loose association of independent and sovereign states and included other unmistakable indications of their resolve to break up the country.
The Awami League's draft amounted to splitting the National Assembly of Pakistan into National Assemblies of West Pakistan and East Pakistan which was virtually a constitutional formula for secession.
The Awami League leaders have also proposed appointment of separate trade representatives
abroad, the central subjects in their draft had no revise commission or services
and posts connected with the affairs of the centre. There was no reference to any
organisation to conduct a national census. Inter-
Notwithstanding this orgy of disorder the president again flew out to Dacca about the middle of March in a bid to hammer out political settlement and summoned leaders of the West Pakistan provinces to East Pakistan to facilitate negotiations. The first he heard from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was that the six points were out of date and he now wanted another four demands to be met before he could even consider attending the National Assembly session called for March 25. These demands included the immediate lifting of the Martial Law and the immediate transfer of power to the Awami League. That the transfer of power could take place either under an interim constitution passed by the National Assembly or under the umbrella of the Martial Law. Without either the sort of proclamation sought by the Awami League would create a constitutional void in the country leaving the provinces to break away. As the talks progressed, the Awami League leadership kept escalating its demands and moving away from the concept of a single centre, the Awami Leagues drafts proclamation presented to the president to sign, provided for a confederation rather than a federation. The original and for two committees of the house to take care of the special interests to the different provinces of Pakistan, it developed into a demand for two separate constitutional conventions, each working out a constitution of its own. The Awami League withdrew its original demand for a representative Government at the centre. It now said Governments be set up only in the provinces and the day they were, the Martial law should elapse.
Having tried all avenues of compromise and having failed to evoke a statesman like or moderate response consistent with the concept of a United Pakistan, the president was left with no choice but to make the painful decision to preserve the integrity of the country as he had repeatedly stated he would, should the need arise.
Indian's Role
Dealing with the Indian's role in East Pakistan disturbances the white paper direct
evidence of Indian's collusion with anti-
That plan was actually carried out by India in February 1971 when the Hijackers were seized upon by the Indian government as an opportunity to ban over flights of Pakistan civilian aircraft and to create difficulties between the two wings at the most crucial time during the constitutional and political negotiations.
True to its past, India had once again sought to undermine Pakistan's integrity through subversion of East Pakistan. In addition to deploying a force of over five divisions in East Bengal, the Indian authorities also moved additional battalions of the border security force besides those already located around East Pakistan. Besides cancelling over flights of all Pakistani aircraft over Indian territory, India also sought to interrupt sea route to East Pakistan, it had been established that certain borders security force battalions were engaged in operations in East Pakistan from late March 1971 onwards, evidence of Indian's role from the very beginning of the East Pakistan crisis was now available through Indian as well as other foreign news media. Formal resolutions in support of "Bangladesh" were passed by several Indian state assemblies.
Resolution was also moved by the Indian Prime Minister herself on the situation in Pakistan and passed by both houses of Indian parliament on March 30, 1971, in response to the Indian Prime Minister's appeal for raising funds to help Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Government backed committees were set up all over India. The funds were raised to purchase arms for the liberation forces of Sheikh Mujib and to send armed infiltrators into East Pakistan. India was even now continuing to recruit and train insurgents for creating troubles in East Pakistan.
Operational Plan
The meticulously worked out operational plan to take over the entire East Pakistan province by force was prepared by the outlawed Awami League and was to be launched on signal from the party's High command in early hours of Friday March 26.
Details of the operational plan amply shows that the Indian regular troops were to move into East Pakistan to help the outlawed Awami League in capturing the territory.
The Awami League's elaborate preparations for armed uprising were pushed forward,
during days preceding to March 25, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman appointed ex-
The White paper said, the various outposts of EPR and EBR were connected by wiretless transmitters and instructions were quickly passed from one unit to another. The biggest operational Headquarters was located at the East Bengal Regiment centre in Chittagong.
The operational plan was:
EBR troops would occupy Dacca and Chittagong to prevent the landing of Pakistan Army by air or sea.
The remaining troops with the help of the EPR, police and armed Razakars would move to eliminate the armed forces at various cantonments and stations.
EPR would occupy all the key posts of the border and keep it open for aid from outside.
Requirements of further arms and ammunition would be met from India.
Indian troops would come to the assistance of the Awami League rebel force once the later succeeded in the first phase of occupying key centres and paralysing the Pakistan Army.
Islamabad (Aug. 5): The United States today granted Pakistan an additional two million dollars to assist in financing the foreign exchange cost of chartering coastal vessels, which will help to relieve the already taxed and congested Chittagong seaport facilities.
The latest agreement adds to the two million dollars previously granted by the United States to help Pakistan charter water transport vessels to meet pressing problems of food distribution within East Pakistan. Seventeen vessels have already been chartered with the funds previously provided. One vessel arrived in East Pakistan before the end of July. Five more are expected in August, seven in September and the remaining four in October.
The combined capacidy of the 26 coastal vessels being provided through US, assistance is expected to add a capacity of 40,000 tons for foodgrains transportation.
Mr. S.S. Iqbal Hossain, Secretary Economic co-
At the signing ceremony in the ECEAD committee room, Mr. Sober commented that the chartering of coastal vessels is intended to provides the most rapid response to the urgent shipping needs in East Pakistan.
Mr. Sober further voted that this agreement-
Islamabad Aug 5(APP): One lakh people were killed by rebels, Awami League workers and infiltrators between March 1 and 25, in East Pakistan, according to the white paper issued here today.
The document said in the areas, which come under temporary control of the rebels and Indian infilterators, the Awami League unleashed a reign of terror from March 1 onwards more than one lakh men, woman and children were killed. Besides this, they inflicted incalculable damage to public and private buildings transport and communications, transport and industrial establishments.
It said the mass killing by the Awami League cadres and East Bengal Regiment and East Pakistan Rifles assumed the character of genocide. The victims were those who refused to conform to the designs of the Awami League secessionists. Unmentionable brutalities were committed. In one area of Santahar, in Bogra district, more than 15 thousand persons were surrounded and systemetically murdered and women were paraded naked in the streets and blood of their own children.
In Chittagong over ten thousand persons were killed including 250 women and children in one small locality who were bayoneted to death. In Sirajgonj, near Pabna, 350 women and children were lodged in a hall which was set on fire, and the inmates were roasted to death. In Mymensingh, an entire colony of 2,000 families was exterminated in Sankipara area, the men being taken out of their houses and shot, while women were made to dig their graves before themselves being raped and most cases killed. Some of these atrocities have also been reported in the foreign press. The white paper quoted extensively from the foreign newspaper reports.
List of killing
The major killing of citizens by the Awami League, rebels and infiltrators, in March and April according to the white paper were:
— Chittagong April about 1,000 (Ispahani Mills)
— Chittagong April 26-
— Jessore March 29-
— Jessore March 30 —April 15, 1,000 killed/ -
— Khulna town March 28-
— Khulna Sathkhira April 30, 1,000 killed.
— March 29 —April 10, 1,000 to 1,500 killed.
— Bogra /Bongaon/ Santahar March 26 —April 22, 15,000 killed.
— Pabna, Paksey April 102,000 killed,
— Rangpur Nilphamari March 23-
— Dinajpur town March 28—April 15,000 killed.
— Dinajpur, Thakurgaon March 28 —April 13 3,000 killed.
— Dinajpur Parabatipur, Panchagarh, etc 5,000 killed.
— Rajshahi town, March 28-
— Rajshahi March 27-
East Pakistan Government Lt-
The Governor, State Bank of Pakistan Mr. S.U. Durnani was also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, the Government called upon the leading bankers to come forward in a big way towards revitalising economy of East Pakistan. He stressed that the financial institutions should assess the financial needs of the public sector and assist the people of public sector and assist the people as much as possible towards smooth running of the trade and industry.
They Governor expressed satisfaction that the banking institutions had recently initiated fruitful measures towards providing financial assistance to various organisations,
Governor informed the meeting about the steps taken towards restoring normal trade and production in the mills and factories.
He also referred to the designs of the miscreants and the Indian agents to disrupt communications and destroy the economy of the province.
Governor assured that all out efforts would be made to protect lives and properties of the peaceful citizens and with that end in view local administrative machinery had been effectively organized.
The Governor of state Bank and chief executives of the commercial banks assured their
full support and co-
Kushtia, Aug 5 APP: Six Indians were killed two captured by the Razakars in the early
hours of last Friday morning in Panti village under Kumarkhali Thana under Sadar
sub-
The Razakers including a womean Shamsunnahar, wife of Khelafat Hossain, Chairman, Union Peace Committee valiantly resisted the attack by the miscreants.
Indian agents armed with lethal weapons attacked the village at about 4-
They surrounded the house of Khelafat Hossain undaunted Shahidul Hossain son of Khelafat Hossain came out of his house and shot down the leader of the Indian agents.
Six Indian agents lay dead and two were injured and one was captured alive.
Others fled away leaving behind the dead and a large quantity of arms and ammunitions carrying rifles and hand grenades bearing Indian marking.
Washington, Aug. 5 (Reuter): Secretary of State William Rogers will go to the United Nations in New York next week to discuss possible arrangements for sending additional relief supplies for East Pakistani refugees in India and in East Pakistan itself, president Nixon announced today.
The president told a press conference that East Pakistan was facing famine.
The president hit out at the decision of the House of Representatives yesterday to
impose further cut off in the US military and economic but not humanitarian aid to
Pakistan, saying that if US aid was cut off, it would simply guarantee a continuing
refugee problem on the sub-
It would also seriously jeopardise the ability of the Pakistan Government to distribute food supplies, he said
"We believe the most constructive role we can play is to continue our economic assistance to Pakistan and to be able to influence the course of events". Mr. Nixon declared.
The president said he had in mind the influencing of events in a way that would deal with the problem of hunger in East Pakistan, would reduce the flow of refugees into India. "and which will" we trust, look towards a viable political settlement of the political situation in Pakistan.
'We are not going to engage in public pressure on the Government of Pakistan said.
Mr. Nixon add: "That would be totally counter productive. There are matters we will discuss only in private channels." Speaking of the secretary of states mission to the United Nations next week, the president gave only the bare fact that he would meet the responsible and appropriate members of the world organisation including High Comission for Refugees, to see what additional supplies could be sent to alleviate the food situation in East Pakistan and the refugee problem in India.
The president who conferred today with Mr. Rogers and Dr. Henry Kissinger, his security
affairs adviser, on the situation on the sub-
After saying the East Pakistan was facing famine, Mr. Nixon said the United States had 360,000 tons of grain ready for shipment and three million dollars appropriated for shipping costs.
Trip to China
President Nixon has warned that his coming visit to Peking will not lead to any instant detente between China and the United States, although "We expect to make some progress."
Speaking at an impromtu press conference yesterday in his white House office, Mr. Nixon portrayed a long, hard road ahead in his efforts to bring about normal relations with Peking and said that neither he nor the Chinese leaders had any illusions about the gulf that divided them.
The president also ruled out any summit meeting with Soviet leaders before undertaking his trip to China. The date for which he said would be worked out within the next two or three months.
He said the Russians agreed with him that an American-
The President appeared to acknowledge the risks built into his coming trip to Peking by saying that normally he would undertake such a trip only when problems could not otherwise be solved and there was a near guarantee that top level meetings would not blow up and do more harm than good.
Two china a policy
Another report says: The State Department said today that Peking's attack on the
so called American Two-
Spokesman Robert MC Closkey declined to comment on the substance of a harshly worded statement from Peking which accused secretary of state William Rogers of trying to block the Chines from their legitimate rights at the United Nations and of being the enemy of the Chinese people.
Mr. Rogers announced on Monday that the United States would abandon its 22-
Asking if the Peking statement would cause the US to change its strategy on the Chinese representation 1 question Mr. MC Closkey said: It would not.
Islamabad, Aug 5: The People's Republic of China has agreed to transfer to Pakistan the ownership of the two branches of the Bank of China situated in Karachi and Chittagong under an agreement signed here today.
China today signed an agreement transferring ownership and assets of the two branches of the Bank situated at Karachi and Chittagong.
The agreement exchanging letters of transfer between the two Governments was signed at a brief ceremony here today. The Chinese Ambassador. Mr. Chang Tung and the Pakistan foreign secretary, Mr. Sultan M. Khan initialled the documents on behalf of their respective Governments.
Transfer of the Chinese banks to Pakistan is considered yet another unique gesture on the part of the Chinese People's Republic with the transfer of Bank of China to Pakistan entire Chinese financial dealings will now be conducted in this country through Pakistani banks.
Bank of China and National Bank of Pakistan will soon conclude a protocol in pursuance of today's agreement in which all financial and administrative details will be spelt out.
Transfer of its old and well established bank in Pakistan is also regarded as a significant recognition by the Chinese Government of the role played by State Bank of Pakistan in promoting trade relations between the two countries.
Precise value of the assets of the Chinese Bank is not immediately known but it is estimated that they run into Several lacs of rupees and with absolute no liability.
A ceremony is likely to be held in Karachi when transfer of the Bank actually takes place this month or in September.
Islamabad, Aug 5 (PPI): A British business executive, Mr. Stokell, has confirmed that India is preventing the refugees from returning to their homes in East Pakistan.
In a letter Published recently by a British daily he wrote 'the Managing Director of a tea estate in East Pakistan near to the Indian border told me that he sent a massage to the estate labourers who had run across the border, asking them to return.
The reply was that they wanted to, but were being prevented by the Indian authorities.
Mr. Stokell, who is the chief executive of a group of British companies in East Pakistan said, "there are certainly refugees from East Pakistan but many have gone to India because of spreading of rumours and fear, they are simple people."
In this connection he criticised the foreign press for printing unconfirmed reports about the situation in East Pakistan and said that the refugee problem cannot be solved through "vituperation" but only by concerted aid to assist the refugees to return and resettle them."
Recounting the events leading to the army action in East Pakistan on March 26 he said, the Awami league at no time in its election manifesto mentimed "Bangla Desh". Had it done so, it is certain it would not have had the success it achieved.
Muzaffarabad: Aug 5 (APP): The Azad Kashmir president Sardar Mohammed Abdul Qayyum Khan, has cautioned that after frustration of Indian minister designing East Pakistan aggression against Azad Kashmir could not be ruled out.
Speaking at a reception given in honour of Sardar Mahammad Ibrahim Khan who has recently
Joined the All-
Stressing the need of moral rearmament, the Azad Kashmir president observed that
as Muslims we must adhere to the principles of truth, justice and honest conduct
and avoid self-
Sardar Qayyum congratualted president Yahya Khan on sparing all conditional aids
and said that the nation was at his back in cindicating national honour, self-
Earlier, replying to the address of welcome Sardar Mohammad Ibrahim Khan said that the only motive behind his decision to join the Muslim conference was to forge a United front in view of India's threatening posture.
He said that the last general elections have established firm democratic traditions in Azad Kashmir and the present Government deserves all support and cooperation from all parties to achieve its economic and national objectives.
Cox's Bazar Aug. 5 (APP): Cox's Bazar thana peace committee and Cox's Bazar town peace committee have been formed in the two separate meetings of the local people held recently at cox's Bazar town.
Mr. Momtazul Hoque, advocate, and Alhaj Nazir Ahmed have been elected convenors of these committees respectively.
London, Aug. 5: I have said again and again that political settlement in East Pakistan is a matter for Pakistan and no other country has anything to do with it, said British foreign secretary in parliament on Monday. British Government does not accept Charges of genocide as this charge has not been proved and thus falls on barren ground, he added.
This British policy statement on Pakistan situation made by Sir Alec in parliament during question answer session not only replies to demands made by secessionists contained in a letter handed to premier Heath after Sunday's rally but its also clear departure from previous British Stand when after Swaran Singl's visits it had stated that any settlement should be acceptable to East Pakistanis.
This reiteration of British policy which once for all accepts happenings in East Pakistan as internal matter for Pakistan has so much upset British press that without a single exception this important policy statement was totally blacked out by them. Sir Alec in reply to question held view that UN presence on both sides border would help cause of peace and return of refugees of and regretted India has not seen usefulness of this.
He was not sure of raising the matter in the security council unless India and Pakistan want it would serve the cause. He did not think taking initiative by third party. Cause of peace will be served by exercise in security council. Urging restrain not only on either side of border he warned that intervention by any country 'would bring disastrous consequence."
He flatly refused suggestion that UK should bring pressure on UK's principal ally" America to stop shipment of arms to Pakistan and said "It must be for other countries to decide their policy of arms supplies to Pakistan. His reply was emphatic "no, sir" when pressed if his Government will not approach US in this connection.
Another significant thing in this policy statement was that sir Alec taking note of strong reaction in Pakistan on British development loans with strings never brought this matter up which shows that British Government has taken note of feelings in Pakistan on this question.
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