The Daily
Morning News
28 SEPTEMBER 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- East Pakistan Developments purely Internal Affairs, says U Thant: Indian infiltrators hamper DPs', return
- Madrassah teachers call on Niazi
- India creating obstacles in way of DPs return
- Relief goods selling in black market
- Peace Committee member dead
- Qayyum urges United front against enemy
- East Pakistanis now keen to return home: Begum Sulaiman
Other Headlines:
- Pakistan to take part in UNCTAD meet in Bangkok
- UN Assembly enters 2nd week
- Kashmiris to resist all attempts to deprive them of self-
determination right - President greets Yemeni president
- India should aim at break up of Pakistan: R.K. Nehru
- Jamiat to constest bye-
elections - No merger, says Huda
- Asked to collect arms deposited with authorities
- Jamaat workers asked to work selflessly
- PIC starts processing compensation claims
- Pak tobacco for Halian buses
- FQ urged to withdraw 'action' against Huda
- Akbar joins KSP
- PPP leaders walk out of press workers meeting
- India going ahead with projects on Farraka Barrage
- JUI leader asked to stop campaign against Qayyum
- Police action on crowd at Lahore condemned
- Pakistanis in Finland facing expulsion
- Labour attaches for Pak missions abroad soon
- Be vigilant about India's designs
Islamabad, Sept. 27 (APP): United Nations Secretary General U Thant has reiterated that the developments in East Pakistan were purely internal affairs of Pakistan and that the return of refugees was being hampered by Indian infiltrators.
The Secretary General in his introduction to the report on the work of the organisation, details of which are available now, said: "while the civil strife in itself is an internal affairs of Pakistan some of the problems generated by it are necessarily of concern to the international community." In the present case he said "There is an element of danger. For the crisis is unfolding in the context of the longstanding and unresolved difficulties which gave rise to open warfare only six years ago."
Although there can be no question of the deep desire of both Governments for peace, tension between them shows no sign of subsiding. The situation on the borders of East Pakistan is particularly disturbing," he added.
The Secretary General expressed his deep concern about the possible consequences of this situation in not only its humanitarian aspect but also the potential threat to international peace and security and the bearing it might have on the future of the United Nations".
"It seemed," he said, "That the situation arising from these events, in which humanitarian, economic and political problems were mixed in such a way as almost to defy distinction, presented a challenge to the United Nations as a whole which must be met.
He warned that the United Nations cannot afford to forget that a major conflict on
the sub-
The Secretary General urged the United Nations to play a more forthright role both in attempting to mitigate the human tragedy and to avert a further deterioration of the situation.
Refugee Repatriations
Dealing with the problem of repatriation of refugees, the Secretary General said "efforts in this connection have so far been unavailling. Since president Yahya Khan announced his agreement to allow the East Pakistan refugees to return on May 25 only an insignificant number of refugees have done so.
He said that border clashes, clandestine raids and acts of sabotage appear to be becoming more frequent and this was all the more serious since refugees must cross this disturbed border if repatriation is to become a reality.
He said that he made a proposal aimed at facilitating the process of voluntary repatriation of refugees by establishing on both sides of the border a limited representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As on initial step, he suggested that such representatives should be stationed in two or three areas to be selected by the two Governments in consultation with him.
He said that the Government of Pakistan accepted this suggestion but the Indian Government did not.
Relief Operation
About the United Nations relief operations in East Pakistan he disclosed that on the recommendation of his representative in Dacca, he has approved a plan to increase considerably the United Nations personnel for this operation thus greatly improving its effectiveness.
This, he said, would also put the organisation in a better position to assure the international community, and donors in particular, that all supplies reached their destination.
The Secretary General hoped that with the strengthening of United Nations operations more contributions will be obtained for the relief and rehabilitation that are so urgently needed in East Pakistan.
He said that the international community has a clear obligation to help the governments and peoples concerned in every possible way.
U Thant said that he appealed for assistance both for the East Pakistan refugees in India and for the population of East Pakistan.
In order to channel the assistance given in response to those appeals he designated the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as the focal point for assistance to the refugees in India and assigned, with the agreement of the Government of Pakistan, a representative in Dacca in order to make as effective use as possible of the international assistance made available for the relief of the population in East Pakistan.
He said, in addition to those two emergency relief operations the High Commissioner has initiated with due full concurrence as effort to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of the refugees now in India.
Ecosoc discussions
The Secretary General further said that at its meeting on July 16 the Economic and
Social Council held a full discussion of these operations based on the statements
made in the Council by the High Commissioner and the Assistant Secretary General
for Inter-
At the conclusion of this discussion the President of the Council expressed full support for the action taken by the Secretary General.
He said substantial contributions have been promptly offered in response to his appeal for the refugees in India. However the response to his appeal for the relief operation in East Pakistan particularly in its initial phase, has been far from sufficient or adequate to the magnitude of the task.
A 24-
The delegation assured the MLA of whole hearted cooperation of 25,000 madrassah teachers.
"They are ready to work in collaboration with Pakistan armed forces for the security of Pakistan and glory of Islam," The delegation said.
The delegation also pointed out that Madrassah Teachers Association has no affiliation and is devoted exclusively to the promotion of Islam.
The delegation presented a copy of holy Quran to the MLA.
General Niazi, talking to the delegation informally, paid tributes to the ulema for
preserving and promoting the cause of Islam. He also appreciated their enthusiasm
and thanked them for their co-
The MLA told the delegation that future of Islam in this sub-
The MLA advised the ulema and other patriotic citizens to go out and show the path of righteousness to the misguided youth.
He also emphasized the need to make them realize that there is no curse greater than
the curse of slavery, still worse if it is the slavery of Hindu rulers. He referred
to the plight of Muslims in the pre-
He assured the delegation that as far as armed forces are concerned they are fully
prepared and competent to defend the solidarity of the country. He however said that
the ulema, madrassah teachers and other patriotic citizens can help protecting means
of communisation and weeding out anti-
General Niazi also promised them all facilities in organising voluntary organisations on the pattern of village defence committees to deal with the Indian agents in their respective areas.
United Nations, Sept. 27 (APP): Shah Azizur Rahman, a former deputy leader of opposition in the National Assembly and a Member of Pakistan's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly paid a weekend visit to Chicago where he addressed a fund raising dinner by Pakistani Students Association.
In a speech on the occasion which was also attended by prominent Americans, Shah Azizur Rahman said India was creating obstacles in the way of return to the displaced persons to their hearths and homes in East Pakistan and thereby prolonging this humanitarian problem to achieve her objects.
Shah Azizur Rahman urged the Big Powers to persuade India to help and co-
He said the United Nations had appointed an official in Dacca to coordinate relief assistance and the East Pakistani people deserved the concern and sympathy of all states.
Krishnagar (India) Sept. 27(Reuter): East Pakistani displaced persons at a camp near Calcutta have accused Indian officials of selling relief supplies in the black market and falsifying ration cards.
They also claim that members of the Para-
The displaced persons told Reuter yesterday that camp officials had been marking ration cards as though they (DPs) were receiving rice, lentils and sugar. In fact, they said, they were only getting 200 to 300 grams of rice each day.
Mr. S.K. Das 30, a former primary school teacher in the East Pakistan town of Goalanda Ghat, said "When we demanded more food an official said go and tell Indira Gandhi."
The Vice-
Peshawar, Sept. 27 (APP): Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan Muslim League, hear today appealed to the political leaders in the country to present a united front to the enemy, which had amassed its troops on our borders.
In a press statement, Qayyum said that in view of the grave situation, it was absolutely necessary that the internal personal quarrels and personal attack against each other should cease. With this in mind, he was refraining from replying to the statements, appeared in the press against him, he added.
London, Sept. 27 (APP): Begum Akthar Sulaiman has stated here she was 'delighted' on offer of amnesty by President Yahya Khan to those who had gone astray in East Pakistan political crisis.
She told APP that in moments of excitement or under pressures of various kinds people often make mistakes. Amnesty has opened the door for them to come back to the fold. It is welcome step towards creation of a civil administration in East Pakistan."
Begum Sulaiman, who is leaving next week for Geneva, made a fervent appeal to patriotic Pakistanis who had crossed over into India to come back and devote themselves whole heartedly to work for the progress of Pakistan.
She said that the elements who have hostile designs against Pakistan are trying to frighten them. Enemies of our dear country are trying to prevent them from coming back and normalising their lives.
"I am sure they have to fear nothing. This is the only way to normal life. Civil administration and democratic institution can be built up only by creating a peaceful atmosphere."
Horrifying tales of how Indians were trying to prevent East Pakistani refugees from returning home were related to Begum Akhtar Sulaiman by an East Pakistani who has just returned from Sylhet. Begum Sulaiman said that the man who own business in London had been visiting Sylhet when the crisis overtook the country. He said many East Pakistanis who had crossed over into India in confusion or out of fear were now keen to return home.
Some of them were given arms by Indians to go and attack Pakistani forces but when they came home they surrendered. Such incidents had upset the Indians, hence they tattooed the Word "BanglaDesh" on they arms of these people so that even after surrender they may be punished by the Pakistani authorities.
Many of them went to doctors and had the skin of their arm removed to obliterate the effects of tattoo. This further angered the Indians and they started forcing East Pakistanis to have their stomachs tattooed.
Begum Sulaiman said that in such circumstances the announcement of amnesty by the president is most welcome and will bring a sigh of relief to harried East Pakistanis who were being exploited and tyrannized by Indians and were afraid of coming home.
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