We should condemn. Mr. President, the silence of our leadership. Are we so insensitive to what our country stands for that our Government can actually support as well as apologize for a military regime's brutal suppression of democracy? Are we so blind that we can ignore a government that jails a political leader whose only crime was the wining of a free election?
Mr. President, we should also condemn the world's silence and apathy towards the massive human suffering caused by the refugee flow into India. From the beginning, the international community's response has been unconscionably lethargic and wholly inadequate. It has been characterized by little sense of urgency and a low priority of concern for a tide of human misery unequaled in modern times. By ignoring the needs of the refugees we have also alienated the people of India, endangering the economic stability and well-being of the world's largest democracy.
We should also condemn the neglect and insensitivity that is causing the death each day of 4,300 refugee children for the lack of food and shelter. We should condemn the circumstances that have caused the death and suffering of millions more because insufficient funds have been made available to relief agencies in India.
Mr. President, the administration has justified its refusal to condemn Pakistan in the name of keeping leverage with Islamabad. Over and over again-in hearings before the Subcommittee on Refugees, and elsewhere-Congress and the American people were told to be patient while our leverage and diplomacy took effect. Regrettably, there is little on the record-publicly or otherwise-to indicate that many “levers” were pulled. And in the case of a notable exception the revocation of licenses for the shipment of American military supplies-the lever was pulled belatedly just a month ago, but only in full agreement with Islamabad.
And so the record is clear that-over the months of growing crisis-our Government was supporting a regime that not only suppressed an election but destroyed in the process all the principles for which our country sacrificed so much for so long only 2,000 miles away in Vietnam. Perhaps the only difference between Vietnam and Pakistan is that in Pakistan we have made no pretense of acting in support of principles-so that, in effect, no principles can be violated.
And now-in sharp contrast to our deference to Pakistani sensibilities over these past months of violence in East Bengal-our national leadership suddenly denounces India. We have made her the scapegoat of our frustrations and failures, and of the bankruptcy of our policy toward Pakistan. We have not only cut off military aid to India-over which no one will quarrel-but we are threatening to cut off economic and humanitarian aid as well.
In fact, yesterday our Government suspended some S87.6 million in development loans, in what can only be interpreted as a punitive gesture.
This administration has rightly taken pride in its effort to re-establish contact with one-fifth of mankind's population in China. But are we going to simultaneously alienate one-sixth of mankind in India-a democratic nation with whom we have had years of productive relations?
