Mr. Samad briefly explained how the Generals Were preparing for the first night of horror while General Yahya was but spending times in the name of negotiation. He said, “While negotiations were not yet declared to be complete, on 25th March at about 11 p.m. Yahya Khan committed an act of treachery that has no parallel in human history. A well- trained and mechanized army of West Pakistan clamped down over the weak and unarmed civilians. Without any warning or curfew, tanks, mortars, artillery, machine guns and rockets were indiscriminately used to kill the innocent people. The approximate number of people killed on the first two nights in and around Dacca is estimated to be 100,000. There are thousands of incidents of rape, loot and arson, I can describe to you Ladies and Gentlemen, that you would feel yourselves to be sitting here purportedly holding a conference for peace”.
Mr. Samad said that the Bengalis however accepted this challenge of war. “The Liberation Forces have allowed the West Pakistan troops to extend as much as they can only to surround them and fight them out at times and place of their own choice”.
Mr. Samad made it clear that the West Pakistan army was nothing but an occupation army and that they had no popular support at all.
MEMBERS CONDEMN ATROCITIES
The Conference, which was attended by more than 800 members from 124 countries, unanimously condemned the atrocities and genocide in Bangladesh by the West Pakistan Army. The World Peace Council expressed their solidarity with the people of Bangladesh struggling for their liberation. The Council also awarded the LAMBRAKIS Medal to the people of Bangladesh for their heroic struggle for self determination.
A message from Maulana Bhasani, chief of the National Awami Party was also sent to the Conference.
ROVING AMBASSADOR ON TOUR.
Mr. M. A. Samad the Roving Ambassador to the Government of Bangladesh is now on a round the World tour. He had already met the members of the Hungarian Government and discussed about the Bangladesh situation. He will very soon meet Mr. Podgorny, the Soviet President. On conclusion of his East European tour he is expected to pay a visit to the U. K.
COMMONS MOTION
The House of Commons passed a Motion unanimously on the 14th May, 1971. Introducing the Motion, Mr. Bruce Douglas Man, M.P. said. “That this house, deeply concerned by the killing and destruction which has taken place in East Pakistan and the possible threat of food shortage later this year calls upon Her Majesty's Government to use their influence to secure an end to the strife, the admission of the United, Nations and other international relief organizations, and achievement of a political settlement which will respect the democratic right of the people of Pakistan.”
