পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্দশ খণ্ড).pdf/৫৩০

498 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড SS ASEAN TOPICAL TALKS EAST PAKISTAN REFUGEES: THE CONTINUING CONCERN 28" May, 1971 by Mark Tully (S) Tension has been created along the borders of India and East Pakistan by the continued flow of refugees into India. The reasons for this influx and the problems it creates are considered by Mark Tully: For over eight weeks now the Pakistan army has been trying to restore normal conditions in East Pakistan. President Yahya Khan has said that on March 25th, the army faced a situation where East Pakistan was on the brink of secession and law and order had virtually broken down. Besides the secessionists, Pakistan government sources say that the army also had to deal with communal uprisings between the Bengali majority and the Biharis and also a mutiny by East Bengali soldiers and paramilitary personnel. These details were in the main supplies by a party of independent foreign correspondents who were allowed into East Pakistan for a brief visit earlier this month. For several weeks now Radio Pakistan has been claiming that life has returned to normal. But although there have been no reports from within the province since the correspondents left, there is evidence that all is still far from well. The evidence comes from the refugees who are still fleeing from East Pakistan into India. The Indian Government calculates that over 3 and half million refugees have already entered India and that they are still coming in. When dealing with an exodus on this scale over a very long border, it is impossible for anyone to calculate the numbers involved exactly. But the team from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees who went out to see the refugee camps were convinced of the gravity of the problem. After their visit the United Nations Secretary General, U Thant said there is conclusive evidence of the presence of very large numbers of people from East Pakistan in the neighboring State of India. The United Nations Commission has now announced that over 3 million pounds has been promised in aid for the refugees. These refugees come out of Pakistan telling stories of atrocities committed by the Pakistan army. Reporters who have spoken to them have all been convinced that the refugees fled in terror from the army. The reporters conclusions have been supported by others who have visited the camps. Now of course in chaotic conditions panic spreads quickly. There are no doubt, many refugees who fled without ever seeing the army. Undoubtedly there has been communal violence, banditry and looting in the province. But the hard fact remains that almost all the refugees whom the foreign observers spoke to insisted that it was the army they were afraid of. The very people the central government sent in to preserve the unity of Pakistan and protect the civilian population seem to have caused large numbers of them to flee. Whatever political solution to the problems of East Pakistan President Yahya Khan announces within the next two or three weeks government in East Pakistan will have to be supported by large numbers of soldiers for some time. But if stories like those told by