Ladies and gentlemen, the armed forces of Pakistan have been trained by the colonial and imperialist powers. The vested interests of West Pakistan have always used them for their own ends and they have been frequently used to suppress any democratic movement that took place inside the country. Having had all the privileges and security out of the national budget it itself became a part of the vested interest and assumed the responsibility again and again to rule the country instead of defending the borders from external aggression.
The military pacts like SEATO and CENTO gave a hand to the armed forces of West Pakistan in this direction. The Foreign military aid that came-whether from erica or China-provided these West Pakistani troops with sharp and sophisticated weapons which are now being used only to kill the unarmed people of Bangladesh. The irony of the situation is that even when USSR or China extended aid and assistance to Pakistan, this only helped the monopoly capitalists of West Pakistan. The main purpose of the American aid to Pakistan was to maintain this status quo in the economic system and at the same time to grow a strong bourgeoisic which ultimately helped the West Pakistani business class to flourish by exploiting the resources of Bangladesh. All the machineries that have been working against the interests of Bangladesh for last 23 years were encouraged and assisted by the foreign aid of different countries. If aid and particularly military aid is given to strengthen the ability of a country to protect herself from external aggression, then why today we find that weapons manufactured both in America and China are being roared upon the innocent people of Bangladesh?
The people of Bangladesh have always believed in the struggles for freedom. In the past, they always supported the cause of Algerians, the Vietnamese and the freedom struggles of Libya, South Africa, Rhodesia, Cuba and also China. In 1956 when Britain attacked Egypt, the people of Bangladesh registered their support for their Egyptian brethren against the official policy of the Government of Pakistan. Our demand for last 23 years has always been to come out of SEATO or CENTO and other military pacts and international power blocks and pursue a policy of peaceful non-alignment.
Our present struggle is a struggle for our liberation. There is no difference between our struggle and the struggle of the people of Russia or China or Hungary or Cuba or Algeria which they had to sustain for their own liberation. This struggle is the same as that of the Vietnamese who are also struggling for their liberation. This struggle is the same in nature as that of the American struggle for independence in the 18th century.
Ladies and gentlemen, the West Pakistan Government is trying to make an appeal to the Muslim countries in the name of Islam. May I address you, the honorable gentlemen, from the Muslim countries, from this platform requesting you to search your heart and tell me whether in the name of Islam mother can be deprived of her child, a child can be taken away from his mother? What is that Islam upon which any grain of sympathy can be extended to these trigger-happy murderers who are now bombing our villages, looting our food silos and granaries, raping our young sisters, killing doctors, lawyers, businessmen and scholars who are overwhelmingly Muslims without any discrimination? Is it that Islam upon which the West Pakistani rulers are relying upon today? My appeal would be to you, gentlemen, to come forward and expose the true lessons of Islam and condemn
