পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৬৫০

622 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ ংলাদেশের শরণার্থীদের সম্পর্কে ফ্রেঞ্চ বাংলাদেশ ডকুমেন্টস ২২ জুন, ১৯৭১ এপিসকপেট’-এর বিবৃতি The Permanent Board of French Episcopate which met in Paris on Tuesday, June 22, 1971, published on the same day a statement on refugees of East Bengal. Following is the full text of the statement which was carried by the Catholic daily "La Croix" on June 24. "Local problems must not let us forget the situation of our distant brothers. There is a region in the world which is at the moment being particularly tried East Bengal the province of East Bengal. After a deadly cyclone a civil war caused an exodus of six million refugees to India. A cholera epidemic, the prospect of long months ahead which will have to be faced without a sufficient stock of food places this region in a very critical situation. At the same time every man's right to justice and freedom is flouted. In some areas repression assumes the aspect of a massacre. Numerous Bengali Muslim cadres were executed or forced to flee their country. The Permanent Board of French Bishops considers it its duty to alert Christians. In the immediate, it is necessary to make an exceptional effort to aid the millions of victims and refugees. However, it will not be possible to content oneself with sending assistance. The amplitude of this tragedy calls for political solutions. This is an appeal to the different nations to involve themselves with determination in this problem. It is a matter of restoring such conditions that will make it possible for the refugees to return. This demands respect for the lives of all the citizens of East Bengal and for their fundamental rights. It is a hardship for us to think that the arms sold by various nations including France to Pakistan perhaps contributes towards a violent repression. It is the duty of the French citizens, whatever their political beliefs, to inform themselves to become aware of what is involved, to feel themselves bound to the people afflicted by this tragedy and to collective by seek an acceptable issue."