675 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড Clovis Maksoud* U.A.R. Mr. Chairman and Friends : This Conference which has been called by the Gandhi Peace Foundation was overdue if I may so so. Of course the human dimensions of the tragedy of nearly 8 million East Bengalis who have taken refuge in hospitable India has become widespread and to that extent shaken mankind. Stories have been related of the brutality, of the Pakistani authorities against the East Bengalis. All of us who have listened to and witnessed a part of this tragedy identify ourselves with the sufferings of the East Bengalis. It becomes imperative that we accelerate the peace of amelioration of the conditions of the East Bengal people. Yet in identifying ourselves with the humanistic aspect we are only making a projection of an elementary call of duty. An elementary call of duty in these circumstances is not sufficient. The Palestinian refugees are suffering the brutality of Israel and the Jordanians in a similar manner as the people of Bangladesh. For a long time in East Bengal freedom has been deliberately denied. They are being denied their right and urge for full participation in the political, cultural, social and economic uplift of their country. Such a situation must be rectified. We must emphasize that the state of East Bengal is not and cannot and should not be a part of the India-Pakistan dispute. If unity is to be preserved, it must be on the basis of secularism. To that extent we fully appreciate the urges of the people of Bangladesh that they should be free. We must equally be concerned about 75 million people of Asia being denied human dignity. This is not on internal matter. It is a matter for the human conscience of the people of the world as a whole. It is true that there has been a struggle and the Bengali people must have freedom as well as equality Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should therefore be released. It is not a political cause but a human cause. In March when free elections took place in both wings of Pakistan many people viewed this development as a purifying process for Pakistan. It was a historic moment. Parliamentary democracy was being established in Ceylon, India and Pakistan on the basis of secularism. We welcomed this development in Pakistan as Bengalis had been discriminated against for many years. A new Pakistan was born after the elections. I think the dignity and equality of Bangalis remains the primary concern of their struggle. It is only in this context that we fight for the right of people to equality in all matters. Friends, we have come here to learn more about this and as I said in the beginning we want to understand. Perhaps our understanding has not been as total as it should be. Our most positive contribution should be that dignity returns to the 8'/2 million people of East Bengal who have been driven out of their homes. Rev. Fr. Ismail Quiles Argentina
- Attended the conference as observer.
