পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৯০১

873 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড Finally, operative paragraph 4 states: "4. The strict observance of these obligations is an essential condition to ensure that nations live together in peace with one another, since the practice of any form of intervention not only violate the spirit and letter of the Charter of the United Nations but also leads to the creation of situations which threaten international peace and security. [Resolution 2131 (XX)]. It is noteworthy that India was a member of the Committee which prepared the Declaration. I am sure that all the Representatives present here are not unaware of the complexity of the issues to which we are trying to find a solution in Pakistan. The problems of reconciling conflicting economic, political, cultural and regional claims within the borders of a country are not unique to Pakistan. They are present in all multilingual, multicultural and multiracial States. Such problems are endemic in India itself, although the Foreign Minister of India has seen fit to speak of social, political and cultural conditions in my country. I do not propose to speak here of what has been going on in his country, not that there is not much to talk about. We all know, and the world knows, what has been happening to the Mizos and the Nagas in India. We all know the state of turmoil and civil strife in the Indian State of West Bengal, where it has not been possible for a democratic Government to function during the last four years. We all know of the demands for recognition of their rights in South India and in the Punjab. But I have no intention here to delive into these matters, and I certainly do not propose to use the forum of this august Assembly to make propaganda against my neighbor as, unfortunately, the Foreign Minister of India saw fit to do. The basic factors of the prevailing situation in Pakistan are, I am sure, not unknown to the distinguished representatives here. Although these have been clouded by the storm of propaganda and vituperation of which we heard an example this morning. The cardinal fact is that general elections were held throughout Pakistan in December last. These election were held on the basis of adult franchise. What happened thereafter was that the legitimate aspirations of the people of Pakistan for a democratic and federal type of Constitution, which would have give a full measure of autonomy to the units, were escalated into a move inspired and organized from outside for breaking up the country. Violence was let loose in East Pakistan. Massacres were perpetrated, and the lives and honor not only of those who opposed secession but of ordinary citizens were placed in jeopardy. The President of Pakistan pursued his search for a negotiated settlement among the political parties concerned until the very last moment when the refusal of the leader of the political party, which had won the majority of seats in the National Assembly, to participate in the work of the Assembly made it clear that the objective was not frame a Constitution for Pakistan, but to engineer secession by violent means, It is in these circumstances that President Yahya Khan, who had held elections in the country, was compelled to order the armed forces to do their duty, namely, to preserve