পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ষষ্ঠ খণ্ড).pdf/৬২৭

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

591 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ষষ্ঠ খণ্ড শিরোনাম সংবাদপত্র তারিখ Bangladesh No More An Bangladesh Today 15 September, 1971 Internal Issue Vol. 1 : No. 2 BANGLADESH NO MORE AN INTERNAL ISSUE John Stonehouse, M.P. More than 300 members of the House of Commons signed and tabled a motion urging Her Majesty's Government to recognize the People's Republic of Bangladesh as the only legally established authority to deal with the affairs of Bangladesh. A similar motion was signed previously by over 250 M. P. s demanding the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – the accredited leader of the 75 million Bengalis. On 5" August 1971 the House of Commons debated the former motion and, below, we are reproducing the relevant extracts of the speech made by the Rt. Hon. John Storehouse M. P., in this connection. What is happening today n Bangladesh is not an internal problem for the Pakistan authorities? This, the world community most recognize. The genocide being carried out n Bangladesh is no more an internal matter than Hitler's extermination of the Jews. It is the world's concern. Refugees have had to flee from their homes in such numbers as to constitute an invasion of India by Pakistan. The refugees have been forced out by the Government policies of Yahya Khan. We all know that mass famine is due in Bangladesh this autumn. The real threat of war between Pakistan and India is a threat to world peace. Those who persist in considering all this an internal matter completely misjudge the situation. This situation is caused by the military repression by the Pakistan Army of the democratic will of the people of Bangladesh as expressed in the elections last December. Stories that there were atrocities against minorities before 25" March and that this is the reason why the army had to strike are untrue. There may have been examples of unrest, but nobody in political leadership was inciting rioters. The Awami League and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in particular tried to prevent any communal unrest. The Pakistan Army is engaged in one of the most brutal repressions of a population the world has ever seen. This is confirmed on all sides. The 'Sunday Times' in an extensive investigation, confirms that what is happening is genocide. The 1." August issue of Newsweek' gives details of the most horrific atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistan Army. When a Government through its army, engages in such repression then it is the duty of the world community to intervene and stop it, as it should have intervened in what Hitler was doing to the Jews in the 1930s. The United Nations should activate the Genocide Convention, and, if necessary use United Nations forces, with the agreement of the big powers to bring this disaster to an early end.