893 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড Another development in Pakistan, which is of intense international concern, is the reported sentence of death on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It would be good to hear a denial of that report. If anyone has seen him during the last six months, we do not know him; all we know is that his British lawyers were not allowed to see him, and we are certain that Pakistan would not have allowed any outside judge-even of the International Court-to be present at the trial. Anyway, newspaper reports indicate that the trias is over. Pakistan objects that any suggestion of political settlement with the elected leaders in an interference in Pakistan affairs. We in India have been burdened with over 9 million refugees as a direct consequence of Pakistan's military action. Is it, in these, circumstances, unreasonable or illogical to suggest the kind of solution which, in our view, should be arrived at in order to persuade the refugees to go back home? Is it unreasonable or illogical to recommend a political solution to bring about the kind of confidence that is a pre-requisite for the return of the refugees? Is it illogical or unreasonable to suggest that, unless the refugees have a degree of security and hope for peaceful existence on their return home, they will be reluctant to go back? If these are illogical and unreasonable suggestions, I am glad to see myself in the company of a large number of delegations, foreign Governments and numerous official and non-official organizations. If a country resents this kind of suggestion, how can it in the same breath ask for co-operation in solving a problem which is essentially of its own making? Besides, what relief can we promise to the East Bengalis when we did nothing when their friends, relatives and fellow citizens were being killed, their women raped, their house smashed, property looted, children burnt, and their crops destroyed? We have no intention of doing so, in spite of an invitation. All we can say is that this problem can be solved only between the rulers of Pakistan and its elected leaders, and we are disillusioned by the attempts to bring about a so-called normalization. It was only the other day that two Members of Parliament of the Netherlands had their invitations withdrawn, simply because they would not accept Pakistani figures for refugees. Senator Kennedy's case is much too well known, and I do not wish to dilate on it. The problem has been created by the campaign of genocide, and Pakistan must settle it in consultation and co-operation with its own people. There is undoubtedly tension in the area, but that too is the direct consequence of Pakistan's actions. Tension will disappear and refugees will go back whenever Pakistan chooses the wise course towards a political settlement. Unless that is done, all this public agitation for Indian co-operation is nothing but mere eyewash. In fact, in spite of Pakistan apologists, the President of Pakistan has made it quite clear that he would not meet the Indian Prime Minister. Even in these days of permissiveness, I cannot bring myself to repeat the words the President used about our Prime Minister. The curious will find it in Le Figaro of Paris. That particular article was reproduced in The New York Times about two weeks ago. Apart from insulting the
