Department of State
AIRGRAM
CONFIDENTIAL A-152
TO : DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INFO : BONN, CALCUTTA, COPENHAGEN, DACCA, THE HAGUE, KARACHI, LAHORE, LONDON,
MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, OSLO, OTTAWA, PARIS, PESHAWAR, ROME. STOCKHOLM,TOKYO
FROM : Amembassy ISLAMABAD
DATE : AUGUST 30, 1971
SUBJECT : Some East Pakistan Observations: A Trip Report by
FSO H. Batjer
REF : Dacca 3112; 3135; and 3036
SUMMARY: The general atmosphere in East Pakistan is one of sustained anxiety, uncertainty and in some cases
real fear. Law and order is non-existent in some areas and generally weak
elsewhere. The population is subject to harassment, looting and often death
from an over zealous Army, the Mukti Bahini, dacoits and communal revengers.
After law and order, transportation and communications remain the most
immediate and serious problem. A continuing lack of adequate transportation
will increase the possibility of famine. However, serious efforts are being made
to overcome the transportation problem and most East Pakistanis do not believe
there will be wide spread famine. Industry primarily jute and cotton, is making
a come back but very slowly. Commerce is making a slower come back. In some
cases commercial networks have completely broken down because of the lack of
law and order, broken communications and the exodus of the Hindu entrepreneurs.
On the average, about 60 percent of the labor force has returned to work but
its production is low. End Summary.
The reporting officer spent two weeks in Dacca on TDY (July 28 to August 11). During
that time she travelled from Dacca via Jessore
to Khulna by car and flew to Chittagong. She made official calls on
twenty-eight people including GOEP officials, bankers, industrialists,
educators, businessmen, missionaries, UN personnel and Third Country consular
representatives. The following report is based on these and less formal
conversations, and her own observations.
The General Situation
and Law and Order
Perhaps the most disturbing element in the East Pakistan situation is the public's total lack
of confidence in the future. Personal security and general well being are
nonexistent for most people whether they support the idea of a united Pakistan or Bangla Desh. Without reason, citizens are killed, maimed and/or
deprived of family and possessions. Because the press and radio fail
to accurately report local news and c - conditions,
the public evaluates the situation by rumor. There are daily, if not hourly rumors
of Military, Naxalite, Mukti
Bahini and dacoit actual or planned violence. Some of
the rumors are true, but most often they herald events which often do not
materialize.
The population is crushed between the Army, Mukti Bahini, dacoits and in the
western part of the province Naxalites. If a man does
not go back to work the Army may abuse him; if he does go to work the Mukti Bahini may discipline him;
if he manages to work the dacoits may rob him when he takes his pay home; and
if he has a good job, the Naxalites may kill him.
It is said towns and cities are now safer than the villages
because the warring factors are prowling the countryside. When molested,
primarily by ambush in the country, the Army takes indiscriminate reprisals in
the area. The Mukti Bahini
seeks refuge and food from the sympathetic local Bengalis, but their lives are
endangered should the local Peace Committee and/or Army collaborators learn of
their support. The dacoits who are common thieves and criminals, rob
indiscriminately. The Naxalites assassinate and
terrorize. In Khulna, the Naxalites
have distributed handbills stating that these are their tactics and that they
have nothing in common with the Mukti Bahini or any other so called nationalist movement; but
theirs is another cause (unexplained). Under these conditions everyone has a
lethal enemy.
Perhaps the most tragic aspect of the total scene is the
communal killings which have occurred and continue to go on. In some areas such
as Khatunganj on the outskirts of Chittagong communal killings started well before
March 26, in other areas after this date. Neighbors who have lived in peace for
over twenty years have and are now killing one another and looting the victim's
property. The horror stories involving communal killings and atrocities are
unending and confidence in anyone, outside a particular ethnic or religious
group is minimal and within the group limited.
There is no authority in East Pakistan today which has the power to
guarantee reasonable protection against all these many currents of violence.
The lack of law and order has a direct effect on all segments of life,
including those discussions below.
Transportation and
Communications:
The transportation and communications system in East Pakistan has been badly crippled and in many
areas remains paralyzed. Although East Pakistan is an area of almost unlimited
waterways, they have never been commercially developed much beyond the ports of
Chittagong, Chalna/Khulna,
and Narayanganj. The cargo from these ports
traditionally was handled by rail and truck.
Artery roads such as Dacca to Chittagong via Comilla,
and Dacca to Mymensingh are out and even if
repaired would be very susceptable to further
sabotage. The preMarch
trucking fleet was inadequate and old and now is further limited because trucks
have been commandeered by the Military or deserted because of the law and order
situation. However, in those areas were roads are passable some trucking is
going on. According to two knowledgeable sources, drivers are reclaiming their
trucks and going back to trucking. However, many deserted trucks were seen in
the Dacca, Khulna and Chittagong areas. The Military will enlist
trucks for certain jobs but once the job is completed they are released for
civilian use, it is said.
The railroad between Chittagong and Chandpur
became operative the first week in August and a rail-cum-ferry transport
service has been established between Dacca and Chittagong. Rail service between
Khulna and Bogra
has continued to operate since March 26 except for three or four days when a
sabotaged bridge was being repaired. There is only passenger rail service north
of Dacca into the Mymensingh
area. All rail service is restricted to daylight hours because the rail
communication system has been badly damaged and because of the vulnerability of
trains to night sabotage. Further, none of the trains are carrying capacity
loads because of the security precaution against mines which calls for two rock
load cars to be pushed ahead of the locomotive. This precaution also calls for
a light load behind the locomotive so its weight will not push the locomotive
into the rail breach should the rock cars explode a mine. Under these
circumstances it is doubtful that the rail system will be able to transport
much more than one-third of its pre-March capacity for the foreseeable future.
With rail and road transport extremely vulnerable to sabotage,
water transport must carry the bulk of cargo. Both the MLA and the GOEP
recognizes the importance of developing water transport, and, therefore,
national as well as international efforts are being made to augment and improve
this transport system. By August 11, one American financed and the three Pakistan purchased Chinese coasters had
arrived to augment the existing Pakistan fleet of about 18 coasters. An
additional 17 American financed coasters and 9 mini bulkers,
about 9 Pakistan purchased coasters, three Dutch
financed coasters and if available up to 9 British financed landing craft are
expected by the end of November. This could bring the coaster/landing-craft
fleet up to around 69. Knowledgeable Pakistan officials believe at least 20
additional tugs could be used usefully for handling general cargo and jute.
They further maintained that the two major ports are capable of handling
required import and export cargo.
The transport authorities recognizes
the security problems and through Razakar's, the
civilian militia recruited locally most of whom are very young, poorly armed
(one barrel shotgun), the authorities hope to guard bridges, culverts, rails
and shipping. They are also to be stationed on boat convoys moving up country
through narrow rivers and waterways.
It is possible that the transportation crisis will be met and
if so may redirect East Pakistan transportation system from rail and road to water. This would be a sound
shift and could represent a real contribution to economic development,
once that is under way again.
Ports
At the time of the RO's visit to the
Chittagong and Khulna ports, neither port was working at
near capacity because of lack of ships in harbor. In both ports, foodgrain and general cargo was being handled. Storage
space was available. Port officials claimed an adequate labor force is aboard
and it can be readily increased if necessary. Port rail and other facilities
were operating normally since neither port was damaged during the March/April
disturbances or later.
Government and
Business Management:
Not surprisingly, private enterprise seems to be taking a more
vigorous and practical approach to its problems than the demoralized civilian
government. Business and industry are identifying their problems and has
grouped together to cope with them. This group recognizes that its survival is
dependent upon its own initiatives. In the case of security and transportation,
private enterprise is active in recruiting and employing security guards to
guard vital installations including management officials, boilers and
generators, and is organizing boat convoys and insisting on navy escorts for
up-country cargo. Recognizing that the civilian government is ineffectual,
business insists that the responsible MLA official be present at government
called meetings concerning business and industry so the matter at hand can be
considered seriously and action can be initiated.
As for transportation, the MLA has let it be known that the
first priority will be food grains. If, however, there is a delay in foodgrain arrivals, business interests are insisting that
the shipping be released for their use. In most cases they are succeeding with
this demand but recognizing the situation, they are making certain their
shipments are handled with utmost speed.
On the government side, its personnel is
demoralized and ineffectual. Perhaps officials are more sensitive to and
concerned with the moral issues involved; were generally committed to the Awami League; wish to avoid the possible charge of
collaboration; see little hope in the immediate future; and are afraid of the
MLA. Whatever the reasons, the civilian government does not function much beyond
the routine. Even Military officers assigned to civilian jobs refuse to test
the perimeter of their authority and avoid taking responsibility. Unless a
powerful civilian Secretary and/or Governor is appointed and given full
authority via a published presidential decree, the civilian government of East Pakistan will continue to be nothing more than
a facade for the MLA. To date, the MLA holds the power and responsibility, a
fact so aptly recognized by the business community.
Trade and Commerce
and Industry:
If a spirit to overcome the present difficulties exists in East Pakistan it is with the business community.
Although not a large or strong group, it is not accepting the situation as
hopeless. In fact there are elements which believe the situation offers a
number of speculative opportunities. Industry and commerce are showing a very fragil upward trend, but it is well recognized that this
trend could be reversed by the smallest adverse event. The commercial network
was broken down and still is in many places. Reportedly, it is functioning at
about 40 percent of normal. However, merchants are finding ways of
re-establishing their contracts and resuming trade. The local merchants, weak
as they may be, represent the only network in the countryside on which the
government can rely for moving foodgrains into the
remote areas of the country according to GOEP officials. In general industry is
operating at around 50 percent of capacity. This is a move upward from zero
during March to May period. If the security and transportation situation
continues at about its present level it is doubtful that production can move
much above 60 percent but if the transportation system improves, industry
should react accordingly.
The Labor Force:
The industrial labor force is at about 60 percent of normal
strength. According to industrialist the labor force is adequate under the
circumstances. They noted that during 1970 politics and labor forced business
and industry to accept a considerable amount of featherbedding and they do not
intend to re-employ as many workers as they had on the rolls on March 25. The
general estimate is that between 80-85 percent of the March labor force will be
re-employed.
As for the workers, they are fearful, unsettled and concerned
for their families who in most cases remain in the villages. They are ready to
leave at a moment's notice but if possible are prepared to work rather than
have their families in want even if this means displeasing anti-government
forces. However, if threatened or abused personally they are inclined to leave
for their village and/or India.
Production (about 50 percent) does not match the labor force
because some of the current labor force is new and unskilled. As for
management/ labor relations, firms having good labor relations prior to March
26 by and large have their old labor force back. In most cases these firms
successfully persuaded the Military to leave their workers alone and as a
result production in their plants is good. Firms which had poor labor relations
and made no effort to curb the Army's burning of worker's huts or in anyway
tried to establish re-establish confidence in their workers, have workers who
are sullenly fearful and not very productive.
Unfortunately firms with poor labor relations seem determined
not to made a fresh start and will certainly have
serious labor problems ahead.
Famine: .
From non-expert observations, the crops between
Dacca and Khulna and around Dacca and Chittagong looked good. Fields were being worked
by what appeared to be an adequate labor force. Animals were in abundant
evidence.
Peasants in the villages, on the roads, and in the fields
looked like peasants throughout the sub-Continent, poor, ill-housed,
ill-clothed, but not in dire want.
No official, non-official, or foreign missionary would agree
that East
Pakistan is
facing wide scale famine. Some said there could be pockets of famine but were
sure there would be no starvation. District officials, food authorities and
agriculturalists all thought East Pakistan would have had record crops this year if there had been no
political upheaval. (If current flooding is widespread, the food situation
could change drastically.) Foodgrain at reasonable
prices continues to be available throughout the province.
Refugees:
Most East Pakistanis believe that the Indian figure of 8
million refugees is an exaggeration but they will readily agree to around 5
million. It is broadly recognized that Hindus have been an Army target and some
say this is because the Hindus support India against Pakistan. The Hindu lands have been taken over
by Biharis, Bengalis, and in some cases Christians.
Hindu shops have also been commandeered but many are also boarded up. No one
expressed any real regret over the fate of the Hindus.
GOEP and local officials staunchly maintain that property will
be returned to returning refugees. It is reluctantly admitted that the local
Peace Committees can and do decide if the returning refugee is loyal and worthy
of life, not to mention the return of property.
No official will deny that people are still leaving East Pakistan for India and private citizens believe that
many people are still leaving. Missionaries tell of an underground organization
which will guide people to India for 17 rupees per head. However, most
believe the great exodus is over.
The Punjabis and Biharis seem to
think East
Pakistan is
much better place with a brighter future now that the "trouble
makers" have left. It is an unhappy fact that Dacca is a more pleasant city with about
one-third of its population gone. It still seems crowded by standards other
than those of the sub-Continent. One Dacca intellectual opined that is not Mujib, Yahya, Bhutto, or East Pakistan exploitation which is responsible for
the blood letting underway, but rather the pressure of an exploding population.
The possibility of a war with India is broadly discussed but not in the
context of the refugee problem, but rather because of traditional religious,
political, and territorial differences.
University of Chittaeong:
During a visit to the Chittagong University the RO met the Acting Vice
Chancellor, numerous professors and other faculty members, and eleven students.
The visit came two days after fall registration. When asked, the Acting Vice
Chancellor said that out of 106 professors 26 were no longer on the staff, 13
were either foreign professors who left because of the trouble or Pakistanis
who had permission to go abroad. The other 13 including the Vice Chancellor
have left for India. As for the student body which
normally consists of about 1,500 students, 800 are students working on advance
degrees, are not required to attend class and can register between August 2 and
the first part of October. The remaining 700 should have registered on or about
August 2. The Vice Chancellor declined to indicate how many had in fact
registered, but said the number was very, very small. During an informal
discussion with the Vice Chancellor and two members of his staff, they
estimated that 500,000 people had lost their lives since March 3. They believed
that 5 million people had left for India of which the majority
were Hindus. They argued over who had started communal killings, the
Bengalis or the Biharis. They doubted seriously that
many refugees particularly Hindus would return. They were philosophical about
their colleagues who had gone to India and hoped they would be able "to
make out". They were certain this academic semester would be more or less
a loss but if things "settled down" they thought the serious students
would return. They did not believe a political solution is possible until
confidence and security in the province is restored. They deplored the censored
press and said a creditable radio and press is essential if the public is to be
informed of the everyday situation in the country. They felt the East Pakistan intellectuals had failed to give
proper leadership and were naive in their approach to East Pakistan's problems.
The Vice Chancellor was cautiously hopeful about the future,
but was certain that it would take at least a generation to recover from the
shock and bitterness generated by this fateful year. The two younger men were
less hopeful. They were fearful that India would attack Pakistan and even a greater bloodbath would
ensue.
They were grateful that the UN would be having a large staff
in East
Pakistan on
the theory that the more foreigners the better. (This view was expressed by
many others as well because they believe that the presence of foreigners curbs
the Army.)
Attitude Toward US:
Most officials and other citizens expressed appreciation for
the US position which they considered to be
one of attempting to stabilize the situation and to help alleviate human
suffering. On August 7., the press reported that the US had given $1 million to the UN to
help finance the UN staff in East Pakistan. Regarding this news, a banker remarked "now we can see
that your government has been working hard behind the scenes on a solution for
the problems here."
Two young Bengalis on separate occasions,
furiously asked why the US was supplying arms to Pakistan while the Bengalis are fighting for
their lives. They maintained that India was Bangla Desh's only friend. They condemned our efforts to get foodgrain to Pakistan in order to prevent starvation and
said Bengalis would rather die than have the MLA assisted. One said if the Mukti Bahini does not succeed the
Naxalites will. Both claimed the Mukti
Bahini was gaining strength and would soon be a match
for the Army. They probably represent the thinking of many of the Bengalis
their age, as well as others.
Note: Because of the irregular pouch service, this airgram has not been cleared with our Consulate General in
Dacca, but any comments it wishes to make
are, of course, welcome.
Farland
Source: The
American Papers (Secret and confidential India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Documents; page no – 650 - 656, The University Press.