Situation report on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech

Transcript

PAKISTAN

SITUATION REPORT

(Up to 0930 hours on 8 March)

We now have a fuller account of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech in Dacca on 7 March. We still do not have a text. But it is clear that Mujib has set 5 conditions for his participation in the Assembly Meeting proposed by President Yahya Khan for 25 March. The conditions are:

1. Withdrawal of all troops to barracks
2. No further firing on civilians;
3. No further military reinforcement from West Pakistan;
4. No military interference in the working of Bangla Desh Government;
5. Maintenance of law and order to be left exclusively to the Police and Bengali Rifles (East Pakistanis) (A press report mentions also assistance by Awami League Volunteers).
6. Mujib also named an enquiry into “murders” committed in the past week by the military forces. He said his immediate goal was termination of marshall [martial] law and the transfer of power to elected representatives. Meanwhile the non-violent, non-co-operation movement must continue. In the coming week this would entail:
7. No payment of taxes
8. Government offices and Courts to remain closed
9. Rail and port workers to cease work if they are used for mobilising forces of repression
10. Bengali “radio television, newspapers” not to co-operate in suppressing news of People’s Movement
11. Telephone to work only for calls within East Pakistan
12. Banks to make no remittances within West Pakistan
13. All buildings to hoist black flags daily and
14. Further Hartal [mass protest or strike] to be declared at any moment depending on the situation
15. Liberation Committees to be formed in every village under local Awami League leaders.