Pakistan protest urged

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32612, 21 May 1971, Page 3

Pakistan protest urged

ID BARBER, N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

(From DAVi SINGAPORE, May 19. New Zealand should have sent aid to East Pakistan, registered an emphatic protest with the Islamabad Government against events in the nation, and called for an end to the conflict, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said tonight.

“By not taking any public stand, we can only blame ourselves if people think our silence is a wall of indifference,” he said in an interview. “Tens of thousands of people in East Pakistan are in dire need of assistance. 1 find it incomprehensible in the twentieth century that the rest of the world can regard it as none of its business.”

Mr Kirk, who is making a two-day stop in Singapore on his way home after a monjfilong European tour, said New

Zealand might be a small country and lack resources, but that did not absolve it from taking a stand. The Labour leader said he had planned to visit East Pakistan on his way home, but the trip had been called off because of the situation there. He said he had discussed the Pakistan question with interested people throughout Europe. “Attributing blame or offering criticism is profitless—what is important is _ that there should be some intercession, at least diplomatically, with a view to helping to re-establish order and to begin the rehabilitation of the affected people. “No country wishes to interfere in the domesic affairs of another,” he said. “But no country can avoid expressing horror and alarm at the inhumanities created by some conflicts.” On New Zealand’s attitude, Mr Kirk said: “New Zealand should be developing an initiative for humanity, and it: should not have hesitated to

have expressed an opinion on the situation. We were nowhere near as speechless or helpless on the invasion of Abyssinia in 1935. “This tragedy has killed and maimed more people than any earthquake, but we do not hesitate to send aid to the victims of earthquakes round the world. “I see no reason why some effort should not be made diplomatically to express concern about the continuing: situation in East Pakistan, I and to try to find some ra-[ tional basis for a settlement.” After talks with the Israeli Prime Minister (Mrs Golda Meir) and other officials dur-’ ing a three-day visit to Israel, Mr Kirk said the reopening of the Suez Canal might be much nearer than had been envisaged. “The re-opening of the canal is vitally important to negotiations for a settlement of the Middle East question. It would be the best contri-j bution to a firmer continu-i ance of the .present situation of ‘non-war’;”