1.
SV Supplies on trucks
0.06

2.
LV Plane on runway
0.16

3.
LV Crowds & officials with papers (4 shots)
0.37

4.
LV Planes on ground & officials (2 shots)
0.43

5.
LV Cargo handlers
0.46

6.
CU Customs man with forms
0.52

7.
LV Supplies on truck
1.00

8.
GV Warehouse
1.04

9.
SV Supplies into ware-house & men check papers (3 shots)
1.23

10.
SV Supplies into truck (2 shots)
1.28

11.
LV Truck away
1.32

12.
LV Building
1.34

13.
SV Officials (3 shots)
1.44

14.
LV Car towards building
1.50

15.
SV Soldier
1.53

16.
GV Governor of East Pakistan
2.01

17.
CU Governor
2.30


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 17: Governor: "You must understand, you have no doubt covered many civil and military operations that happen when a major calamity of this nature occurs. It is not possible for everything to go like clockwork. Far from it. I have mentioned to you that we have an enormous amount of relief pouring in and no government, I venture to suggest, is geared to cope with all these things as precisely as if it was a military operation."




Initials BB/JH/CO/0.30



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Allegations by observers that "Red-Tape" is seriously hampering urgent delivery of supplies to the disaster areas in East Pakistan have been coupled with incidences described as "utter bureaucracy". Foreign aid volunteers report being inundated with large numbers of forms which have to be completed before their vital shipments can be cleared and got to where they are desperately needed.

While supplies are pouring into East Pakistan from all over the world, it is alleged that they are not getting out to the devastated areas as quickly as they could - and should.

One of the major reasons for the delay is said to be bureaucracy, forms to be filled in, set procedures to be followed. It is further alleged that little or nothing has been done to cut through this red-tape in the current crises.

The Governor of East Pakistan, Admiral S.M. Ahsan, admits there have been delays.

This was a statement that Admiral. Ahsan made to foreign pressmen who had seen Norwegian relief plane land at Dacca Airport and spend hours standing on the runway while form after form was filled in an checked by Customs Officers.

Eventually the aircraft was unloaded, but even then its cargo was transferred to a warehouse where again it was offloaded from a truck, inspected, an inventory made, and then reloaded onto the truck which finally was allowed to set out for its destination where thousands of starving and sick people waited.

Criticism of Pakistan Government reaction to the disaster, where it is feared a quarter-of-a million people died, has been levelled at president Yahya Khan's administration by East Pakistani Political leader Sheik Mujibur Rahman. He spoke of the Governments "failure to discharge its obligations at every stage".

The Sheik said that "massive prompt action could have save thousands". President Yahya, who spent two days touring the disaster area, shrugged off the allegations. "Criticism is beside the point", he said. "Let us get on with the work. My job is to see that people are saved".