Chicago Sun-Times

The dead lie by the thousands in the streets and burned buildings of Dacca, East Pakistan, murdered by their own army in one of the worst pogroms of modern times. An eyewitness description that appeared in the Sun- Times yesterday revealed to the world the sickening and blood-chilling slaughter of innocents. Civilized nations should react in horror.

Had the military government on President Yahya Khan had its way, the world would still not know the awful details of the massacre. When the shooting began, foreign journalists were rounded up at gun point and removed to West Pakistan, 900 miles away. Simon Dring of the London Daily Telegram and Associated Press photographer Michael Laurent evaded the roundup, made and extensive tour of the besieged city. Dring later sent his report from Bangkok, Thailand.

His report tells of the inhumanity on a magnitude unmatched by either side in Vietnam. Even at Lidice in World War II the Nazis spared women and children. At Dacca and nearby areas soldiers used tanks, artillery and machine guns on stores and houses, student dormitories, even the headquarters of the East Pakistan police. Women and children were burned to death in the houses.

And why had this punishment been visited upon the hapless people of East Pakistan who last November were hit by a catastrophic flood and cyclone? Because they have dared demand their rights under the new Pakistan constitution guaranteeing "basic democracy." With 75,000,000 inhabitants, East Pakistan has been dominated by West Pakistan with 55,000,000 inhabitants. When East Pakistan's Awami League gained control of parliament in December's election, President Yahya Khan suspended the parliament. East Pakistan thereupon declared its independence. The army moved in to "unite" the divided nation.

At the moment, the Pakistan flag flies over all buildings, the notion of independence is extinguished and the military rule. And "basic democracy" is dead.