Maj. Gen. Gowon Speaks about the Progress of the "Police Action" against Biafra | Jul. 12th 1967 скачать в хорошем качестве

Maj. Gen. Gowon Speaks about the Progress of the "Police Action" against Biafra | Jul. 12th 1967

In an interview conducted on July 12th 1967, Major General Yakubu Gowon gives a progress report on the "police action" taken by the federal side after the declaration of secession by the Eastern Region led by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu. TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEWER: "CAN I ASK YOU FIRST SIR AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, HOW IS THE CAMPAIGN GOING?" GOWON: "VERY WELL INDEED. THE REPORTS I HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT THE OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING. THE BOYS ARE MOVING STEADILY BUT SURELY ... I THINK THOSE WHO ARE USED TO OPERATIONS AND BATTLE LIKE THIS WOULD KNOW THE REASON WHY, OR THE NEED FOR MOVING SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY AS MY BOYS ARE DOING AT THE MOMENT. BUT CERTAINLY THEIR PROGRESS HAS BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING AND VERY GOOD INDEED." INTERVIEWER: "ALTHOUGH IT IS A POLICE ACTION, THE WORLD MAY SEE IT AS A CIVIL WAR. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMAGE OF NIGERIA IN THIS RESPECT?" GOWON: "YES, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMAGE OF NIGERIA. THAT'S WHY I'VE ALWAYS SAID, IF THIS OPERATION IS TO BE DONE, IT MUST BE DONE NEATLY. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED I'M NOT FIGHTING AN OUTSIDE ENEMY - MY ONLY TASK IS TO CRUSH A REBELLION, AND THEREFORE THE SOLDIERS, I EXPECT THEM TO BEHAVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY CODE, MY OPERATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH LAYS DOWN THE PRINCIPLES, OR HOW IN FACT THEY SHOULD BEHAVE DURING THE OPERATIONS. I CAN SHOW YOU SOME OF THE WEAPONS THEY HAVE GOT, RATHER, A VERY NEAT JOB. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE ... WHAT MAKE THIS IS, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE SHOWN IT." INTERVIEWER: "IT'S AN UNUSUAL TYPE.............." GOWON: "BUT VERY LIGHT, VERY EFFECTIVE ... AUTOMATIC ...." INTERVIEWER: "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR". GOWON: "THANK YOU VERY MUCH". Source: Reuters News.