News stories from Sunday February 6, 1972
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Catholics defied a ban and marched in Newry, Northern Ireland, to protest the killing of 13 civilians by British soldiers during a similar march last Sunday in Londonderry. Two thousand British troops prepared for the march and police manned the barricades. Organizers emphasized non-violence and avoiding confrontations; the march was accomplished with no confrontations. Protest leader Rory McShane says that no more demonstrations are planned because the point has been made. He noted that the struggle in Northern Ireland is not just between the British army and the IRA, rather it is a mass of Irish people against the Unionist system.
British Prime Minister Edward Heath is appealing for negotiations between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland; Pope Paul prayed for peace.
[NBC] - In Calcutta, India, Bangladesh leader Sheik Mujibur Rahman attacked the U.S. for having supplied West Pakistan while its troops committed atrocities against the Bengali people. More mass graves of the victims of atrocities have been found. [NBC]
- A U.S. observation helicopter was shot down over the South Vietnamese Central Highlands. Saigon is preparing for North Vietnam's Tet offensive. [NBC]
- Xuan Thuy, the North Vietnamese delegate to the Paris Peace Talks, said that prior to President Thieu's re-election in South Vietnam, Communists were willing to separate military and political settlements. But now North Vietnam insists that the U.S. drop its support of Thieu prior to any agreements. Secretary of State Rogers denied this, saying that North Vietnam has never agreed to separate settlements. [NBC]
- Career diplomat Llewellyn Thompson died. [NBC]
- Illinois legislator John Connally, head of the National Legislative Conference, says that state government has changed for better since the Supreme Court's "one-man, one-vote" reapportionment rule. [NBC]
- Two lawsuits in federal court could determine the fate of family farms. In the Imperial Valley of California, deserts were tamed with irrigation into the nation's richest farm land. Irrigation canals were built with help from the federal government under the Reclamation Act of 1902. Those laws are now being overlooked by corporate farmers, making it difficult for small farmers to compete. [NBC]
- Shippers and Longshoremen continued negotiations in San Francisco, trying to reach a settlement before Congress imposes one. [NBC]
- Palestinian guerrillas set fire to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. [NBC]
- France gave Israel $75 million as a refund for Mirage jets which were ordered seven years ago but never delivered. [NBC]
- Jury selection is scheduled to be completed in the trial of Reverend Philip Berrigan and six co-defendants. [NBC]
- Amtrak is trying to revive passenger train service in the United States, adding bars and bands to its $60 weekend special from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, If trial runs are successful, Amtrak will continue the service. [NBC]