REBELLION BY PEASANTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28870, 15 April 1959, Page 8

REBELLION BY PEASANTS

Reported Clash In Rumania (N.Z. Press Association,—Copyright) LONDON, April 13. Men, women, and children are said to have been shot down ruthlessly by Communist militiamen during a revolt at Valea, Eastern Rumania, according td a dispatch from Munich in the "Daily Mail.” Peasants had rebelled against forced collectivisation of their farms and had driven Communists from the village, the newspaper said. News of the massacre had been given by refugees, who had just reached the West, the newspaper said. Several farmers, who for years had been resisting attempts to force them into the communal system were taken to the offices of the local council and beaten up and tortured, the refugees said, according to the "Daily Mail.” Other peasants seized pitchforks and axes and marched on the building. Most of the Communists fled. Those who did not Were beaten up by the enraged villagers. An army unit was sent to the village but refused orders to fire on the defiant peasants. Security forces were summoned, but a peasant climbed the church tower to toll the bell and when the forces arrived they found the whole population gathered in the village square, the newspaper said. Again the soldiers were ordered to fire on the rebels and again they refused. Militiamen then • seized the rifles and fired indiscriminately at the defiant crowd. Many villagers were arrested and the rebels’ properties were confiscated.

Refugees reported similar ruthless methods of "persuasion” being used in other parts of Rumania since July last year when all Soviet troops were withdrawn.