Rift In Korean Junta Reported

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 15

Rift In Korean Junta Reported

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

SEOUL, May 22. Reports circulated in Seoul today of the first serious rift in South Korea’s military junta.

An authoritative report said marines and paratroopers occupying the capital since last week’s successful coup d’etat refused an order on Saturday to return to their camps outside Seoul. It could not be officially confirmed, said the Associated Press.

A source said the order came from the headquarters of Lieutenant-General Do Yung Chang, who has assumed the triple office of Defence Minister, Prime Minister, and chairman of the junta's Supreme Council for National Reconstruction.

ing the regime of President Syngman Rhee, who was overthrown last year, the Associated Press said. The junta yesterday swore in its new Cabinet, relaxed the curfew, fed the poor and continued mass arrests.

The source said marine and paratroop units occupying the capital were demanding more representation in the Government of young colonels and generals. One marine colonel, the Education Minister. Hi Suk Toon, sits on the 15-man Cabinet, and one marine brigadier-general and one colonel on the 30-member Supreme Council. Both bodies are dominated by Army men.

Only a few paratroopers and marines appeared on the streets. There were some concentrations at Government buildings, however, and no indications that any of the coup forces had returned to their original positions outside Seoul.

General Carter Magruder, commander of all United Nations forces in South Korea, was reported to have demanded that Korean troops used in the coup return to their original posts as soon as possible. The martial atmosphere continued in Seoul with a parade of about 5000 uniformed high school boys shouting slogans in support of the generals’ revolution. Former servicemen also demonstrated.

Just as the parade ended. General Chang went on the radio with an order to "stop all demonstrations immediately and please divert your time and energy to marching forward to a greater cause—rebuilding the nation's economy.

“All students, return to your campuses. Farmers, go back to your farms. Workers, return to your factories." Genera] Chang said. The parade of schoolboys marching in military ranks was reminiscent of staged political demonstrations dur-