Waiouru “Riot” Quelled

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29984, 20 November 1962, Page 16

Waiouru “Riot” Quelled

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 19. Two men were “shot” in Waiouru Camp this afternoon as the Army moved in to quell 600 “rioters” attempting to attack the civil administration buildings.

This incident is described in a supplied statement from the Army Information Service on the annual exercise “Reflex One.” The men “shot” were two ringleaders of unruly crowds of camp staff and national servicemen who roamed the camp streets as Waiouru became a small South-east Asian town for the day, says the statement Today—for the purposes of the exercise—was a religious holiday in Waiouru and the motley “civilian population." colourfully dressed and excited, paraded the streets in festival mood. But tempers turned ugly during the morning as political agitators

moved among the townsmen to stir them into resentment against the administration staff and the troops camped outside the town.

A show of force by a platoon of infantry was sufficient to disperse the crowd and the morning ended quietly. Soon after lunch crowds began to assemble at several points and, urged on by the agitators, began to congregate with the aim of attacking and burning down the ad. ministrative buildings. The civil police had lost control of the situation and the town magistrate, played by the camp administration officer. Major J. S. Manning, sent an argent request to the field force for help. A platoon of soldiers quickly responded but was met with a shower of rotten fruit and vegetables with which the rioters were plentifully supplied. The movement around the camp proved too much for one platoon to handle and a second platoon was called into action, to collect its share of fruit and jets from the fire hoses the mob had brought into the fray. The troops moved into the town in utility vehicles and

scout cars with loud bailers and warning signs, which were ignored. Finally, to prevent the crowd attacking, the order to fire was given and the troops opened up with their FN rifles, “shooting" two of the ringleaders. This had the desired effect and the situation was soon under control.

Flamboyant clothing and the presence of wives of camp staff among the "rioters” added realism to the incidents. The big number of potential rioters was kept a secret from the field force until it was called on to go into action.

The camp staff and national servicemen “rioters" entered into their parts with enthusiasm and found that the troops offered a satisfying target for their large stocks of over-ripe fruit and vegetable ammunition.

The riot gave the field force soldiers an extremely practical test in riot control procedures which might be called for at any' time during the type of field operations being practised during exercise “Reflex One." The exercise is now into its second week and will end on November 26.