Curfew bites in Bermuda

Press, 6 December 1977, Page 9

Curfew bites in Bermuda

NZPA-Reuter Hamilton, Bermuda

A dusk-to-dawn curfew clamped on Bermuda appeared to have curbed racial violence yesterday after . 200 British troops were flown to the holiday island, hit by three days of rioting. The police reported only two petrol bombs being thrown on Sunday night, the quietest night since hundreds of black youths rampaged through Hamilton on Thursday to protest against the execution of two convicted black murderers the next day. The night after the men were hanged, arsonists and rioters caused millions of dollars worth of damage. The men were found guilty of a string of political killings.

The Bermuda Government asked Britain for the troops on Saturday, fearing that its own forces were being: stretched to the limit.

The first plane-load arrived on Sunday from Belize, a British colony in Central America. A second, 150 riot-trained Royal Fusiliers with experience in maintaining order in Britain’s troubled province of Northern Ireland, flew in. from London shortly afterwards. The decision to bring in the British soldiers, who will be used only to back up local forces if necessary, was criticised by the Opposition Leader "(Mrs Lois Browne-Evans) as an overreaction.

"1 hope it will not create excitement in the veins of some people having trouble with police now,” she said.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Betley. over-all commander of the British soldiers, declined to speculate how long he thought his men would stay in Bermuda.

Major John Varney, commanding the troops from Belize, told reporters he thought the presence of the soldiers could add a touch of discipline. Many of the British soldiers are in their late teens and early 20s — about the same age as many of the rioters.

The troops were immediately taken in yellow school buses to the barracks of the local. Bermuda Regiment, whose units were moved to the island’s most luxurious hotel, the Mikthampton Princess, which was closed indefinitely four days ago latter a fire killed three persons there.