CRIME WAVE IN BURMA

Evening Star, Issue 25813, 8 June 1946, Page 8

CRIME WAVE IN BURMA

ANTI-BRITISH PROPAGANDA RIFE

(Rec. 8 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. In Burma, excluding Rangoon, there had been 246 murders, 558 robberies with attempted murder, 785 robberies, and 347 cattle thefts in March alone, said Sir Basil Neven-Spence (Conservative), on a motion of adjournment in the House of Commons. He said the victims were mostly peaceful peasants. Unquestionably news was being sur>pressed of the large bands of dacoits which were roaming around beating up women, even children. Suppression of news was very dangerous, leading to wild- rumours. Government propaganda was conspicuously absent, while antiBritish propaganda was rife. AntiBritish feeling was flourishing in certain areas.

MILITARY REINFORCE POLICE

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. Mr Arthur Henderson, Under-Secre-tary for India, said it had been hoped to hold a general election in Burma in April and to establish a Ministry. The position regarding law and order was serious. Gangs with mortars and automatic rifles were indulging in guerrilla tactics, and normality could be restored only gradually. A (kind of " combined operations " was put in effect recently with some decree of success. Considerable use was being made of the military forces in order to offset the shortage of experienced police officers, recruitment of whom was proceeding. Firearms were being made available for village defence, and warnings against unlawful meetings or seditious speeches had been issued.