TORTURE OF UKRANIANS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 January 1933, Page 9

TORTURE OF UKRANIANS

LATE EDITION

PERSECUTION BY POLES FIENDISH CRUELTY ALLEGED INNOCENTS PUT TO DEATH. EXTORTION OF CONFESSIONS. (United Presß Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) Received 11.50 a.m. to-day. LONDON, .Tan. 27.

Tlae “'Sun ” says the Poles "have organised a systematic, deliberate oppression of the Ukrainians. This the •League Assembly •is shortly expected to consider. It became much worse last year. The persecution varies from petty obstruction and chicanery to barbarious inhumanities on prisoners which the western mind can hardly conceive. Yet they are commonplaces in Polish Ukraine.

Five lads under 20 ycass of age who were tried at Prezemysl for belonging to a Nationalist organisation confessed after torture in which the hair was pulled out. They were not allowed to sleep for nights. The soles of their feet were. beaten. This is one of the most common tortures in the prisons, the pain being excruciating. Another Ukrainian named Kasaek, who was suspected of complicity in the murder of a Polish politician was tied to a beneh face downwards. His feet were wrapped in wet rags and the •soles of hbj. feet were beaten. This system, though it inflicts intolerable agony leaves no scar. Kassack was then turned over and beaten on the stomach. lie was gagged and water was poured into his nostrils until the stomach was distended and the sensations of drowning were produced. Details of other tortures applied to peasants suspected of Nationalism are unprintable. Even children were arrested. It is alleged that there were over 100 executions last year for political offences whereof many were innocent.