HANDLING OF RIOTS IN SINGAPORE HAS BEEN CRITICISED

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 December 1950, Page 5

HANDLING OF RIOTS IN SINGAPORE HAS BEEN CRITICISED

SINGAPORE, Dec. 19 (Recd. 10.20 pm).—The Singapore Government was determined that there would be no repetition in the colony of last week’s tragic riots, the Colonial Secretary, Mr W. L. Blythe, told the Legislative Council today. “If there are to be victims they will be from the ranks of those defying authority, and not from those upholding it,” he said. Mr Blythe added that this was no “declaration of war" but a declaration of determination to defend and maintain civic peace. People who were responsible for lashing a mob into a state of frenzy, as well as 400 others had been arrested. Earlier, members of the Council had attacked the Government, police and local press in connection with the riots. Dr. Nazir Mallal said he condemned the Government as much as he condemned the people who took part in the riots. “The police did nothing whatever to prevent attacks on innocent civilians, ’ he said. “The public’s confidence in Singapore’s police force has been shattered.” Mr C. Tan, leader of the Progressive Party, said the police in most cases showed a “passivity which at times almost amounted to paralysis. It was a disgraceful thing that the Army had to be called upon. What was the use of a police force numbering more than 5000 if it was unable to quell a band of rioters without firearms?—Reuter.