HC Deb 16 June 1899 vol 72 cc1335-6
MR. HERBERT ROBERTS

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the disgraceful outrage upon a Burmese lady, which was committed by from twelve to sixteen men of the West Kent Regiment at Rangoon on 2nd April last; whether the civil authorities are powerless to discover the culprits because the soldiers refuse to give evidence; whether he is aware that some forty men were either witnesses of or participants in the outrage, and that the regimental authorities have so far made no arrests; and, whether he will cause an immediate inquiry to be made into the matter. As the noble Lord answered a similar question last Tuesday, perhaps he will kindly state if any additional facts have transpired.

LORD G. HAMILTON

On Monday last I fully answered this question in reply to the hon. Member for South Mayo, and I must refer the hon. Gentleman to that answer. I stated that every means at the disposal both of the civil and military authorities in Rangoon would be used for the purpose of bringing the perpetrators of this disgraceful outrage to justice.

MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)

Is it the intention of the Government to allow this regiment to remain at Rangoon after such a cowardly outrage?

LORD G. HAMILTON

I think that question is hardly germane to the question on the paper. A court of inquiry is now investigating the facts, and until its report has been received it is impossible to say what action should be taken; but the occurrence does not reflect well on the state of discipline in the regiment.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

Have none of the culprits been detected?

LORD G. HAMILTON

One man has already been tried, and has been acquitted, the judge concurring in the acquittal. A court of inquiry was directed to be instituted by the Government of India in order to ascertain, if possible, the culprits, who have hitherto escaped detection.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Is it a fact that the unfortunate woman who was the victim of this outrage is now dead?

LORD G. HAMILTON

I have not heard that.