§ 19. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official position is now occupied by Mr. Attygalle, who, according to the depositions, as superintendent of police at Kal Eliya, Ceylon, on 5th June, 1915, had two men, Simon Perera and Jeeris Appu, arrested in their own home, and, without charge or trial, shot dead; why Mr. Attygalle has not been tried for this; and, if the depositions are doubted, why those who made them have not been tried?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Steel-Maitland)This officer is a superintendent of police. His work during the riots was fully examined by the Police Inquiry Commission in Ceylon and was highly commended, I see no ground for doubting that his action in this case was justified by the circumstances existing at the time, when martial law was in force.
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDIf the hon. Member had listened he would have heard me say they were justified by the circumstances existing at the time, when martial law was in force.
§ Mr. GINNELLDoes martial law justify a police officer in shooting civilians without trial?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDThe hon. Member might like to know that these two individuals were caught in the company of armed rioters, were identified as the murderers of a bed-ridden old man, and were leaders of a riotous mob, and further disturbances were threatened at the moment.
§ Mr. GINNELLWhat witnesses proved this and before what Court?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDI will ask the hon. Member to put down any further questions.
§ 20. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what notice has been taken of the conduct of Mr. E. G. Festing, Special Commissioner at Kalutara, Ceylon, in issuing a Proclamation there on 10th June, 1915, that persons disobeying orders would be shot as soon as seen; how many persons were shot without trial under this Proclamation; and what official position this Mr. Festing occupies now?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDI would invite reference to my reply to a similar question yesterday. Mr. Festing is an officer of the Ceylon Civil Service, and [...] see no reason to question his action in this matter.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe question yesterday had no reference to this man. The hon. Gentleman has not answered how many persons were shot without trial under this Proclamation, and where Mr. Festing now is?
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDThe hon. Member's question does not ask where Mr. Festing now is.
§ Mr. GINNELLYes; what position he occupies.
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDHe is an officer in the Ceylon Civil Service at this moment, and, as was stated yesterday, a Proclamation was issued saying these people would be liable to be shot under certain conditions, martial law being in force.
§ Mr. GINNELLHow does the hon. Gentleman distinguish this conduct from Hunnism?