§ 69. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the concern of British Servicemen in Korea and of people in this country at the mass executions of prisoners, including women, by South Korean firing squads; and what further action he has taken to end this unsatisfactory state of affairs.
§ 79. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a full statement on the shootings of political prisoners and suspects by South Korean police and North Korean guards employed by the unified command; approximately how many civilians have been killed without trial in this way; what action has been taken to prevent a recurrence of these incidents, and with what result; and in what circumstances and from what sources the North Korean guards were recruited.
§ 83. Mr. Anthony Greenwoodasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government in respect of atrocities committed by South Korean Forces.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesI apologise for the length of the answer. I would refer my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale (Mr. Anthony Greenwood) to replies given to Questions on 20th November and 4th December last. As regards executions carried out by South Korean authorities, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Korea made representations to the Republic of Korea on 19th December. A statement was issued by the United Nations Commission in Korea on 21st December and public statements were made by President Syngman Rhee and his Minister of Justice on 21st and 22nd December. I understand that steps have since been taken to implement the amnesty declared 576 by the President and my right hon. Friend does not consider that any further action is called for.
As regards executions carried out by guards recruited from the local population in North Korea, I am informed that the persons shot at Sariwon in December last had also been tried and convicted according to law. The guards in question were employed by the Korean civil administrators set by occupying United Nations Forces. Civil administrators were selected from local people reputed not to have collaborated actively with the Communist régime, and they, in turn, appointed as guards persons whom they considered suitable.
§ Mr. DribergCan my hon. Friend say that British officers and other ranks who have intervened to prevent these disgraceful brutalities will have the full support of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. DaviesYes, certainly. It was following the intervention of British troops, or representations by British troops, that further representations were made by His Majesty's Government.