HC Deb 02 May 1956 vol 552 cc370-1
31. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the emergency law in Cyprus prohibiting the carrying of arms, under penalty of death or imprisonment for life, applies equally to Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Mr. Hare

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Emergency Regulation 52, from which he will see that the Regulation applies to any person who carries arms without lawful authority.

Mr. Robinson

In that case, can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it comes about that a reputable correspondent reported that during the disorder in Cyprus about four weeks ago a Turk was seen openly brandishing a pistol and that the Security Forces took no action?

Mr. Hare

The hon. Gentleman will probably like to know that nine Turkish Cypriot private individuals have been given licences to carry personal arms. One of those may well be the Doctor Kutchuk who was, I think, the gentleman referred to in the newspaper report which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. We are in correspondence with the Governor about this, and I will certainly give the hon. Gentleman information as soon as we hear whether or not that assumption is correct.

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