§ Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many convictions for murder and other crimes of violence believed to have a political or racial motive were recorded against Eritreans and Italians, respectively, in each year of the British occupation; and how many unsolved murders of Eritreans and Italians, respectively, occurred during those years.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesThe following figures have been communicated to me by the Chief Administrator:
CONVICTIONS FOR MURDER AND OTHER CRIMES OF VIOLENCE BELIEVED TO HAVE A POLITICAL OR RACIAL (BUT NOT INTER-TRIBAL) MOTIVE — Eritreans (including Ethiopians) Italians 1946 … … 1 Nil 1947 … … 3 Nil 1948 … … 3 Nil 1949 … … 2 Nil
UNSOLVED MURDERS — Eritreans (including Ethiopians) Italians 1945 … … 2 Nil 1946 … … 7 1 1947 … … 15 Nil 1948 … … 17 4 1949 … … 26 14 These figures are inclusive of cases in which the Administration suspects the identity of the probable murderer but is unable to procure sufficient evidence 75W to prove a case in court. This is a particular difficulty in the case of "Shifta" attacks. I regret that the Chief Administrator is unable to supply similar information for earlier years.