HC Deb 30 January 1956 vol 548 cc85-6W
Mr. D. Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement about the fighting which broke out recently between the Habr Yunis and the Habr Toljalla; how many persons were involved, and how many were killed; how many of these were British-protected persons, and how many were natives of Ethiopia; what instructions were given to the British liaison officer regarding his intervention; and what assistance is being given, or offered, to the Ethiopian police to maintain order.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Despite many attempts to maintain peace by negotiations and settlement, there has for some time been tension between the Habr Yunis and Habr Toljaala, and there was fighting between them south of the Protectorate border during the last ten days of October. The British liaison officer attempted to stop the fighting, but, under the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement of November, 1954, only a small force of tribal police could be used outside the Protectorate. The Ethiopian police did not intervene in the fighting nor were Ethiopian subjects involved. Following these fights the tribes moved back across the border into the Protectorate where

1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955; and what is the estimated amount, by volume, in the calendar year 1956.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Latest available information is given in the following table:

Government Security Forces were patrolling. After an enquiry under the Collective Punishment Ordinance, a fine of 150,000 shillings was imposed on each tribe, but before it could be collected a short but fierce engagement took place on 21st November within the Protectorate. The presence of large security forces enabled this fight to be broken up rapidly and continued patrolling has been able to prevent further clashes. Continued attempts are being made to effect a general settlement. The number of men engaged in the fighting has varied between three and five hundred on either side at any one time; the total number of persons killed since the beginning of October is 112.

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