Rangoon, Sept. 30.
The Senate was the scene of a heated debate when the Opposition approving lo manner in which moved a eachution "strongly clu. the Burma Defence Act and the rules thereunder were being administered,"
The Government, however, suf-vived the attack when the resolution. was thrown: out by 12 votes to eight.
In submitting the motion, U Kyaw 'Din, while' agreeing that the main el of the Act was extremely laudable, expressed the opinion that is administration had created a [soso of dissatisfaction in the country, He gave details of some of the prosecutions under the Act, and that the prosecution of Dr.
'Maw, ex-Premier, was the "result of political rivalry.' resolution, strong exception to U Pu, i er opposing the the motives attributed to the Government for instituting prosecutions under the Act. He compared the position in 1939 with that in the present year, and said the country was now quite peaceful bers use the Government was maintaining law and order.
Owing to the war, they were living }under extraordinary conditions. The Defence. of Burma rules were meant to meet contingencies. He denied that the Government was trying to stifle Public opinion or persecute the people, but if any attempt was made fo create trouble in the country, the Government must put the law into operation. 5 Every civilized Government, said the Premier, must maintain law and order and that was what they were doing. He added that the Government acted against Dr. Ba Maw not because he was a political rival but because he tried to hinder the Successful prosecution of the war.—Reuter, Defence Rules Prosecutions Rangoon, Sept. 30
In the House of. Representatives. the Home Minister stated that up to August 20, there had been 100 prosections under the Defence of Burma rules, in.24 of which convictions had been recorded.
During the same period 23 prosecu-ad been sanctioned for sedider the Indian Penal Code, in which conviction had been recorded so far.
"The Home Minister gave the names of 169 Indians (Hindus and Muslims) who had so far been ordered to leave Burma as a sequel to recent Hindu-Muslim riots.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.