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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 37, Number 2. 13th March 1974

Death penalty for aiding guerrilas

Death penalty for aiding guerrilas

The Smith regime is to introduce the death penalty for aiding guerrillas or for failing to report their presence to the authorities. It will also be an offence punishable by hanging to undergo guerrilla training or to recruit people for guerrilla training.

Amendments to the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act tabled by 'Minister of Justice, Law and Order', Desmond Lardner-Burke, increase the maximum penalty for terrorism and acts of sabotage to life imprisonment or death.

The Minister is also to have increased powers to prevent political meetings. At present he can ban any gathering for three months by publishing a notice in the Government Gazette. A new amendment increases this period to 12 months.

A 16-year-old African faces the death penalty if he is convicted on charges brought against him in the Salisbury High Court of being involved in a guerrilla attack in which a white farmer's wife died.

He is alleged to have taken part in an attack on a farm in the Centenary area on January 24. Guerrillas are said to have thrown four hand grenades into the farmer's house, one of which killed Mrs Gertruda Kleynhands.

The case—like previous guerrilla trials—is being heard in camera and the name of the accused has been withheld.

Another white woman was killed in a landmine explosion near Cenenary on September 2. She was the wife of a policeman who had recently moved into the area.

In another explosion later the same week three more people—one white and two Africans were injured.