A Matter of Convenience

Since the liberation of Seoul last September, South Korean firing squads have been busy liquidating "enemies of the state"--Korean civilians accused of sabotage or collaboration with the Communists. With savage indifference, the military executioners shot men, women and children. Some people said that more than 700 civilians had already fallen before the guns of the R.O.K. troops. Others said the total was at least 800. Last week in Seoul, while U.S. and British troops voiced their loathing of the wholesale slaughter, three American clergymen--a Methodist and two Roman Catholics--made a formal protest.

In an indignant public statement they charged that many of the victims had no trials and had been shot without the consent of President Syngman Rhee or other civil officials. The clergymen appealed to the U.N. Commission in Korea to prevent any more "kangaroo court" executions.

Major General Lee Ho, Vice Chief of South Korea's Martial Law Headquarters, insisted that no one had yet been executed without due process of law. Civilians sentenced to death are supposed to be hanged, added Ho, "but we have found shooting by firing squad more convenient."

The ideas of convenience held by Lee Ho's men had disgraced the Korean government and disgusted its allies.

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