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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Student's Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 5. April 2 1968

Press Bias

Press Bias

Newspapers in New Zealand, and around the world, ran harrowing photographs of the mother and the fiancee of Victor Mlambo. Photographs of two of the murderers, wearing handcuffs and looking forlorn, were also run.

No photographs of Mr. or Mrs. Oberhozer, or of the incinerated African chief were shown. The world's press did not consider the mere victims of murder to be of interest—or perhaps they would not whip up enough enthusiasm in anti-Rhodesia circles.

At 7.22 p.m., March 11, Francis Chirisa and Takauraye Jeremiah were hanged in Salisbury. They had murdered a sub-chief in his sleep, and had been sentenced to death on February 6, 1965.

Francis and Takauraye were not executed because they were black-skinned. They died because they had committed a common-law murder.

In this context it is interesting to remember the fate of a white Rhodesian farmer who murdered one of his African labourers a short time ago. He was not sentenced to a few years of imprisonment, nor was he released.

As a convicted murderer, that farmer was hanged.

No cries of protest from the Pope, from Mr. Wilson, from Mr. Kirk, or from U Thant were heard. Perhaps this was because he had been hanged. Perhaps if he had been sentenced to life imprisonment there would have been protests at the leniency of the punishment.

Anyone who finds it difficult to believe that respected church leaders could call for a man's death would do well to remember the remarks of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Ramsey.

Dr. Ramsey, and the five canons of Westminster, called for the use of military force to settle the Rhodesian question. Far more than five people would have been killed.