The True 'reasons' for the Pulau Senang Riot of 1963.

Many could have read about the reasons given in the media for the deadly riots at Pulau Senang on 12th July 1963.( please refer to my posting on 31st Dec).
There were reports of hard labour and long hours of work on the island for the hardcore inmates. There was also reports of the feeling amongst the inmates that the system of detention with little hope of release was unfair and biased. Corruptions and favouritism were also among the reasons.
While I agree with all the above reasons,the underlying causes were more insidious.
As far as my sources were concerned, the anger brought about by the officers and warders were intolerable, to the extent the inmates were willing to die to avenge what these staff had done to some of them.
I was told of staff (officers and warders) who had demanded sex from the inmates' wives and girlfriends.
There were also demands and offers of bribes in the way of gifts and cash.
Those ,whose wives or girlfriends did not meet the staff's demands would be severely disadvantaged.
They would be woken up in the middle of the night to repair buildings, accommodations,roads etc. which were damaged by storms and other acts of nature.
Reports on their conducts would also be unfavourable, which means their chances of release would also be zero.
For those who complied with the staff's terms and demands,they received favours like having better conduct reports,more cigarettes,longer rest periods,lesser work etc.
These unfair and unscrupulous practices angered the inmates who then planned to riot and killed all the staff.
Some of the targeted staff managed to escape unharmed by hiding themselves.
When the superintendent was caught by the inmates,they not only hacked him to death. They dug out his eyes and cut off his genitals and shoved them into his mouth.
What a way to die for superintendent Dutton and his two other staff?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

These people were so brutal!

Anonymous said...

Brutal? Its an understatement!

Anonymous said...

what happened to daniel duttons wife