Bribery used to weaken the Communist Terrorists

During the Malayan Emergency Government Forces air-dropped propaganda leaflets into the jungle  to encourage the Communist Terrorists (CTs) to leave the jungle and give up their weapons and/or their comrades. This one was dropped in 1953 and the Chinese text reads:

"If any member of the Malayan Communist Party is able to leave the jungle and bring out a Bren gun, or able to lead the Peace Keeping Forces to unearth a hidden Bren gun that he or she knows about, he will be eligible for a $1,000 reward. Receive a $1,000 reward to start a new life!"

In an earlier post on this blog I covered Psychological Warfare of the Malayan Emergency.  It worked and played a significant part in weakening the CTs.  As the Emergency dragged on, every weapon lost to them was hard to replace as their was no way for the CTs to engage with sympathetic governments (such as the People's Republic of China) outside Malaya - a major difference to the situations in Vietnam and Korea at the time.  Government forces had a stranglehold on the CT supply lines and used  leaflets such as this to attack them from within.

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Psychological Warfare of the Malayan Emergency

During my research for the book I found a fascinating paper on the psychological warfare used by the British led forces during the Malayan Emergency.  Prepared by Herbet A. Friedman it gives an excellent insight into the measures taken to weaken, isolate and ultimately starve the Communist Terrorists.  It is also well illustrated with a lot of photographs from the time (from both sides) and also with reproductions of Maps, Posters and Leaflets.

One remark that I found interesting, and that is attributed to an Australian Soldier is:

'Terrorists who were caught were treated like murderers, while those who surrendered were treated like kings.'

There are also some humerous quotes relating to General Templer.  Noel Barber is said to have given the following account after Templer visited a nearby village after a guerilla ambush:

'You're a bunch of bastards,' shouted Templer; and Rice, who spoke Chinese, listened carefully as the translator announced without emotion: 'His Excellency informs you that he knows that none of your mothers and fathers were married when you were born.'

Templer waited, then pointing a finger at the astonished villagers to show them who was the 'Tuan,' added 'You may be the bastards, but you'll find out that I can be a bigger one.'  Missing the point of the threat completely, the translator said politely, 'His Excellency does admit, however, that his father was also not married to his mother.'

To read the whole of Friedman's paper see http://www.psywar.org/malaya.php