§ 9. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sentences have recently been imposed on the Mayor of Limassol, Cyprus; and what were the offences involved.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThe mayor of Limassol was sentenced on 26th November to three months' imprisonment for taking part in an illegal procession. This was his eighth conviction under the Cyprus Assemblies, Meetings and Processions Law since 1943, and his third this year.
§ Mr. PiratinDoes not the Minister consider it is making a farce of democracy if in Cyprus local elections are permitted whereby a mayor is elected, and then that mayor may not take part in a procession in his own town?
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsNo, I think it is making democracy work; he had a permit for a meeting, but not for a procession.
§ Sir Peter MacdonaldDoes the hon. Member know what is happening behind the Iron Curtain?
§ Mr. PiratinYou worry about what you are doing.
§ Mr. DonnerHaving regard to the responsibility of his office, is it not a fact that the Mayor of Limassol was treated very leniently in view of the criminal acts of which he was guilty?
§ Mr. Martin LindsayMay we have an assurance that he will not, in due course, be made Secretary of State for War?
§ Dr. SegalIs not the hon. Member aware that the Mayor of Limassol is a far more extreme and militant Communist than the hon. Member who asked this Question?