§ 36. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the declared policy of the Kenya Government to encourage confessions of a voluntary character only from those suspected of Mau Mau association, he will advise that the practice of sending official letters to friends of detainees urging the stimulation of confessions in the material interest of dependants should be discontinued.
§ Mr. HareSuch a practice would be contrary to established policy. If the hon. Member will send me any evidence he has of such letters, I will look into it and see that the practice is stopped.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I inform the right hon. Gentleman that I have in my hand a letter from the rehabilitation officer of the Lamo district relating to a prisoner who has been found not guilty of association with Mau Mau but nevertheless kept in detention, and who is known and respected by many hon. Members of this House? May I tell the right hon. Gentle. man that this letter is written to a friend of this man in London who is advised to urge him to make a confession because his family suffers and lives in poverty? Is not that the lowest possible form of pressure to exert in order to secure a political confession?
§ Mr. HareAs I have already told the hon. Member, I will certainly look into the details of this case, but by Kikuyu custom confession is the only means by which people can free themselves of a curse. Hence, many former Mau Mau adherents seek to cleanse themselves in this way.