§ 15. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will report on the recent sentences of caning in the Aden prison, details of which have been sent to him by the honourable Member for Dundee, East; and what action he proposes to take.
§ 21. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on whose instructions the trade union prisoners in Aden jail were caned.
§ 29. Mr. Oramasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further inquiries he has made into the caning of trade union prisoners in Aden; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. SandysOn the authority of the Superintendent of Prisons, five prisoners were caned on 12th November, and four on 13th November for acts of concerted insubordination. The regulations were duly observed except for the fact that, 197 in the case of the first five, the Superintendent regrettably overlooked the rule that there should be an interval of 24 hours before such sentences are carried out.
Before this occurrence, the Governor had already been asked to review the provisions for corporal punishment for prison offences; and the Executive Council has decided to make certain amendments. Henceforth offences for which such punishment may be awarded will be restricted to mutiny, repeated assault on another prisoner and attacks on a prison officer. Sentences will require to be confirmed by the chief magistrate.
§ Mr. ThomsonI welcome the changes made in that respect in the prison regulations, but is the Minister aware that, as these people were imprisoned for political offences, this was a very serious breach of regulations? Is he further aware that the four men caned on the second day were caned after having been on hunger strike for 24 hours? In those circumstances, will not he institute an inquiry into the administration of the prison and, if necessary, take disciplinary action against those responsible?
§ Mr. SandysI said in my Answer that the regulations relating to medical examination had been carried out—or, if I did not say that, I said that all the regulations had been carried out, and they include medical examination. As for disciplinary action, the only person who might be considered in that connection would be the Superintendent. The Governor has decided that no further action is required in this case. He has gone fully into the matter. After visiting the prison myself—I took the opportunity when I was at Aden the other day —and speaking to the Superintendent, I am satisfied that that decision is entirely correct.
§ Mr. DugdaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he cannot just say that it is entirely the fault of the Superintendent? Is he aware that the announcement of the first lot of callings was made over the radio and that the Governor can have no excuse that he knew nothing about them? Is he aware that the second lot of callings did not occur until 24 hours afterwards and that the Governor did nothing whatever to stop the second lot, and that, if anybody is to 198 blame, the Governor is as much to blame as the Superintendent?
§ Mr. SandysNo breach of regulations took place in regard to the second canings. It was only on the first ones where the delay of 24 hours prescribed by the regulations was not observed. The second canings were carried out fully in conformity with the regulations.
§ Mr. OramWill the right hon. Gentleman go further into the question of the medical examination in this case? Is he aware that on a recent visit to Aden I was informed by some of the men who were caned that five of them on the first day had been declared fit for punishment but that five had been declared unfit and that the five declared unfit were subsequently caned 22 hours later, despite the fact that they had had no food in the interval? Is not this prima facie scandalous? If they were unfit on the first occasion, then surely after a day without food they were unfit on the second occasion. Can the right hon. Gentleman feel satisfied that the second decision was taken on purely medical grounds and that no other authorities had intervened in the meantime?
§ Mr. SandysIt is no good my expressing a view about the fitness of people who were examined some weeks ago in Aden, but I have no reason whatsoever to suppose that the doctor did not act in strict conformity with the high principles of his profession.
§ Mr. W. YatesAs my right hon. Friend has since seen this prison and the conditions himself, does he not now agree that the Governor is responsible for the prison and his Administration are solely and absolutely to blame fl or what occurred?
§ Mr. HealeyDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the caning of political prisoners for going on hunger strike as a protest against what they believe to be the refusal of the prison administration to have one of their number given dental attention is a clear example of political intimidation? In view of the fact that the Governor of Aden should have known about these callings, or at least the second series, for the first series was announced on the radio before the 199 second series took place, is there not a clear dereliction of duty? Will the right hon. Gentleman not take some stops to inform the Governor of Aden that the people of this country are most concerned that such a violation of justice should be committed in their name? [An HON. MEMBER: "Express regret."]
§ Mr. SandysThe hon. Member is making a great deal of a very simple breach of the regulations. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] The breach was that in the case of five out of the nine prisoners the delay imposed by the regulations of 24 hours before the caning was not observed. That is the extent of the complaint. As for talking about political prisoners, these people were serving a sentence imposed by the court for an offence against the law. [HON. MEMBERS: "A demonstration."] The offence which they committed in the prison was not just a hunger strike. It was also refusal to do work in the prison which all other prisoners are required to do.
§ Mr. DugdaleIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.