HC Deb 15 May 1962 vol 659 cc1137-8
23. Dr. A. Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the sentences passed on Mr. Jack Mosiane of the Basutoland General Workers Union, together with a number of other people, at the Maseru magistrates' court in Basutoland in March; and if he will give information about the law under which these sentences, including two of ten years' imprisonment, were passed.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

Yes, Sir. Mr. Jack Mosiane and fourteen others were found guilty in the High Court of Basutoland of public violence. This is an offence under the common law of Basutoland which is based on Roman-Dutch law. The convicted persons have applied to the court for leave to appeal out of time and the matter is therefore still sub judice.

Dr. Thompson

Will the Minister bear in mind that a sentence of ten years is a very savage sentence for an offence which would probably earn about three months in this country? Is he aware that in the situation the demonstration arose because the crowd wrongly assumed that the police, who were taking an African leader from the police station, were about to deport him to South Africa? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the real solution in this case is probably to amend the entry and residence Proclamation under which more refugees are now being deported to South Africa than previously? In view of the increasingly savage and repressive nature of the South African regime, will the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter again in order to give better protection to political refugees?

Mr. Maudling

This case is sub judice and therefore any comment at this stage would be quite improper.

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