HC Deb 13 June 1973 vol 857 cc1475-7
20. Mr. Soref

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts have been made to secure the release of Mr. Percy Cleaver, a British journalist arrested in Tanzania on 3rd July 1972, and subsequently held in prison.

Lord Balniel

None, Sir. Mr. Cleaver has been charged with an offence under Tanzanian law and it would not be right to attempt to intervene in Tanzanian judicial processes.

Mr. Soref

I thank my right hon. Friend for his observations. Is it not a fact that Mr. Percy Cleaver has been in detention for almost a year in Tanzania, and that the trial has only just come up? Is it not also a fact that he has been prevented during the trial from reading the indictment, which the public are prevented from hearing? Has he been provided with an adequate defence? Is not the situation of Mr. Cleaver far more dangerous than that endured by Mr. Peter Niesewand, though there have been no protests in the House or the media in this country about the dire straits in which Mr. Cleaver, a British citizen, has found himself for more than 11 months?

Lord Balniel

The time taken in bringing Mr. Cleaver to trial was a matter in the hands of the Tanzanian authorities, but the high commission made frequent representations to them about it. Mr. Cleaver was charged on 12th February The trial started on 4th June and has now been adjourned until 23rd July. Mr. Cleaver has a lawyer and counsel of his own choice. The difference between his case and the Niesewand case is that the United Kingdom has constitutional responsibilities for Southern Rhodesia but not for Tanzania.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is there not another difference? Is not Mr. Cleaver a British citizen, and is not Mr. Niesewand a Southern Rhodesian citizen?

Lord Balniel

I should like time to confirm that, but Mr. Cleaver certainly is a British subject. There are many differences between the two cases. In the Niesewand case no details of charges or judgment were produced. In this case the details of charges have been made publicly available.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Do not the Government have responsibility for a number of British subjects who have been detained in Southern Rhodesia without trial for many years? Are the Government any less concerned about them because they happen to have black skins?

Lord Balniel

Of course not.