HC Deb 28 October 1971 vol 823 cc441-2W
67. Miss Lestor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had regarding those political prisoners detained in Rhodesia since the Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

Mr. Kershaw

We shall bear in mind the position of political detainees if our exploratory exchanges should lead to negotiations for a settlement. Meantime, these exchanges must remain confidential.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations British Government representatives at present in Rhodesia have made concerning the treatment of Mr. Nimrod Khunalo in prison in Bulawayo.

Mr. Kershaw

The exchanges in Salisbury must in general remain confidential. We have, however, now seen a copy of the post-mortem report on the late Mr. Khumalo which shows that he died from purulent meningitis. The Rhodesian medical officer who performed the autopsy, and who is independent of the Rhodesian police and prison services, has confirmed that the body bore no signs of ill-treatment. The cause of death was confirmed by a second doctor.