§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on arrests and convictions for political activity and evictions of Africans from their land and property which have been carried out by the illegal Rhodesian régime since the departure of the Pearce Commission from Rhodesia; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have made about these actions.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeSince 11th March, when the Pearce Commission left Rhodesia, three Africans have been convicted for possessing offensive weapons and materials. There have also been a number of convictions for criminal offences in cases outstanding from the riots which took place in January. But the Rhodesian authorities inform me that there have been no arrests for political activities since the departure of the Pearce Commission.
A number of squatters were recently removed from the African township of 65W Harari outside Salisbury on the grounds that their presence there constituted a threat to public health.
I have made no representations to the Rhodesian authorities about any of these matters.