TERENCE GAVAGHAN AND THE KENYAN EMERGENCY

Early day motion 697, tabled 22 January 2007 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 18 members.

That this House expresses its disgust at the conduct of Terence Gavaghan, former British Colonial Senior Officer in charge of the detention camps during the Kenyan emergency; notes that he was responsible for administering so-called dilution techniques, which in his own words included putting a person resisting him on the ground, placing a foot on his throat, stuffing mud in his mouth, and if resistance could not be broken, knocking him unconscious; expresses its concern that no attempt has been made to bring Gavaghan to justice; and calls on the Government to institute a public inquiry into the conduct of the British Colonial administration during the 1950s Kenyan emergency, and the Attorney General to refer the case of Gavaghan to the police for investigation with a view to prosecution for crimes against humanity.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Liberal Democrat 4, Conservative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.