LIBERATION
313/315, Caledonian Ruad
London, N.1
HKG 386/1
Tel: 01 607 10465)
13 FEB 1978
DESK OPP: INDEX
FA
No
J.J.
2.51
USTRY tuon Taken
The Rt. Hon.Dr.David Owen, M.P.
Secretary of State,
Fereign & Commonwealth Office, Downing Street, S.W. 1
Dear Sir,
&l
See
(121) Submission
see (34) reply
74
President: Fenner Brockway. Chairman: Stan Newens, M.P.
January 1978
1) Ack, reply to follow 2) HK acion. to draft
Hkalen. reply for secretary
16/1
in consultation with SW 16. Dawid Stephen.
BERMUDA EXECUTIONS
Our Executive Committee at its December 1977
Meeting considered a report on the wicked executions of Erskins Burrows and Larry Tacklyn, two black Bermudans on December 2, 1977 - that is, in a British colony, whereas we in Britain have abolished the death penalty since 1965 for crime, excepting treason and piracy.
LIBERATION is committed to the U.N. declaration on
the granting of Independence (1960) and the Special Committee of 24 on Decolonisation (1961) and fights for the total
abolition of all colonialism in particular its heritage
of racial discrimination. We do not have enough information now to question the judicial process involved in the trial of these two British citizens, but we are most concerned that they should be executed in the name of our Government.
BERMUDA is a colony, and although there has been some devolution of responsibilities to local elected representatives from Whitehall, London, as you know the British Governor Sir Peter Ramsbottom is still responsible for internal security, policematters and external affairs. The responsibilit
is clear!
We noted your reply in the House of Commons on December 5, 1977 acknowledging the British Government's responsibility for Bermuda's internal security. Some Members of our Executive Committee who have personally followed closely the slow process of decolonisation, understand only
too well your reference to the policy statement by Arthur
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