TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 69

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including one (Dr Otway) who had a British wife. Was there any possibility of the detainees being released or brought to early trial?

8. Mr Augustine replied that the question of internal security was a major consideration. Three of the men wanted in connection with a recent bomb attack on PRG members were former detainees. This did not inspire confidence to release others. However he had spoken to the Head of Security in Grenada, who felt that those of the prisoners who could be charged with specific offences would be put on trial. Others would be released soon. He had also mentioned the problem of Dr Otway and it was his impression that his case might soon receive attention. Mr Ridley said that he ought to be either put on trial or released. His wife had made allegations of torture which was worrying. Mr Augustine emphatically denied this charge. Torture was absolutely out.

In fact three members of the PRG had recently been imprisoned for assaulting detainees. One of the main reasons for the delay was that Dr Cyrus had on his release made many allegations of torture all of which were untrue. Mr Augustine could not believe that the current Police Commissioner would stand for the sort of malpractices which Dr Cyrus alleged to be common. Mr Ridley said that it would clearly be to Grenada's advantage to remove any doubts on this score from the minds of her friends and neighbours by either trying or releasing the detainees. He would very much like to see that process speeded up.

9. He then turned to the question of Grenada's vote with the Soviet Union on Afghanistan at the UN. Mr Augustine said that Grenada had voted in that way because they wished to take a consistent line on the principles. They had not objected for example when Barbados sent armed police to the assistance of St Vincent and therefore could not consistently object to Soviet actions in Afghanistan. Mr Ridley said that there was a difference. The Barbadians did not kill Mr Cato whereas the Russians had engineered the death of Amin. Mr Augustine objected that although this might have been the consequence of Russian action, it was not the point; the Russians had responded to a request for help. Mr Ridley said that there was no dispute about the death of Amin or his replacement by the puppet government of Babrak Karmal.

10. Mr Ridley said that we would like to feel that Grenada would not become a puppet of the Soviet Union or Cuba. The Soviet Union largely confined its aid to its own satellites with 59% of the total going to Cuba. We were not so restrictive, but we did tend not to aid those who voted against us and with the Soviet Union. The UK was in fact still giving a substantial amount to Grenada through our EDF contribution and the CDB.

11. Mr Augustine said that Grenada's foreign policy was based on a wish to avoid identification with either of the main camps. They believed that alignment with either the West or the Soviet bloc was one of the main factors delaying the development of the Third World. Mr Ridley suggested that Grenada had already aligned herself with the Soviet bloc at the UN. Mr Augustine felt that this was merely a question of interpretation. Mr Ridley agreed but pointed out that the practical effect was to identify Grenada with Soviet interests. Mr Augustine said that Grenada had deliberately chosen not to abstain on the Afghanistan vote. They had adopted their stand on the issue before them and not on any preconceived idea produced by one side of the other. Careful consideration had been given to Grenada's foreign policy strategy, and Grenada had made a reai attempt to move away from the

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