GDN:Jail strike called off

Jail strike called off
By begena george
Published: 13 November 2006

TWENTY men awaiting deportation after completing prison sentences called off a hunger strike after talks with officials yesterday.

But the men vowed to stage a new hunger strike if arrangements to deport them are not made by Sunday.

They claim they have been languishing in the Hidd detention centre for up to a year, since finishing jail sentences for various crimes.

The Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men pledged on Saturday night that they would “not touch a drop of water” until arrangements were made to send them home.

Jail strike called off
By begena george
Published: 13 November 2006

TWENTY men awaiting deportation after completing prison sentences called off a hunger strike after talks with officials yesterday.

But the men vowed to stage a new hunger strike if arrangements to deport them are not made by Sunday.

They claim they have been languishing in the Hidd detention centre for up to a year, since finishing jail sentences for various crimes.

The Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men pledged on Saturday night that they would “not touch a drop of water” until arrangements were made to send them home.

They started their hunger strike just after at midnight yesterday, but at 7am the Pakistani and Bangladeshi prisoners withdrew, following talks with officials, said sources.

The Indian detainees carried on until 4pm, when they also withdrew, following further talks.

Officials have apparently agreed to send a copy of the newspaper report announcing the hunger strike along with the list of people who are entitled to be sent home, to Bahrain’s chief judge.

But the prisoners said that if valid arrangements were not made to deport them by Sunday, they would go on an indefinite hunger strike.

Six of the men claim to have finished their sentences a year ago and being in the detention centre awaiting deportation ever since.

Of the rest, the shortest they have been in the transit detention centre is two months, said sources.

Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (Norka) advisory board member Samuel Kizhakkupuram told the GDN that a petition on the detainees’ plight had been sent yesterday to Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

The GDN reported on Thursday that the Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty had highlighted in a meeting with the Interior Ministry under-secretary for nationality, passports and residence Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the plight of people awaiting deportation, though their jail term has been completed.

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