Hunger strikers still in prison…
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 8th April 2007
SIX prisoners who went on a three-day hunger strike last year to demand their immediate deportation are still languishing in jail nearly six months later.
The five Indians and one Pakistani have been held in the Asry Detention Centre for almost two years.
They are waiting to be sent home, but are unable to leave because they have outstanding debts and civil cases lodged against them.
All owe thousands of dinars and one prisoner is understood to be BD13,000 in debt.
Officials from the Indian and Pakistani embassies and Migrant Workers’ Protection Society (MWPS) have been trying to get them released and negotiations are on.
Hunger strikers still in prison…
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 8th April 2007
SIX prisoners who went on a three-day hunger strike last year to demand their immediate deportation are still languishing in jail nearly six months later.
The five Indians and one Pakistani have been held in the Asry Detention Centre for almost two years.
They are waiting to be sent home, but are unable to leave because they have outstanding debts and civil cases lodged against them.
All owe thousands of dinars and one prisoner is understood to be BD13,000 in debt.
Officials from the Indian and Pakistani embassies and Migrant Workers’ Protection Society (MWPS) have been trying to get them released and negotiations are on.
MWPS action committee head Marietta Dias visited the men, along with officials from the Indian Embassy and the Co-ordination Committee of Indian Associations in November.
Ms Dias was yesterday unable to give a timescale for the resolution of the matter.
But she said talks were continuing with immigration authorities and the issue had been taken up with government officials, including Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa and Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed.
“This is a very complicated case,” she said. “There are no criminal charges against them, but civil cases.
“They are in detention because the money they owe has not been paid.
“The MWPS and the Indian and Pakistani embassies are doing all we can.”
Ms Dias said many of the men entered into business transactions, which led them into debt. Some claim to have been conned, but Ms Dias said this was impossible to prove.
She added the men would not be able to pay back any money while they are in prison and said officials were looking at a number of possible solutions, including appealing for sponsors to pay the men’s debts or investigating whether complainants would be prepared to drop their cases.
“I know the immigration authorities are working on it, but no one can overrule the courts,” she said. “We are trying every avenue open to us.”
One of the prisoners, who gave his name only as Sunil, said the men were becoming increasingly concerned about their future.
He said although they were not considering another hunger strike, they were worried about being detained indefinitely. “We are still staying in the detention centre and are uncertain about our release or deportation,” he said.
“No decision has been taken and almost six months have passed.
“Two of the men have been here for more than two years. There is nobody to inform us about what is happening.” Indian Embassy officials were unavailable for comment yesterday.
© Gulf Daily News