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234 prisoners on hunger strike; Minister claims TNA provoking
May 22, 2012 12:52 pm
A total of 234 prisoners, at three main prisons including the Welikada Prison, are on a hunger strike for the past five days, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said today.
Apart from the Welikada Prison, a large number of prisoners at Kalutara and Vavuniya prisons are also engaged in a hunger strike, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated.
The prisoners claim they have been detained for around 3 years without being formally charged in court and therefore demand that they be released or charged, Sumanthiran told Ada Derana.
Engaging in such a hunger strike while authorities are attempting to resolve the issue cannot be approved, Rehabilitation and Prisons Reform Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera.
The Justice Ministry, Rehabilitation and Prisons Reform Ministry, Defence Ministry and Attorney-General’s Department are together are preparing steps to accelerate the legal procedures, the Minister said responding to an inquiry by Ada Derana.
He claimed that the inmates launched the hunger strike after learning of this and that certain powers with vested interest are behind these actions.
Legal affairs regarding these prisoners were studied separately and primary information required to speed up these proceedings have been prepared, Gajadeera said adding that legal proceedings will be accelerated and they will be put through the rehabilitation programme.
The fast began last week with the participation of 80 inmates of the Welikada prison but the number rose to 234 over the weekend with prisoners from two other prisons joining the protest.
Several prisoners have fallen ill due to the hunger strike while three of them have been hospitalized, Sumanthiran said.
However, Minister Gajadeera denied this saying he has not received any reports regarding inmates falling ill. The Minister said he suspects that inmates, who were willing to end the fast after being explained of the situation, were pressured by certain MPs of the TNA.
He further stated that following discussion the prisoners had agreed to call off the hunger strike. (AdaDerana)
Apart from the Welikada Prison, a large number of prisoners at Kalutara and Vavuniya prisons are also engaged in a hunger strike, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated.
The prisoners claim they have been detained for around 3 years without being formally charged in court and therefore demand that they be released or charged, Sumanthiran told Ada Derana.
Engaging in such a hunger strike while authorities are attempting to resolve the issue cannot be approved, Rehabilitation and Prisons Reform Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera.
The Justice Ministry, Rehabilitation and Prisons Reform Ministry, Defence Ministry and Attorney-General’s Department are together are preparing steps to accelerate the legal procedures, the Minister said responding to an inquiry by Ada Derana.
He claimed that the inmates launched the hunger strike after learning of this and that certain powers with vested interest are behind these actions.
Legal affairs regarding these prisoners were studied separately and primary information required to speed up these proceedings have been prepared, Gajadeera said adding that legal proceedings will be accelerated and they will be put through the rehabilitation programme.
The fast began last week with the participation of 80 inmates of the Welikada prison but the number rose to 234 over the weekend with prisoners from two other prisons joining the protest.
Several prisoners have fallen ill due to the hunger strike while three of them have been hospitalized, Sumanthiran said.
However, Minister Gajadeera denied this saying he has not received any reports regarding inmates falling ill. The Minister said he suspects that inmates, who were willing to end the fast after being explained of the situation, were pressured by certain MPs of the TNA.
He further stated that following discussion the prisoners had agreed to call off the hunger strike. (AdaDerana)
