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Tamil prisoners on hunger strike in Sri Lanka
A total of 234 Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka, most of them former Tamil Tiger rebels, are on a hunger strike the past five days here, said officials on Monday. Inmates of three prisons, located in Colombo city, Kalutara town and in Vavuniya town, are demanding that they be charged for their crimes or be released, Xinhua reported. The fast began last week with the participation of 80 inmates of the Colombo prison but the number rose to 234 over the weekend with prisoners from two other prisons joining the protest. Most of the prisoners have been in jail for over three years without being charged, said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) legislator MA Sumanthiran, adding that a discussion will be held on Monday with prison authorities regarding the long-term detainees.
A total of 234 Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka, most of them former Tamil Tiger rebels, are on a hunger strike the past five days here, said officials on Monday. Inmates of three prisons, located in Colombo city, Kalutara town and in Vavuniya town, are demanding that they be charged for their crimes or be released, Xinhua reported. The fast began last week with the participation of 80 inmates of the Colombo prison but the number rose to 234 over the weekend with prisoners from two other prisons joining the protest. Most of the prisoners have been in jail for over three years without being charged, said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) legislator MA Sumanthiran, adding that a discussion will be held on Monday with prison authorities regarding the long-term detainees.
