Tue, 2009-09-22 02:45 — editor
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
Chennai, 22 September (Asiantribune.com): A total of 58 inmates at the Chengalpet Sri Lankan refugee camp in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India went on an indefinite hunger strike from Sunday morning demanding their immediate release.
The inmates who were arrested from Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai and Tiruchi have been languishing in the camp for years without the government framing charge sheets, which has prevented them from approaching the court for any sort of relief. Time and again they have been on mass fasting, but to no avail. There are 61 inmates in the camp, of whom 41 are on protest.
Their grievances are, some of them are detained for more than three years, not allowed to meet their relatives in the other refugee camps, not allowed to meet even outsiders, not allowed to go out for work like other Sri Lankan refugees and they are psychologically affected.
They allege they are in virtual prison and the conditions prevailing are appalling. When the rain come the situation becomes worse and toilet facilities drinking water is scarce.
“Like our brothers suffering in concentrations camps at Wanni in Sri Lanka, we are starving and undergoing a similar kind of treatment in this camps in Tamil Nadu,” says an inmate who is on fast.
The fasting inmates are looking for the Chief Minister’s direct intervention this time, and to attract his attention only this fast unto death, they say.
- Asian Tribune -
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