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Mizzima: 54 Burmese fishermen to be
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54 Burmese fishermen to be deported on 6th April
Calcutta, April 3, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
The 54 Burmese fishermen who have been detained at Calcutta jails for
about two years will be released and deported to their country on 6th
April, said jail authorities in Calcutta, West Bengal of India.
According to the Presidency jail officials, the Government had ordered
purchase of new shoes and clothes for all the 54 Burmese fishermen and
air tickets have also been booked for flying them to Burma on 6th April.
Mr. P. B. Chowdhury who is working for the Burmese embassy affairs in
Calcutta confirmed the report that the Burmese fishermen will be
deported on 6th April. He said that Burmese authorities will provide
expenses for shoes and clothes for the fishermen while the air tickets
expenses are being provided by the Indian government.
Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by an
Indian legal activist seeking action taken report from the Indian
Foreign and Home Ministry on the Burmese fishermen is coming up for
hearing on the 9th April 2001 before the Supreme Court of India.
Deepak Prahladka, a Calcutta-based Legal Activist, stated in his
petition that on the 26th July 1997, total 63 (9 Thai and 54 Burmese)
fishermen were arrested for illegally entering Indian territorial water
and detained in Calcutta jails. On the 20th September 1999, a
Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate at Tamluk, West Bengal, India
convicted all the 63 fishermen under section 14 of the Indian
Foreigner?s Act and sentenced them to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for 2
(two) years and also directed that the period of detention of the 63
fishermen be computed and set off by the jail authority accordingly. The
Magistrate also directed that since all the 63 fishermen have already
suffered sentence of imprisonment ordered (which expired on 25th July
1999) all of them be pushed back and/or deported to their respective
homeland immediately.
The Magistrate also sent copy of the aforesaid order to Indian Foreign
and Home Ministry and all other concerned for deportation of the 63
fishermen in compliance of the said order and directed the local police
to file the compliance report by the 4th October 1999. In view of the
said order dated 20-9-1999, nine Thai fishermen were released from the
jail and deported to their country but the remaining 54 Burmese
fishermen are still illegally incarcerated in Calcutta Presidency and
Alipore Jail.
Prahladka stated that 54 Burmese fishermen were legally entitled to be
released from jail and deported to their country but the Indian Foreign
and Home Ministry have not taken any steps for their release from jail
and deportation to their country.
He also stated that illegal incarceration of 54 Burmese fishermen not
only violates their human rights and Article 21 of the Constitution of
India but also constitutes criminal contempt of subordinate court and
also causes pecuniary loss to Indian public exchequer as the jail
authority had to feed all of them at the cost of the Indian public.
However, all of them are also entitled to compensation for illegal
incarceration.
Prahladka stated further that 54 Burmese fishermen have been rotting in
jail for about two years and in May 1998 they were brutally beaten up
during a fight between them and guards in jail and now some of them have
also become HIV positive and AIDS patients and are likely to spread
serious diseases in jails.
?Even if they are released prior to 9th April, I shall proceed with the
petition for compensation for all the 54 fishermen for their illegal
incarceration?, says Prahladka.
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<center><b><u><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+1>54 Burmese fishermen
to be deported on 6th April</font></font></u></b></center>
<p><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Calcutta, April 3, 2001</font></font>
<br><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Mizzima News Group <a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>(www.mizzima.com)</a></font></font>
<p><font size=+1>The 54 Burmese fishermen who have been detained at Calcutta
jails for about two years will be released and deported to their country
on 6th April, said jail authorities in Calcutta, West Bengal of India.</font>
<p><font size=+1>According to the Presidency jail officials, the Government
had ordered purchase of new shoes and clothes for all the 54 Burmese fishermen
and air tickets have also been booked for flying them to Burma on 6th April.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Mr. P. B. Chowdhury who is working for the Burmese embassy
affairs in Calcutta confirmed the report that the Burmese fishermen will
be deported on 6th April. He said that Burmese authorities will provide
expenses for shoes and clothes for the fishermen while the air tickets
expenses are being provided by the Indian government.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition
filed by an Indian legal activist seeking action taken report from the
Indian Foreign and Home Ministry on the Burmese fishermen is coming up
for hearing on the 9th April 2001 before the Supreme Court of India.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Deepak Prahladka, a Calcutta-based Legal Activist, stated
in his petition that on the 26th July 1997, total 63 (9 Thai and
54 Burmese) fishermen were arrested for illegally entering Indian territorial
water and detained in Calcutta jails. On the 20th September 1999, a Sub-Divisional
Judicial Magistrate at Tamluk, West Bengal, India convicted all the 63
fishermen under section 14 of the Indian Foreigner?s Act and sentenced
them to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for 2 (two) years and also directed
that the period of detention of the 63 fishermen be computed and set off
by the jail authority accordingly. The Magistrate also directed that since
all the 63 fishermen have already suffered sentence of imprisonment ordered
(which expired on 25th July 1999) all of them be pushed back and/or deported
to their respective homeland immediately.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The Magistrate also sent copy of the aforesaid order to
Indian Foreign and Home Ministry and all other concerned for deportation
of the 63 fishermen in compliance of the said order and directed the local
police to file the compliance report by the 4th October 1999. In view of
the said order dated 20-9-1999, nine Thai fishermen were released from
the jail and deported to their country but the remaining 54 Burmese fishermen
are still illegally incarcerated in Calcutta Presidency and Alipore Jail.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Prahladka stated that 54 Burmese fishermen were legally
entitled to be released from jail and deported to their country but the
Indian Foreign and Home Ministry have not taken any steps for their release
from jail and deportation to their country.</font>
<p><font size=+1>He also stated that illegal incarceration of 54 Burmese
fishermen not only violates their human rights and Article 21 of the Constitution
of India but also constitutes criminal contempt of subordinate court and
also causes pecuniary loss to Indian public exchequer as the jail authority
had to feed all of them at the cost of the Indian public. However, all
of them are also entitled to compensation for illegal incarceration.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Prahladka stated further that 54 Burmese fishermen have
been rotting in jail for about two years and in May 1998 they were brutally
beaten up during a fight between them and guards in jail and now some of
them have also become HIV positive and AIDS patients and are likely to
spread serious diseases in jails.</font>
<p><font size=+1>?Even if they are released prior to 9th April, I shall
proceed with the petition for compensation for all the 54 fishermen for
their illegal incarceration?, says Prahladka.</font>
<p> </html>
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