SCBFF urges WB govt to treat Burmese prisoners with dignity

Kolkata, Apr 13 (UNI) The Solidarity Committee for Burma's Freedom Fighter's (SCBFF) has initiated measures to sensitise the West Bengal government of the plight of the 34 Myanmarese prisoners here.

The committee, led by famous freedom fighter and former presidential candidate against A P J Abdul Kalam. Col(Dr) Lakshmi Sehgal, had earlier released a book entilted ''Why are Burma's Freedom fighters Imprisioned in India?'' Takling to UNI, renouned human rights lawyer Nandita Haskar, who is also a member of the committee, said '' We are fighting for basic rights of these people who have been arrested on false charges.'' The 34 Burmese nationals were arrested by the Indian military intelligence in February 1998 on charges that they were acting as spies of Chinese government against India.

''We have failed to understand why these people were arrested when India had supported Arakan and Karen movement in Myanmar, against the military repression in the country,'' Ms Haskar said.

She further stated that at one point India felicitated Aung San Suu Kyi, duaghter of Burmese Prime Minister U Nu, with the country's highest civilan Jawaharlal Nehru award for International Understanding, whereas these few freedom fighters were denied even the basic amenitis.

These Arakans and Karens were fighting against the military dictatorship in Myanmar with the support of Indian military but when the Indian policy towards the country changed, these people were arrested and sent to jail in Andaman and Nicobar islands, the committee alleged.

However, they were transferred to the Presidency Correctional Home in Kolkata in 2006 on their request with a hope that the West Bengal government would look into the plight of the prisoners.

The state government had passed an order on December 15, 2006 directing the court to hold the trial inside the jail, which was withdrawn, following heavy protests from various intellectuals.

''We have talked to the prisoners inside the jail and they have confided with us the ill-treatment meted out to them,'' Ms Haskar said adding that the term terrorist or gun runner used for these prisoners was wrong and that they should be given the status of political prisoners.

UNI