Batticaloa detainees go on hunger strike

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 April 2002, 06:35 GMT]
Thirty-one Tamil political prisoners held under the Prevention of terrorism Act (PTA) in the Batticaloa prison, began a hunger strike Wednesday. The detainees are demanding that the authorities either expedite legal action against them or release them.

According to officials 54 Tamil political prisoners, including 3 women are held at the Batticaloa.

Many of them have been detained for several years with out any legal charges against them, the officials said.