[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 10



TANZANIA:

Ukonga death row inmates on Day 6 of hunger strike


IT is almost 1 week since a number of death row inmates at Ukonga Prison
in Dar es Salaam began a hunger strike to press for a last-ditch review of
their sentences by the Court of Appeal.

And while there have been conflicting reports as to the exact number of
striking prisoners, it has since come to light that they were a total of
ten to begin with, although one of them gave up along the way.

According to a source within the Prisons Department, the names of the
still-striking convicts are Salehe Ramadhani Juma, Iddi Muhidini,
Bartholomeo Kanuti and Mwita Sigori. Others are Ali Ngenya, Saidi Omari
Kipiano, Ramadhani Makuka and Bakari Hussein.

The 9th inmate, Reiza Massinga, is said to have already lodged an appeal
with the Court of Appeal, but it has not been heard so far. Unlike the
other death row inmates, Massinga was to serve a normal sentence.

When contacted for comment on latest developments on Monday, the Principal
Commissioner of Prisons, Augustino Nanyaro, would neither deny nor confirm
whether the inmates have upheld the strike, but added: "Efforts are still
being made to convince the prisoners to eat".

Although initial reports reaching THISDAY had indicated that at least
eight inmates at the penitentiary had gone on hunger strike since Monday
last week, Nanyaro told THISDAY last Friday that only six inmates had
refused to eat since the previous day (Thursday).

"All other reports are false," the prisons boss asserted then.

If we are to go by the words of the prisons department chief, the striking
inmates are today entering their 6th day of going hungry.

Describing the demands of the jailbirds as "baseless," Nanyaro last week
called on them to abandon their strike while prison authorities looked
into ways of solving the problem.

A source within the Ukonga Prison management set-up indicated that the
striking inmates were irritated by the slow pace at which authorities have
been conveying judgment and appeal documents that are necessary for
lodging appeals. "They (inmates) want the documents brought to them
quicker so they can go ahead with their appeals," said the source, who
requested for anonymity citing the 'sensitivity' of the matter. According
to Nanyaro, a delegation of judges and magistrates led by the Attorney
General visited both the Ukonga and Keko Prisons last March to hear all
prisoners' complaints. The same team of officials also visited Segerea
Prison in October for a similar audience with inmates. "All grievances
stated by the prisoners were taken into account, and recorded. Some have
already been dealt with, others are being dealt with. I therefore see no
rationale for this strike," Nanyaro said. He also asserted that there are
prison procedures to be followed in such matters. "We are currently
talking to them to stop the strike. We are also informing other
responsible parties to see what can be done [about the issue]," he added.

Ukonga Prison presently houses 30 death row inmates. Other prisons in the
country with death row inmates include Mtwara, Mbeya, Tanga and Tabora.

(source: This Day)