Published December 8, 2005

Burmese fishermen detained at Pattalaboo Prison on the Indian Andaman Islands, have been suffering from many kinds of disease and some of them had died as a result.

There are more than 250 fishermen in the prison and the majority of them are said to be suffering from lung diseases and dysentery.

On 3 December, a 40+ year old Karen national named Saw San Ya died from illness and there are at least seven people who died in the prison during this year, a Burmese fisherman told DVB.

They were arrested and prison for encroaching on the Indian waters and many of them were due to be released two years ago, but they have been continued to be detained because the Burmese authorise refused to accept them when they were released by the Indian authorities.