Thursday, January 20 2005 15:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: Moved by the plight of 229 foreign nationals detained in a poacher's camp in Port Blair despite having served their jail sentences, the Indian Red Cross Society (ICRS) today (Jan 20, 2005) urged the Andaman and Nicobar Government to send them back to their native countries.

IRCS joint secretary Dr J Ganthimat, who conducted an inquiry into the matter with the Union Home Ministry, said the foreign nationals awaiting repatriation to their countries must also be extended a family news service to establish contact with their kin back home.

The family news service would enable their families in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to approach the authorities concerned to hasten their repatriation process, he said.

"Though we have enquired about their well being, we have taken note of media reports portraying the plight of these detainees after the tsunami hit the Islands. We would also like to provide basic necessities like soap, detergent, toothpaste, dhoti and slippers if needed," Ganthimati said.

The poacher's camp houses within barbed wire fencing tin-roofed shanties that serve as quarters for 229 foreign nationals - 227 Myanmarese, one Bangladeshi and one Sri Lankan - outside Pathrapur prison off Port Blair.

Mostly fishermen who had either transgressed marine boundaries or were illegally fishing in Indian seas, the foreign nationals have served their sentences but were stuck in Port Blair as their Governments had not shown much interest in taking them back.

After the tsunami, the inmates had given up hope of repatriation, as their individual Governments were busy with post-tsunami activities.

Contacted, I G Prisons A K Raha said that they were kept in a separate camp under the police department and were in safe custody. ''We are awaiting repatriation from their Government and will allow them to go one their individual countries come to fetch them.''

Andaman and Nicobar DIG police Basudev Rao said correspondence was on with the foreign Governments as well as the Ministry of External Affairs for their repatriation.

''India is talking to these countries to finalise the mode of transportation of these foreign nationals. Once the nations send their clearance and transport we would gladly leave them,'' he said.