PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 56/002/2005

26 January 2005

Further Information on UA 08/05 (AFR 56/001/2005, 13 January 2005) - Harsh prison conditions/ Death Penalty/ Torture and Ill treatment

TANZANIA At least 15 prisoners on death row

The hunger strike by at least 15 death row prisoners in Ukonga maximum security prison in Dar es Salaam has come to an end. Amnesty International has now learnt that the hunger strike began on or around 16 December 2004, not 3 January 2005 as stated earlier. The prisoners were reportedly protesting against harsh prison conditions, namely a poor prison diet and being severely beaten whilst being held in overcrowded cells.

After the prisoners had written to the Tanzanian President, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commission for Human Rights and Governance, the [central] prison authorities reportedly formed an inquiry team to investigate their claims. The hunger strike came to an end after the prisoners met with the inquiry team who provided assurances of improvements in their prison conditions and diet. The inquiry team, however, denied there was any evidence to support the allegations of ill-treatment and torture.

Ukonga prison holds more than 3,000 inmates. Of these, 90 have been held under sentence of death for up to 20 years after courts found them guilty of murder. Many say their appeals have not been heard and some of them are no longer visited by relatives who think that they have been executed. Amnesty International is not aware of any changes in their circumstances.

Many thanks who took action on this case: Please send a final round of appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- noting that the hunger strike of death row prisoners in Ukonga maximum security prison in Dar es Salaam has come to an end;

- enquiring about details of improvements the prisons authorities are now reportedly making to the prison conditions of death row prisoners;

- asking for information about improvements to conditions of the 90 prisoners held in Ukonga prison under the sentence of death for more that 20 years;

- urging the authorities to allow death row prisoners regular access to their families, legal representatives, humanitarian organisations, visiting justices, and faith representatives;

- renewing appeals for commutation of these and all other death sentences in Tanzania on the grounds that the death penalty is a violation of the right to life and of the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa

President of the United Republic of Tanzania

P.O. Box 9120, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Fax: + 255 22 211 3425

Salutation: Your Excellency

Mr Ramadhani Mapuri

Minister of Home Affairs

Ministry of Home Affairs

P.O. Box 9223, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Fax: + 255 22 211 8223

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Mr Bakari Mwapachu

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

Ministry of Justice

P.O. Box 9050, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Fax: + 255 22 211 3236

Salutation: Dear Minister

Commissioner of Prisons

Prisons Department

P O Box 9190, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Salutation: Dear Commissioner

and to diplomatic representatives of Tanzania accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 9 March 2005