Dear Editor,
Past weekend the inmates were placed on total lockdown.
On Monday, it was a hassle to gain access to my clients as the director of the prison does not seem to have the prison under control and was/is not reacting to emails from attorneys requesting to see their clients. After being able to talk to the inmates association I was informed about the total lockdown.
On Friday, May 29, the complete prison was placed on a lockdown.
On Saturday, May 30, the inmates received their breakfast, lunch and dinner all together at 1:00pm. Bear in mind that the inmates do not have a microwave to warm their food.
Based on article 30 of the internal regulations (huishoudelijk reglement ) of the prison the inmates are entitled to enjoy space in the open air for at least one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.
This has not taken place on Saturday, nor Sunday. And at this moment it’s still not happening according to the law.
It seems like the director of the prison/Ministry of Justice or the Government want to end the current strike by putting unauthorized pressure on the prisoners. This pressure is expressed in the following: All prisoners are locked up 24 hours a day; all detainees have been deprived of the right to visits; meals are made available very late.
The decision to lock all detainees 24 hours a day and to withhold their right to air, visits violates the right to respect for family life, family life and correspondence, as well as the right to freedom of assembly and association.
There is therefore not only a violation of the ECHR, but also a violation of the National Ordinance Principles Prison Service, the prison measure and the internal regulations of correctional institutions.
After all, on the basis of Article 36 of the National Ordinance Principles of Prisons, only imprisonment or withholding of visitors for committing acts that are incompatible with good order and discipline and after the individual offender has been heard by him, the director.
The laws are being ignored and no explanation is given. The ones in charge of the prison have been contacted for answers, but nobody could inform me what was going on. The ministry is referring us to the director and the director is ignoring our emails. Several times we have tried to seek contact with the director via email or by telephone but no reaction up to this date. Even with the inmates association he will not have a sit-down.
The inmates are executing their striking rights in a peaceful matter. They cannot be punished for that. On behalf of the inmates we are requesting answers.
Is or was an orderly measure applicable and if so, on what legal basis?
Why has access to the lawyers to prison not yet been honored and when will it be allowed again?
When are prisoners allowed to receive regular visits (family, friends) again?
The inmates have the rights to know this.
We are requesting answers. Who is going to answer? Government? Parliament?
There are rules and regulations that need to be followed.
On behalf of the inmates,
Sjamira Roseburg
Attorney at Law
