Starvation looms in Merauke prison

MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: Sixty-two inmates in a prison here are facing starvation due to the government's limited budget for their food, Antara reported yesterday.

Chief Warden Achmad Dofir Ali said the budget was enough to feed only 100 inmates, while the prison's population was currently 162 inmates.

He predicted more inmates' rations would be cut further if the current economic situation worsened.

Achmad said the inmates included those serving sentences for sex crimes (47 cases), murders (33 cases), battery (nine cases), and theft (20 cases).

On Aug. 17, to mark Independence Day, 66 inmates received either remission or were released, it was reported. It is not clear if the 66 released were among the 162. (aan)