17 Burmese Prisoners Handed Over to Burmese Authorities

Narinjara News
12/7/2006

As part of a prisoner exchange, the Bangladesh authorities handed 17 Burmese prisoners over to Burmese border authorities on Monday in Teknaf Town, Bangladesh, said an official source.

According to the source, Bangladesh authorities handed over the prisoners to Burmese authorities during the flag meeting that was held in the Bangladeshi border town Teknaf, opposite the Burmese town of Maungdaw.

However, the Burmese authorities did not hand over any Bangladeshi prisoners to the Bangladesh authorities, even though Burma had planned to transfer 47 prisoners from several Burmese jails.

A Burmese source said the Burmese authorities had pledged to the Bangladesh delegation during the meeting to transfer the prisoners to Bangladesh between December 15 and 20.

An Arakanese from Cox's Bazar Town said this time the number of prisoners transferred was very small, and a number of Burmese prisoners remain in the Cox's Bazar jail, waiting to be returned to their homeland.

The Burmese delegation to the meeting consisted of five members led by Major Sein Win, a Nasaka regional commander, while the Bangladesh team was led by the commander of BDR Battalion 23 based in Teknaf.

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