Andar Ki Lrai

The Struggle From Inside

Biba Sarkaria flights for parole and equal rights for Asian women prisoners

Biba Sarkaria, who has for years fought for the rights of women prisoners was made to wait over 19 weeks to hear that her fourth parole application had been turned down.

She made an application in April 1999 and heard the result at the end of July, 1999.

Prison policy states that every prisoner will hear the result of their parole application within six weeks.

Why asks Biba, did I have to wait so long.

Biba told Andar KI Larai that in all the time she has spent in prison (over ten years) she has only, ever seen one or two Asian women ever get parole. home leave,, town visits, tagging. no matter what their circumstances. She herself has tried on many occasions to fight for home leave for Asian women who's fathers were dying or who's children were seriousLy injured but the authorities showed no compassion. However the same prison authorities (Cookhamwood) give white prisoners home leave, tagging, parole and all the best jobs in prison. 'While we (Asian women) are even taken to the local hospital with handcuffs and three prison officers. Last time they did that to me I refused to go' She goes on to say that Since April 1996 only one Asian woman at Cookhamwood has ever been given Home leave, and yet so many others have been refused and given flimsy reasons. One governor even said: 'He was worried about his job if he allowed an Asian Woman Home leave'.

While coming to terms with yet another parole refusal Biba is suffering from acute back pain which is the result of a protest against racism at Cookhamwood, where under Deputy governor Dingwall, she was forcibly taken to solitary confinement to spend a night in the freezing cold without any blankets when she was on a hunger strike. She has a serious heart condition and is now face with the brutal decision of the prison authorities not to meet her request for specially prepared food.

Biba who is a practising Sikh needs to eat food prepared in conditions which are hygienic and not mixed with foods forbidden by her religion (certain meat). Up to now Biba was able to prepare this food herself or get fellow prisoners to prepare it as she is one of the 'enhanced 'prisoners who has the right to prepare her own food. However In May 1999 the kitchen
she used to cook, has been now allocated to seventeen additional inmates. For Biba this has meant that she can no longer cook there. The fridge is full of food which has been there for days, the floor has not been cleaned in weeks and every health and safety regulation is broken. When asked about the prison providing cleaners and health inspectors - Biba replied: there's only one cleaner who comes once a week and there's only so much she can do. As for inspectors, the only inspectors we see are the ones who come here, talk, smile, drink coffee and smoke cigarettes and then go away

In October 21" 1999, Biba found out that although she has been making applications for parole since 1996, not a single paper was sent to the parole board from Cookhamwood prison. In addition to this the racist abuse continues on a daily basis. On 17'h October when she complained about the fact that she had not received any groceries she was told by the officer that she should put her complaint in writing and in English. On the 3 01h October Biba reported that she is being locked up in her cell an hour longer than the other prisoners in the mornings.

Biba Sarkarias demands:

1 Prison authorities meet their legal responsibility with providing her with the food she needs.

2 An investigation into the racism at Cookhamwood prison.

Please write letters protesting~, against the conditions faced by black women prisoners at Cookhamwood prison.

Minister of State for the Home Office
Mr Paul Boateng
Home Office
50 Queen Annes Gate
London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 0171-2195112,

Minister for Women
Tessa Jowell
Home Office
50 Queen Annes Gate
London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 0171-2193409, Fax: 0 1 71-219-2702

The Home Secretary
Jack Straw
50 Queen Annes Gate
Fax: 0171-273-3965,Tel: 0171-273-3000

And letters of protest against Biba Sarkarias Parole refusal: to
Terry McCarthy (Head of Parole Board)
Parole Unit Room126
Abell House
John Islip St
London SW1 4LH

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letters of support for Biba Sarkaria

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