Slovenian Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek on Tuesday, 5 November, visited Slovenia's largest prison Dob, where he spoke with manager Joze Podrzaj and six representatives of a group of inmates who went on a hunger strike that day. The strike comes after the Slovenian Prison Administration on 30 October rejected as unfounded demands by a group of 140 prisoners, who called for general amnesty, automatic reduction of sentences and additional benefits.

The inmates have demanded to meet with Justice Minister Ivo Bizjak and Speaker of Parliament Borut Pahor, and Hanzek was willing to join those meetings. Both Bizjak and Pahor rejected to come to Dob on Monday, 4 November. The minister said that the inmates can get additional clarifications to their demands and asked them to find legal means to promote their demands other than go on hunger strike. Pahor promised that the petition of the prisoners would be handled with priority, while he accepted Bizjak's opinion that a visit to the prison is not necessary at this point.

On Wednesday, 13 November, prisoners at the Dob prison facility, who have been refusing food for a few days, stopped the hunger strike after the Minister of Justice Ivan Bizjak late visited the prison. He discussed with the prisoners all their demands and promised that their petition would be examined within the framework of the appropriate legislation. The ministry will then consider whether it is possible to change the criteria for parole.

Speaker of Parliament Borut Pahor, deputy ombudsman Ales Butala and chair of the parliamentary commission for petitions Janez Drobnic also attend the meeting with the prisoners. The parties agreed that the prisoners would not be punished for the strike, something that the minister is to guarantee in a letter.

SOURCE: Slovenian Press Agency, 12. 11. 2002