South African prisoners detained in the Beau-Bassin central prison, in Mauritius, begun a hunger strike to persuade the government to extradite them to their country of origin, said a source from the Port Louis prison services. This precedes the invitation of president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa as the guest of honour at the 40th independence anniverssary of the island of Mauritius. “The prisoners simply want an agreement between the two countries (Mauritius and S. Africa), like they have in other places, said Mrs. Patricia Gerber whose son was condemned to 9 years in prison in 2007 for drug trafficking. She indicated that a petition had been sent to president Mbeki on the 17th of March to that effect. Mauritius has signed extradition agreements with India, Reunion islands, France, Tanzania and Guinea among others.
