WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao (CMC):

Several inmates at the Bon Futuro Prison have refused food and say they will not perform any tasks until they get unsupervised visits from their wives and female partners.

In a letter, the inmates said they wanted conjugal visits, noting that in several countries including neighbouring Dominican Republic, a partner could visit an inmate every two weeks without supervision.

The prisoners said their partners were being unjustly punished and were forced to be unfaithful while they themselves were being forced into homosexual practices.

"As homosexuality is practically promoted in here, you are almost forced to go that way, but that is unacceptable. Entire families are being ripped apart because of the lack of unsupervised visits," the inmates said in the letter.

"It's not healthy for a person to be without normal sexual contact so long. That's a double sentence which causes much stress and tension. We are not giving in until the matter is arranged to the satisfaction of both parties."

The inmates are allowed visits of 30 minutes duration weekly under supervision which they described as "mental torture".

The current visits are for 30 minutes only half-an-hour per week under supervision, which the inmates describe as "mental torture."

The inmates led by incarcerated politician, Anthony Godett, leader of the FOL party, held discussions with prison officials, but no agreement was reached.