Torture, mistreatment, spoiled food, cases of contagious diseases and the lack of health care are some of the irregularities found in the Prison Complex of Alcaçuz and in the Public Prison of Ceará-Mirim, both in Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte, state that has been facing attacks by criminals for ten days. The inspection in the penitentiaries, carried out between November 21 and 25, 2022, appears in the report on the situation of the prison system in Rio Grande do Norte released this Wednesday (22) by the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture (MNPCT) – collegiate linked to the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC). The body is made up of 11 independent experts, who have access to deprivation of liberty facilities. If violations of rights are found, the experts produce reports with recommendations to the competent authorities. In the case of the Grande Natal prisons, the experts classified the situation as extremely worrying. The MNPCT report states that the weight loss of prisoners is noticeable due to the lack of adequate food, either because it is unfit for consumption, because of the small amount offered or because of the low nutritional value. “During our food inspection, which included weighing random lunchboxes and checking the appearance of the food, on several occasions we caught food that was unfit for consumption, with a fetid odor that caused nausea as soon as the lids were removed”, points out the document. Regarding access to water, it is only available three times a day for 30 minutes, at 7am, 12pm and 5pm. “And this water is used for all of the following purposes: cleaning the cell, washing clothes, personal hygiene and consumption, that is, in addition to having very limited access, the inmates do not have access to drinking water for drinking. Torture In Alcaçuz prison, In all the cells inspected, there were injured and injured people. The experts reported that, based on the testimonies of the inmates, there are differences between the criminal police teams, “being that some have a more torturous and aggressive profile and we heard several reports of use of pepper spray in the cells, which constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment”. Images that illustrate the document show injured prisoners, sunburned and with physical limitations supposedly caused by the truculent actions of the police. According to the MNCPT, there is a great difficulty to investigate allegations of torture, especially in cases of psychological violence, for example, by preventing detainees from communicating with their fans family or with the outside world. There are also reports of reducing the number of hours of social visits to just one hour per month, in addition to the suspension of intimate visits. According to the collegiate report, sunbathing is allowed for one hour, once a week. Regarding health care, a very precarious situation was observed, especially in the Alcaçuz prison, with outbreaks of scabies and diarrhea in almost 70% of the prison population. “Tuberculosis also has a very high prevalence and the separation and care protocol is not followed; medication is also lacking a lot and discontinuing it jeopardizes recovery”, informs expert Bárbara Coloniese. In 2017, MNPCT experts were called in after the biggest rebellion in the history of Rio Grande do Norte, which culminated in the decapitation and dismemberment of 27 prisoners linked to the criminal group Sindicato do Crime (SDC), in the Alcaçuz Complex. At the time, the expert found a series of violations of human rights and even with the final report pointing out several irregularities, nothing was done. “From 2017 to 2022 there were no changes. The scenario is even more complicated. The use of violence is very strong. The way this prison system works is based on the systematic practice of physical and psychological torture”, he says. The members of the MNPCT claim that they tried to set up institutional meetings with the Court of Justice, with the Public Ministry, with the state government, but without success. “We were alarmed by the situation in the prison system with a lot of torture, violence and violation of rights. We have tried to alert the authorities, but so far we have not been able to have a dialogue. We remain available to expose the issues and change this scenario with the guarantee of fundamental rights as set out in the Penal Execution Law ”, she emphasizes. The MNCPT’s 2022 final report brought 138 recommendations to the justice system, state and federal government to reverse the situation. Among the measures are tenders to hire criminal police officers, training on human rights and the use of body cameras by agents. It was also requested to correct the flaws in the supply of food, in the guarantee of hygiene and in the access to health, education and work for the prisoners. Government of RN The Government of Rio Grande do Norte reported having received experts from the National Mechanism to Combat Torture in November 2022, and measures were adopted to control the quality of food in prisons, adequacy in the number of vacancies in the units. The government claimed to have assumed the commitment to repudiate any acts that violate the dignity of the human person, adopting the necessary measures. Wave of violence Since March 14, actions orchestrated by criminal factions have caused terror to the population, with fires and shots against public buildings, vehicles, businesses and even homes. The actions are in retaliation for prison conditions, indicate police investigations. The custody of prisoners is among the reasons given by criminals for the series of attacks in the state. The state has already confirmed at least 300 criminal attacks registered since the beginning of the actions. A further 15 suspects were arrested on Thursday for their part in the attacks.
Agência Brasil
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