Prisons Inspectorate lobbying AN to investigate critical situation

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 06, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Venezuelan Prisons Inspectorate is lobbying National Assembly (AN) president Francisco Ameliach to appoint a special subcommittee to investigate the critical situation in Venezuela’s prisons brought into the spotlight by hunger strikes in several prisons.

Inspectorate coordinator, Humberto Prado says the strike is a protest against delayed legal processes, scarcity of food and infrahuman searches families are subject to when they visit inmates.

“Since this administration came to power there have been 6 Justice Ministers and nine changes of prison governors all with different plans and all with no results.”

The Observatory calls on the government, public powers, the business sector, churches and NGOs to collaborate in drawing up a prison program. “I think it should go from the President down to avoid change of plans and ministerial incompliance.”