Hundreds of inmates rioted in a prison in western Venezuela, climbing onto the prison's roof and burning mattresses, accusing the administration of “torture” and grave abuses. Protesters are demanding the dismissal of the prison director, while law enforcement has surrounded the prison complex.
Hundreds of inmates rioted at a prison in western Venezuela, climbing onto the prison's roof and setting fire to mattresses as law enforcement surrounded the prison complex.
The inmates took control of the prison and climbed onto the roof. PHOTO: Al Jazeera
Hundreds of detainees took control of the Barinas Judicial Internment Center (Injuba), located in western Venezuela, on Sunday, May 24, organizing a riot that brought to light new accusations regarding the conditions of detention and treatment applied in the country's penitentiaries. The protest took place in the city of Barinas, considered a political stronghold of former President Hugo Chávez, located about 500 kilometers from Caracas.
Inmates climbed onto the roof of the prison and displayed banners with messages such as “SAUCE” and
“We are being tortured”while repeatedly chanting: “No torture, no torture”. Many of the protesters had their faces covered, and thick plumes of smoke rose above the prison complex after mattresses and sheets were set on fire.
According to information published in the international press and human rights organizations, the riot broke out against the background of accusations of abuse made by inmates against the prison administration. The main demand of the protesters is the dismissal of the director of the prison, Elvis Macuare Guerrero, whom they accuse of tolerating or allowing violence committed by guards against unarmed prisoners during a previous protest.
Several inmates claim they were beaten, stripped, denied visits and even forced to participate in illegal activities, including drug trafficking. The Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons, a local non-governmental organization, released video footage that allegedly showed an inmate injured during the incidents.
In a recording shared online, one prisoner states: “We want justice. They are shooting at us, the guards and supervisors.”
Security forces equipped with shields were mobilized around the penitentiary, while relatives of inmates gathered near the prison to seek information about those inside. Some families reported hearing explosions and screams after security forces intervened, and tensions escalated into altercations with members of the National Guard. To date, the Venezuelan authorities have not provided detailed explanations regarding the accusations made by the protesters.
The Barinas riot brings back into focus the problems of the Venezuelan prison system.
Non-governmental organizations frequently report overcrowding in prisons, procedural delays and human rights violations, including cases where people remain in detention for months without trial or without being released after legal terms have expired. Also, the prison system in Venezuela is criticized for the lack of access to food, medical care and for the recurring violence in the detention centers.
