Reinforcements sent after Venezuelan prison stand-off

[bemildred]

The Venezuelan authorities say they will resume a major operation aimed at regaining control of a prison near the capital, Caracas.

An extra 400 troops have been drafted in, after more than 3,500 National Guards were unable to take full control of El Rodeo prison on Friday.

This follows a riot last Sunday between rival gangs in which more than 20 inmates were killed.

Attempts to negotiate a peaceful resolution have so far failed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13825576

[Bacchus39]

1. Venezuelan troops battle inmates at prison

CARACAS, Venezuela – Gunfire rang out at a Venezuelan prison for a second day Saturday as thousands of troops sought to regain control in battles that have left at least 3 dead and 18 wounded.


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Inmates relatives' protested outside the prison, some of them weeping as troops stood guard in anti-riot gear. Soldiers used tear gas at one point Saturday to drive back the distraught relatives.
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The country's 30 prisons were built to hold about 12,500 prisoners but instead hold about 49,000, according to the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory, a group that monitors prison conditions.

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Human Rights Watch also said in a recent report that about three out of four inmates in Venezuela's prison system have yet to be sentenced due to backlogs in the country's slow-moving justice system.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110618/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_prison_violence

[joshcryer]

2. 3 out of 4 yet to be sentenced? Do we have a breakdown of the sentences?

Or will they trump up false they're all murderers sentences?

[Bacchus39]

3. from that statement I can only interpret that they have been convicted of something

and are awaiting a sentence. I don't know what the convictions are for, and I am assuming there is a conviction in the first place. I'll have to read the HRW to see if any more details on that rather shocking bit of info.

[joshcryer]

4. I personally would think that a sentence for murder would be straightforward, but one for theft...

...or other violent action might be more nuanced, thus the backlog. It's quite alarming to say the least, because to me it implies a good chunk of those prisoners may actually be innocent of hard crimes. :( :cry: