As part of our work to promote, educate and visibilise human rights, especially for persons detained for political reasons, the internally displaced population, and communities and social organisations at risk, the Political Prisoners Solidarity Committee – Antioquia Chapter (FCSPP) wants to inform the general public on the following situations:
1. During 2009, the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) has imposed unwarranted restrictions on our exercise of the defence, protection and promotion of human rights in the installations of the Bellavista Penitentiary and Prison Facility in Medellin (Department of Antioquia). These restrictions have violated the rights of the political prisoners detained at this facility to the freedom of information and equality, in addition to the free exercise of human rights defence undertaken by FCSPP.
These restrictions are seen in the ongoing and routine inconveniences occurring at the outer gates of Bellavista, which cause delays of up to two and a half hours in issuing and practically employing the properly administered entrance permissions.
The fact that prison and penitentiary facilities establish visiting hours for three to four hours per day further aggravates this situation. More than half of the allotted time is spent in the previously mentioned procedure, in addition to the time lost in setting up the facilities to carry out the activities with the prisoners.
2. Since August, the entrance authorisations indicate that we may only interview political prisoners who have been convicted, restricting our access to prisoners who have only been charged.
3. Despite FCSPP requests to the INPEC General-Directorate, the outer gate prison guards do not allow us to enter study material and related information, claiming this material is not described in the issued permission. As a result, we are forced to dispose of the material meant for the prisoners in order to not lose more time in the entrance procedures.
4. On one occasion, we found that the permission granted by INPEC included the names of persons who are not political prisoners. We do not know if they are prisoners at Bellavista. This demonstrates the degree of sabotage to which we are subjected and makes us suspect that our activity in the promotion and defence of human rights is used for corrupt activities to allow certain prisoners not involved with our work to have access to the physical spaces of the prison we visit.
In this respect, we want to publically speak out against INPEC’s campaign to sabotage and obstruct our work in the defence and promotion human rights.