CORDOBA PRISON RIOT RESOLVED AFTER 24 STANDOFF

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000325 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS KRIM AR PROTESTS SUBJECT: CORDOBA PRISON RIOT RESOLVED AFTER 24 STANDOFF ¶1. (U) As of this writing, a riot in Cordoba's provincial prison, that left at least eight people dead, has ended with the release of all hostages. On 10 February, a protest over better living conditions and extended visitation hours turned deadly and escalated into a full-scale riot. The prison, built in 1889 to house 800 inmates, is home to well over 2,000 inmates and is representative of the overcrowded condition of prisons throughout Argentina. Prison protests are common in Argentina, but in this instance the protest escalated into an open revolt that has captivated the nation. In addition to the violence inside the prison, there are reports that the police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disburse the relatives of inmates, who had gathered outside the prison. Reports are conflicting but there are at least eight reported fatalities including two guards, one police officer and five inmates. The police officer and three or four inmates were killed when several inmates attempted to use a stolen truck to escape during the riot. During the standoff the rioters held at least twenty-five security guards, including the prison director and his deputy, and, a number of relatives who were visiting when the riot broke out, refused to leave. According to LEGATT Attache,s sources, the prison had been held by a core group of hardened criminals serving life sentences, who obtained several weapons from guards and the prison's weapons room. It appears that negotiators lead by provincial prosecutors were able to resolve the situation with no further violence. ¶2. (U) COMMENT: The incident highlights the miserable state of Argentina's prison system and reminds the public of Argentina's high levels of crime and violence. Apart from deploying a Gendarmeria SWAT team to the area, the Kirchner Administration kept a low profile during the crisis. LLORENS