ECUADORIAN PRISONS IN CRISIS - UNDERFUNDED AND

UNCLAS QUITO 001869

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: ECUADORIAN PRISONS IN CRISIS - UNDERFUNDED AND
MISMANAGED


1. Summary: President Palacio on June 7 declared a state of
emergency in Ecuador's prisons to address faulty
infrastructure, overpopulation, violence and meager resources
that had led to ongoing prisoner and worker strikes. Despite
an $8 million budget increase in April, the majority of the
funds have yet to be delivered. The government is exploring
public-private partnerships as a way to increase investment,
but 2007 funds remain uncertain. This cable summarizes the
budget and management challenges faced by the prison system;
a separate cable will explore prison conditions. End
Summary.

State of Emergency Declared in June
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2. On June 7, President Palacio, pressured by worker and
prisoner strikes, initiated a 70 day state of emergency for
Ecuador's 35 detention centers that drew attention to a
paltry budget. Ecuador's prison authority, the National
Social Rehabilitation Board (DNRS),reported that a state of
emergency would speed up investment, private contracts, and
the rebuilding of Quito's Second Prison (destroyed by a fire
in March).


3. In April, 1,526 prison workers initiated a national
strike. Employees demanded budget increases of $20 million
per year for overtime pay of prison guards, additional pay
for 262 contracted workers paid below standard rates, food
for prisoners, and infrastructure improvement. On June 16,
prisoners and DNRS's 1,500 employee board asked for the
resignation of National Prison Director Marco Gonzalez,
accusing him of negligence and mismanagement. Prisoner Bryon
Briones said that Gonzalez has not made progress towards the
budget crisis, overcrowding, or reinserting prisoners into
society. He added that "as long as these people continue to
manage this institution, things will not change. They are
asking for money for themselves."

Prison Strikes and Riots Frequent
--------------


4. Prisoners have frequently gone on strike to protest
prison conditions. According to a January 2006 study headed
by Fernando Carrion of the Latin American Faculty of Social
Sciences (FLACSO) University (brother of Ecuador's Foreign
Minister Francisco Carrion),strikes are necessary to ensure
resources. In January, prisons #1 and #3 in Quito declared a
strike and held visitors hostage in order to reinstate the
reduction of sentences based on good behavior, formerly
allowed under Article 33 of the penal code. The two day
strike ended with negotiations between the National Committee
of Prisoners and the presidency.


5. On February 9, newspapers reported a riot at an Ambato
prison after a guard was arrested for possession of
marijuana. Antiriot forces confronted the prisoners, who
demanded to talk to journalists and voiced grievances of
mistreatment. The director of the prison said the $1.00 a
day provided for food was inadequate and that the prison was
100 prisoners above capacity.

Budget Reform Needed
--------------


6. Despite President Palacio's announcement of a budget
increase of $8 million in April, funds are still drastically
insufficient and expenses have grown at an annual rate of
58%. In the last five years, the prison budget has increased
4 times, by $6.73 million in 2001 and $21.15 million in 2004.
This year, however, DNRS received $98,000 less than in 2005
despite an increase in the prison population. According to
Gonzalez, DNRS's current budget of $31 million does not cover
the needs of employees or prisoners. Cecelia Armas, the
national attorney general, said that she will work with the
Ministry of Economy to pursue an emergency budget for 2007.
Gonzalez said additional funds would be used to pay guard
salaries and bolster infrastructure projects including the
construction of additional wings. On April 9, DNRS received
the first million that would go towards paying back salaries.


7. Ecuador has been looking towards U.S. and Chilean models
of privatization and public-private partnerships as a
solution that could reduce state costs and overcrowding and
improve rehabilitation programs for inmates. Private
entities would design, finance, construct and maintain

facilities and provide services. The mayor of Quito signed
an agreement with business associations that will invest $1
million in the construction of a maximum security prison,
reported papers on June 28. The project would also fund the
development of rehabilitation centers and income generating
projects within the prison.

Comment
--------------


8. Obstacles faced by Ecuadorian prisons, which fit into a
general regional pattern, have reached a crisis point. The
state's increased emphasis on privatization could temporarily
boost resources; however, the government will need to secure
budget allocations for next year.
BROWN