Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CONAKRY524
2008-09-12 14:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

GUINEAN PRISON CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL SNAR ASEC GV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1718
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0524/01 2561436
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121436Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2924
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000524 

SIPDIS

DRL FOR SHARON COOKE AND KAREN GILBRIDE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SNAR ASEC GV
SUBJECT: GUINEAN PRISON CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE

Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000524

SIPDIS

DRL FOR SHARON COOKE AND KAREN GILBRIDE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SNAR ASEC GV
SUBJECT: GUINEAN PRISON CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE

Classified By: A/DCM SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D


1. (C) SUMMARY. Sharing some insights into the deplorable
conditions in Guinea's prisons and detention centers, the
Director of the International Red Cross in Guinea claims that
prison conditions continue to deteriorate. He blamed the
situation on an overall lack of political will coupled with
economic pressures. The Director highlighted cases of severe
malnutrition, poor living conditions, and corruption. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C) A/DCM met with Georg Cunz, the Director of
International Red Cross/Red Crescent (IRC) in Guinea, on
September 11. Preparing for an October departure and
retirement, Cunz has been in Guinea for nearly three years.
In order to protect IRC's access to Guinean prisons, Cunz has
requested that his comments be kept confidential and
non-attributable.

--------------
MALNUTRTION AND POOR QUALITY OF LIFE
--------------


3. (C) According to Cunz, prison conditions in Guinea are
worse than they have ever been before. "There has been an
absolute deterioration of the quality of life in detention
centers," he said. He said that the National Director of
Prisons, who has been in the position for several years, has
no interest in addressing even basic problems. Cunz
attributed the deteriorating conditions to lack of political
will on the part of the national government coupled with
increased economic pressures, including skyrocketing food
prices. "Since detainees are seen as the lowest of citizens,
they are the first to suffer when times are hard," Cunz told
A/DCM.


4. (C) Citing a recent example, Cunz said that one of IRC's
doctors had recently come back from visiting a small prison
in Telimele, which is located in Upper Guinea. The doctor
reported that ten of the prison's twelve inmates were on the
verge of death, due to malnutrition, and were expected to die
within a few days. Reportedly, the prisoners were not even
able to stand up and move off their beds even when prison
guards yelled at them to do so.



5. (C) In response to the crisis, Cunz said that IRC Guinea
has expanded its prison nutrition programs, but even that
initiative is not enough. "On the local level, money for
prisoners' food is routinely stolen," he said. Cunz added
that as soon as the IRC ceases a specific nutrition program,
the prisoners revert back to severe malnutrition almost
immediately. Cunz said he has been under pressure from his
headquarters to issue a public statement, but he has argued
back that such a statement would be pointless because of the
government's absolute indifference.

--------------
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
--------------


6. (C) Commenting on the rampant corruption within the
prison system, Cunz said that it is common knowledge that
prisoners routinely buy their freedom. Based on information
from recently freed detainees, Cunz said that the price for
freedom typically ranges between 1 million ($217) GnF to 10
million GnF ($2173),depending on the severity of the crime.
He estimated that this "fee" is then divided among various
prison administrators, with the people at the top getting as
much as 50%. Cunz said that the Director of Conakry's
Central Prison is notoriously corrupt. Cunz added that the
pay off system does not always work well for detainees. He
said there is a Venezuelan currently down at the central
prison on drug charges who has reportedly already paid
millions for his freedom, but prison officials have refused
to release him while continuing to extract bribes.

--------------
PRISON OPERATIONS BACK TO NORMAL
--------------


7. (C) When asked about the national prison mortality rate,
Cunz said that such a figure was impossible even to estimate.
He said that IRC's problem is that they may only visit a
prison a few times a year, so they cannot keep track of who
is there and who is disappearing. Cunz estimated the total
prison population at about 2,300, which does not include
military prisons. He noted that more than 80% of these
prisoners have not been formally charged or tried.

CONAKRY 00000524 002 OF 002




8. (C) Cunz said that prisons are operational again in most
parts of the country, even though many of them were
vandalized or destroyed during the period of civil unrest in
early 2007. However, Cunz said that in many cases, the
prisons are deplorable. IRC financed the complete renovation
of ten prisons, but Cunz said they have refused to renovate
an old prison building in N'Zerekore because it is too
dangerous. "The conditions in N'Zerekore are really bad," he
said; "people are kept in enclosed, dark spaces and have no
access to fresh air or light."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) Guinea's Ministry of Justice, which is responsible
for prison administration, has complained in the past of not
even having enough resources to cover basic administrative
costs such as salaries. The judicial system suffers from
endemic corruption and the criminal courts rarely function.
A handful of NGOs are working to improve prison conditions
for a select few, but on the whole, human rights abuses are
rampant. The Government of Guinea has not made any
noticeable effort to address these problems. Embassy plans
to highlight detention center conditions in an upcoming Human
Rights Working Group, which is attended by a wide range of
local and international NGOs, the diplomatic community, and
the Guinean Government. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE