GOG CUTS OFF FOOD DELIVERIES TO PRISONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000248 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI GV SUBJECT: GOG CUTS OFF FOOD DELIVERIES TO PRISONS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. According to multiple sources, the Government of Guinea has stopped delivering food to the country's prisons. Prison directors now rely upon charities, international organizations and others to provide food for 1,100 prisoners and described the situation as "catastrophic." A recent prison visit by PolOff revealed two unequal systems of incarceration: the majority of inmates are malnourished, poverty-stricken prisoners living in life-threatening conditions while elite prisoners routinely receive food, water and personal items from the outside. The deplorable situation in the jail mirrors the cultural, economic and political realities of Guinean society today. END SUMMARY. -------------- "CATASTROPHIC SITUATION" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Post was contacted April 29 by a local prison advocacy NGO who reported that the government had stopped providing food and medicine to Surete National, Conakry's central prison, an overcrowded facility that incarcerates approximately 1,100 individuals. PolOff, accompanied by NGO ASWAR (Support for Refugees and Displaced Persons in Detention) Director Soraya Laghfiri, visited Surete that same day and confirmed the lack of government-provided food. PolOff was given access to all parts of the prison and was able to question prisoners directly. ¶3. (SBU) During the visit, PolOff spoke with the Director of Surete National and the National Director of Prisons, both of whom work for the Guinean Ministry of Justice, who confirmed that the prison is now totally reliant on charities, NGOs, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to feed the entire prison population. Without the assistance of these organizations, the Prison Director said that the situation would be "catastrophic". When asked why no food or medicine is being provided, both men looked deflated and stated separately that "there is no budget." When asked about his next step in terms of securing government food for the prisoners, the Prison Director stated that he was waiting for the Minister of Justice to return from a trip to Brussels. PolOff reminded both Directors of the government's responsibly to provide food, medicine, and water to prisoners. The Prison Director admitted that he was equally concerned about prisons up-county and indicated that they were also not receiving food or assistance. -------------- DEATHS FROM MALNUTRITION -------------- 4.(SBU) The prison's doctor confirmed that 12 prisoners had died of malnutrition since January 1. Laghfiri claimed that three other prisoners were released from the jail early and died within a day. ¶5. (U) In each cell that PolOff visited, at least one very ill inmate was identified and told to visit the prison doctor. In one very crowded cell, a skeletal inmate was pushed forward by the other prisoners who identified him as having tuberculosis. (Note: There are nine identified tuberculosis cases in the prison.) -------------- PRISONERS APPEAR SKELETAL AND LISTLESS -------------- ¶6. (U) PolOff observed several minimally ventilated cells holding between 35 and 40 prisoners in very crowded conditions. Prisoners in these cells appeared skeletal; some were completely listless, others were lying on the floor and did not look up. Prisoners appeared dirty, dispirited, and quiet. At 1400 no prisoner had yet received food for the day. -------------- VIP PRISONERS AND GENDARMES -------------- ¶7. (U) A neighboring cell housed roughly a dozen gendarmes accused of international drug trafficking. Although the cell was crowded, these men stated that they bought food and water from the outside or received it from their families. They appeared robust and unlike the prisoners next door, they were sitting up, playing cards, and alert. When asked by PolOff why they were in jail, they replied that they had no idea. ¶8. (U) Poloff also visited the special quarters reserved for 19 VIP prisoners including ex-ministers, Ousmane Conte (son of the former president and alleged narco-kingpin),and other former high-level government officials. These prisoners are housed in one free-standing building consisting of a single large cement room furnished with beds, mattresses and linens brought from their homes. Each bed had a fan and a large color television was playing. CONAKRY 00000248 002 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) The VIP building has a comfortable and shady veranda furnished with plastic chairs, plush bucket seats removed from old cars where two older men were involved in discussion, and a large table spread with food and water supplied by their families. Several prisoners were sitting on chairs relaxing, while others were eating plates heaped with rice, meat and sauce. In contrast to the life-threatening conditions across the courtyards, these prisoners were well fed, comfortable, and generally free to move around outside their quarters. In fact, PolOff was directed to another cell until the VIPs had returned from the mosque located in the prison courtyard. -------------- LACK OF WATER -------------- ¶10. (U) Prisoners complained about not having enough water to drink and bathe. In one cell, four plastic containers of 20 liters were provided for 40 prisoners for bathing and drinking. They were empty at the time of the visit. Although a new well was dug last year, the electric pump is broken. It has been replaced several times by ASWAR, but is no longer working. Water for the entire prison population is hauled by hand out of the well. -------------- BARE KITCHEN -------------- ¶11. (U) During Embassy's last tour of the prison on February 4, the kitchen contained only three 50-pound bags of rice; this time the kitchen was completely bare and workers were waiting for food delivery from the Sisters of Charity who provide one meal a day, three days a week. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The government's inability to provide regular food deliveries to Conakry's main prison reflects the serious economic disorder of the current administration and suggests a systemic disregard for human rights. ¶13. (SBU) The drastic inequality between those prisoners who are suffering from severe malnutrition and those who are relaxing on a shady porch after a full meal from home, reflect current social, political and cultural realities in Guinea. Military officers, former members of the government, and alleged drug dealers continue to receive special treatment, while others suffer life-threatening conditions. A complacent press, and an uneducated population struggling with harsh economic conditions and an unstable political situation are unlikely to advocate on behalf of desperate prisoners. Embassy will continue to monitor the situation and explore ways to register our concerns. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC