BUENOS AIRES, Apr 25 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Prisoners in a federal prison in the Villa Devoto district of Argentina, set fire to mattresses and threw stones, chairs, and metal parts, from the roof of the detention centre, onto the police on the ground, images on TN television showed.
A banner read: “We refuse to die in prison.”
The prisoners demanded that security measures be implemented in the detention centre to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
They also demanded that members of risk groups be transferred to house arrest.
The Supreme Criminal Court recently recommended that pretrial detainees, prisoners with sentences under three years, pregnant women, and older prisoners be released into house arrest.
Prison riots occurred repeatedly throughout Latin America over the past few weeks, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the often overcrowded detention centres, people have poor access to hot water, soap, and medical care.
“Physical distance and self-isolation are practically impossible, under such conditions,” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.
