The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (MNP) condemns the actions of the Penitentiary Agents Reaction Group (GRAP), which a few days ago broke into the Villarrica Regional Penitentiary with the supposed objective of carrying out a search. On that occasion, attacks against inmates were reportedly committed.
The GRAP -composed by uniformed, hooded and unidentified prison officers– would have entered the Villarrica prison last Wednesday with shotguns loaded with rubber pellets, shooting at the ceiling and in some cases, to the body of persons deprived of libertyaccording to the NPM report.
On that occasion, the interveners would have also given blows, kicks, pushed the inmatesin addition to denote discriminatory and degrading treatment (including older adults and people with a disability).
It may interest you: Control of smoke from cars entering via Chile begins tomorrow, they fear “crowded ports”
Based on complaints, the NPM visited the penitentiary and interviewed more than 100 inmates from different wardswho agreed in his story and confirmed that the operation took place under these irregular conditionseven cataloging the operation as a “armed robbery”
The report also mentions that the inmates were forced to go out into the courtyard, without clothes, with their heads bowed and under the prohibition to look at the members of the reaction group. While, Other agents proceeded to search the pavilions, taking all the valuables, including clothes, shoes and money.. According to the interviewees, also they smashed televisions, appliances and other belongings.
The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture requested a audience with the Minister of Justice, Daniel Benítezin order to demand the end of irregular actions by this reaction groupthe attribution of responsibilities in this specific case and the punishment of those responsible.
Also read: Employee denounces that he was brutally beaten by his employer
“The MNP understands the need to monitor the security conditions of the penitentiary centers, however, it is certain that any operation must adhere to the principles of legality, proportionality, strict necessity and accountability“he mentions in the statement.
