Public Denunciation from Inmates at the Prison in San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Oaxaca

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The following statement comes from prisoners in San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, and addresses grievances they have with the prison system. 

On Saturday, January 13^th, Óscar Rodríguez de la Rosa was appointed as the new director of the prison in Cuicatlán. His opening words in front of the entire prison population addressed the respect for human rights that we have as prisoners and that he would maintain.  These rights are established by different international conventions and treaties like the Standard Minimal Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, our own Constitution, as well as the Law of Execution of Prison Sentences and Restrictions of Freedom of the state of Oaxaca, among others.

Part of these rights include adequate food, healthcare, clothing, education and recreation.  These rights, since the arrival of director Óscar Rodríguez, have been violated in various ways.  In just five days, he has restricted a variety of our rights without any legal justification, clearly demonstrating through his actions and attitude the stigma he has for us as prisoners and Indigenous people (the majority of the population are members of various Indigenous groups such as Chinantecos, Triquis, Cuicatecos, Nahuas, Mazatecos and Mixtecos). The fact that we are Indigenous has brought discrimination against us, intending to make us feel as if we have no rights and as such can be treated poorly.

Below we list some of these violations:

• One of his first actions was to limit the entrance of food that was permitted before his arrival, as well as the quantity. The food that they give us in “the ranch” is not clean, sufficient, nor of good quality.  It doesn’t have nutritional value, nor is it adequate for our necessary diet.  The only manner in which we have to eat healthily is with the food that our families bring us.
• He has prohibited the entrance of family members, such as cousins and uncles, as well as friends. Before, with a written note, a request could be made soliciting the director to authorize these visits.  Being in contact with our family and friends allows us to maintain our mental health and preserve the affective ties that we had before entering the prison.  As Indigenous peoples, our families are broad and we have different kinship that we maintain as part of our group and whose visits have to be respected.
• He has prohibited the entrance of personal hygiene items like deodorant and cleaning items for our cells, so that are cleanliness is limited, effecting our health.
• Neither has he permitted the entrance of footwear or clothes, although they are of the color and model authorized before arrival (jeans or beige pants, tennis shoes, sandals). All of these articles are fundamental for us. We require clothes and footwear, as well as the necessary objects allowing us to maintain good hygiene and health.
• Regarding sports, when asked for support to have soccer and basketball tournaments which we had before his arrival allowing a healthy coexistence between internal and external teams, as well as keeping us in good health from the exercise, his response was “How are you are going to support me, if in place of support you destroy the security razor wire. Not at any moment did I send you to jail here”.  Up until now, we have not been able to have any cultural, sport or recreational activities, since he has not allowed it.
• Furthermore, there was a musical group that was formed by some inmates who were previously engaged in music on the outside and who had solicited access to their instruments, for which in the hours established, they could rehearse to conserve their artistic and cultural abilities. The director prohibited the use of musical instruments, “because they make too much noise”.  Like that, we cannot play any instrument, nor are we permitted to listen to music from the only speaker that we had in the entire prison located at the basketball court.  This speaker in itself didn’t fulfill the function for which it was constructed.  We have the right to participate in cultural, recreational, sporting and educational activities.  However, the new rules of Óscar Rodríguez, limits our physical and mental wellbeing that supports our development as people.
• Óscar Rodríguez, as director of the public institution, has made different comments such as those we have mentioned where he is judging us and demonstrating the prejudice he has toward the prison population. He hasn’t considered that many of our cases are still being processed and we should be treated as such.  He is thus violating the presumption of innocence.  Furthermore, many of us have not had access to justice and we are already practically serving a sentence, being denied our freedom.
• In Cuicatlán, the climate is very hot, with temperatures that reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Nearly a year ago, the population pitched in $7000 pesos to install a roof in front of the entrance to the prison.  Thus, the people who come to visit and wait in line to enter, could have a little bit of shade while waiting.  However, this Monday, Óscar Rodríguez got rid of that roof that covered our visitors from the direct sun, without considering or caring that children and elderly come to visit and are among those affected.  This installation does not interfere with the entrance of the prison nor affect the passage of people.  This is why it was authorized in the first place.

For all the violations and restrictions that we have described above, we demand that Óscar Rodríguez de la Rosa be dismissed immediately for omitting the established rights.  We demand that they respect our human rights as imprisoned people, whoever it be who comes to take the position as director.  We demand that they respect the rights that we have as members of Indigenous communities.  We demand that they respect our families and not penalize them with the restriction of freedom that we are fulfilling.  We hold Óscar Rodríguez de la Rosa and the corresponding authorities responsible for whatever retaliation may take place.  Finally, we denounce the change they are attempting to make in the Mexican Prison System, by trying to “certify” according to the United States model and privatize the prisons.  These types of actions are clear proof of this.

We Are Raising Our Voice!

Inmates of the Prison of San Juan Bautista Cuicatlán, Oaxaca