A devastating fire occurred in the early hours of yesterday in the prison of San Miguel, on the fourth floor of the 5 north and south tower, located south of the great Santiago where 83 prisoners were killed while more than ten found with burns that compromise their respiratory system. The wounded are scattered in different centers in the capital. Soon family members flocked to the gates of the prison to find information about their family and seeking an explanation of what happened. This tragedy brings to the fore the problem lived within the prisons, particularly overcrowding and poor internal security. The Chilean president, Sebastián Piñera, confirmed the lives of criminals and said that what happened "shows that the prison situation in our country does not stand anymore."
This is a prison that had a capacity for 1,100 prisoners and lived more than 1,900 inmates. The number of inmates in prisons across the country reaches 70% - according to figures released by the government in the words of Justice Minister Felipe Bulnes, on 26 July of this year, however, the reality is different, because almost All prisons are overcrowded; there are some that are more than 200 percent of capacity. Overcrowding was seen in all prisons.
The tragedy should give pause to the government authorities to designate resources to build more prisons and prevent over-crowding, providing decent living conditions.
Santiago Archbishop Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz, visited yesterday afternoon by an hour the prison compound. Talked to some survivors of the tower 5 where the fire originated.
Archbishop required background to the identification of the deceased and then was with the prisoners who were saved, those who "were very impressed and thought it was divine providence that had saved, "he said. He spoke also with the rest of the prison population expressing regret "and today, the day of the Immaculate Conception, in all sanctuaries are praying for them and they are accompanying them and their families," according to the department Communications of the archbishopric.
also said that "society has long been forgotten this and only this year, during the Bicentennial, was brought to the forefront." He said the prisoners themselves told him "that this criminal should have been evacuated and some time ago."
La Pastora President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile (IELCH) Dr. Gloria Rojas also expressed his grief and helplessness before the tragedy: "It's amazing to hear that we could not open the" locks "in the heat of the flames, is hence the much higher death. From one side come the disclaimers and convictions, but what is valid to recognize is that in prisons are living a subhuman existence and archaic systems, "he said. Begged to keep in prayer and the families of these children of God, our brothers, "and our thoughts and commitments tend to the decent life of those deprived of liberty" in their just and necessary measure, but that should not be exempt from duty. "
other hand, Pastor Carlos Caamaño IELCH-community of San Pablo, said: "Regardless of the causes, we regret the loss of human beings, not cataloged in any stigma loaded word. They were children of the Creator, made the image and likeness, as all of us and us. This unfortunate happens only realize how unworthy they live so many compatriots. All of them, and they live a hell on earth. censor and that anyone who thinks that such people deserve it because they are criminals, not to forget those and such that Jesus died as a criminal. In our country where justice is sold to the highest bidder, who can really say that someday there would be housed in a prison, taking the nickname of the offender? "
Hector Carrillo Santiago, Thursday, December 9, 2010
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