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Brazil jail massacre: Vigil marks Carandiru anniversary | Brazil jail massacre: Vigil marks Carandiru anniversary |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hundreds of people in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo have held a multi-faith ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of an infamous prison massacre. | |
Riot police killed 111 inmates after entering the Carandiru jail, in central Sao Paulo, to put an end to a riot. | Riot police killed 111 inmates after entering the Carandiru jail, in central Sao Paulo, to put an end to a riot. |
Relatives and human rights activists are demanding justice, saying the inmates were shot at point-blank range. | Relatives and human rights activists are demanding justice, saying the inmates were shot at point-blank range. |
The police officers involved in the killings say they were obeying orders. | |
Last week, the authorities in Brazil set a trial date in January 2013 for dozens of policemen involved in the operation. | Last week, the authorities in Brazil set a trial date in January 2013 for dozens of policemen involved in the operation. |
Colonel Ubiratan Guimaraes, who commanded the raid, was convicted in 2001 for using excessive force to quash the rebellion, but was acquitted on appeal in 2006. | Colonel Ubiratan Guimaraes, who commanded the raid, was convicted in 2001 for using excessive force to quash the rebellion, but was acquitted on appeal in 2006. |
He was found dead in his flat months after having his conviction overturned. | He was found dead in his flat months after having his conviction overturned. |
No one else has been convicted over the killings. | |
'Random shooting' | 'Random shooting' |
Prison riots are common in Brazil's overcrowded jails, but the "Carandiru massacre", as it soon became known, shocked the country in 1992. | Prison riots are common in Brazil's overcrowded jails, but the "Carandiru massacre", as it soon became known, shocked the country in 1992. |
The riot began with a row between two prisoners over a football match they had played in their recreation time. | The riot began with a row between two prisoners over a football match they had played in their recreation time. |
It soon degenerated into a fight between rival gangs. | It soon degenerated into a fight between rival gangs. |
Riot police were accused of using extreme brutality to deal with the situation. | Riot police were accused of using extreme brutality to deal with the situation. |
"We never thought they would come in and kill people randomly, as not everyone had joined the rebellion," 47-year-old Jacy de Oliveira, a survivor, told BBC Brasil's Luis Kawaguti. | "We never thought they would come in and kill people randomly, as not everyone had joined the rebellion," 47-year-old Jacy de Oliveira, a survivor, told BBC Brasil's Luis Kawaguti. |
"The policemen began shooting everyone. I was on the 5th floor. If you looked a policeman in the eyes, you were dead." | "The policemen began shooting everyone. I was on the 5th floor. If you looked a policeman in the eyes, you were dead." |
He said the prisoners had dropped oil on the stairs, to make them slippery. | He said the prisoners had dropped oil on the stairs, to make them slippery. |
"Anyone who slipped was shot dead," said Mr Oliveira. | "Anyone who slipped was shot dead," said Mr Oliveira. |
He said many inmates were also killed by police dogs: "They unleashed their dogs in the barber shop, which is where the wounded prisoners had been taken to." | He said many inmates were also killed by police dogs: "They unleashed their dogs in the barber shop, which is where the wounded prisoners had been taken to." |
Jacy de Oliveira, who later became an evangelical pastor, described his survival as a miracle. | Jacy de Oliveira, who later became an evangelical pastor, described his survival as a miracle. |
He says sending the policemen to prison will do nothing to solve the main problem, which is overcrowding and poor conditions in Brazil's jails. | He says sending the policemen to prison will do nothing to solve the main problem, which is overcrowding and poor conditions in Brazil's jails. |
Brazil has more than 500,000 inmates, the fourth largest prison population in the world. | Brazil has more than 500,000 inmates, the fourth largest prison population in the world. |
Carandiru had 10,000 prisoners in 1992. It saw several riots before the prison was finally closed and the buildings demolished in 2002. | Carandiru had 10,000 prisoners in 1992. It saw several riots before the prison was finally closed and the buildings demolished in 2002. |