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Video of Mexican Prison Riot Highlights a Crisis as Elections Near Video of Mexican Prison Riot Highlights a Crisis as Elections Near
(about 17 hours later)
MEXICO CITY — With little interference from guards, the inmates rampage. MEXICO CITY — With little interference from guards, the inmates rampage.
Video images capture dozens of prisoners racing over fences, pummeling one another, breaking windows and furniture and wheeling bodies stacked on a cart.Video images capture dozens of prisoners racing over fences, pummeling one another, breaking windows and furniture and wheeling bodies stacked on a cart.
Guards are there, but do little more than watch as inmates force open gates and stroll through corridors en masse. Later, the guards can be seen dragging the wounded, and several apparently dead prisoners, into a room.Guards are there, but do little more than watch as inmates force open gates and stroll through corridors en masse. Later, the guards can be seen dragging the wounded, and several apparently dead prisoners, into a room.
After the riot, at a prison in San Luis Potosí State in central Mexico two years ago, the authorities said 13 people had been killed and 65 wounded.After the riot, at a prison in San Luis Potosí State in central Mexico two years ago, the authorities said 13 people had been killed and 65 wounded.
Now the video footage, recorded by security cameras at the time of the riot, is providing a vivid illustration of what actually happened inside the prison, raising tough questions about the response to such outbreaks in the country’s chronically overcrowded and violent prisons.Now the video footage, recorded by security cameras at the time of the riot, is providing a vivid illustration of what actually happened inside the prison, raising tough questions about the response to such outbreaks in the country’s chronically overcrowded and violent prisons.
Jailbreaks, massacres and deadly rioting, sometimes in collusion with corrupt guards, are common in Mexico.Jailbreaks, massacres and deadly rioting, sometimes in collusion with corrupt guards, are common in Mexico.
In 2012, at least 44 inmates were killed in a riot among members of rival drug gangs at a prison in northeastern Mexico in what is believed to be the highest death toll in recent years. An investigation showed that guards allowed prisoners belonging to one gang, the Zetas, to surge into a cell block dominated by their rivals, the Gulf Cartel.In 2012, at least 44 inmates were killed in a riot among members of rival drug gangs at a prison in northeastern Mexico in what is believed to be the highest death toll in recent years. An investigation showed that guards allowed prisoners belonging to one gang, the Zetas, to surge into a cell block dominated by their rivals, the Gulf Cartel.
At the San Luis Potosí prison, known as La Pila, a similar dynamic was believed to be behind the riot, with one gang complaining that members of another were extorting and harassing it. The authorities said the combatants were members of the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, whose battle for dominance has sown widespread violence in several pockets of the country. At the San Luis Potosí prison, known as La Pila, a similar dynamic was believed to be behind the riot, with one gang complaining that members of another were extorting and harassing them. The authorities said the combatants were members of the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, whose battle for dominance has sown widespread violence in several pockets of the country.
The two hours of footage shows inmates, some of them masked, passing through a security checkpoint unchallenged by guards.The two hours of footage shows inmates, some of them masked, passing through a security checkpoint unchallenged by guards.
The inmates fought with blades fashioned from glass and sticks. Bright flashes resembling gunshots can be seen, though the authorities later said no such weapons were used in the attack.The inmates fought with blades fashioned from glass and sticks. Bright flashes resembling gunshots can be seen, though the authorities later said no such weapons were used in the attack.
Ivan Juárez Ojeda, a spokesman for the state secretary of public security, said in an interview that the authorities have fully acknowledged and regretted the episode and have taken steps to improve safety and control crime at the prison.Ivan Juárez Ojeda, a spokesman for the state secretary of public security, said in an interview that the authorities have fully acknowledged and regretted the episode and have taken steps to improve safety and control crime at the prison.
In the aftermath of the riot, he said, three guards and nine prisoners were prosecuted on charges related to the violence. The director of the prison was fired.In the aftermath of the riot, he said, three guards and nine prisoners were prosecuted on charges related to the violence. The director of the prison was fired.
The authorities did not challenge the authenticity of the footage, which was provided by an opponent of the government.The authorities did not challenge the authenticity of the footage, which was provided by an opponent of the government.
Midterm elections in Mexico are on Sunday, and the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI, seeking to hold onto the governor’s office in five of nine states in play, including San Luis Potosí.Midterm elections in Mexico are on Sunday, and the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI, seeking to hold onto the governor’s office in five of nine states in play, including San Luis Potosí.
It is also striving to hold onto or expand a narrow majority in the lower house of the national Congress, as well as defending a slew of municipal posts.It is also striving to hold onto or expand a narrow majority in the lower house of the national Congress, as well as defending a slew of municipal posts.
In a statement, Concepción Tovar Monreal, head of state security in San Luis Potosí, said the government “truly regrets the publication of these videos” and suggested that their leak was intended to influence the election.In a statement, Concepción Tovar Monreal, head of state security in San Luis Potosí, said the government “truly regrets the publication of these videos” and suggested that their leak was intended to influence the election.
“They revive a moment of crisis suffered by the people of San Luis Potosí State, with electoral purposes, with no consideration for the pain of the victim’s families,” she said.“They revive a moment of crisis suffered by the people of San Luis Potosí State, with electoral purposes, with no consideration for the pain of the victim’s families,” she said.
Still, the problems shown in the footage are hardly unique to San Luis Potosí.Still, the problems shown in the footage are hardly unique to San Luis Potosí.
They can be found in many state and federal prisons in Mexico, and across Latin America, as the authorities struggle to weaken powerful gangs and contain them in cramped prisons built before the surge in drug violence of recent years.They can be found in many state and federal prisons in Mexico, and across Latin America, as the authorities struggle to weaken powerful gangs and contain them in cramped prisons built before the surge in drug violence of recent years.
In Mexico, there are 242,754 inmates in prisons that were built to hold a maximum of 195,278, according to government statistics.In Mexico, there are 242,754 inmates in prisons that were built to hold a maximum of 195,278, according to government statistics.
“Mexican prisons are places that tend to produce more criminality, not only because of the overcrowding present in many of them, and corruption, but also because inmates of varying degrees of dangerousness are placed together,” said Leslie Solis, a researcher at Mexico Evalúa, a public policy research group that has been studying the issue.“Mexican prisons are places that tend to produce more criminality, not only because of the overcrowding present in many of them, and corruption, but also because inmates of varying degrees of dangerousness are placed together,” said Leslie Solis, a researcher at Mexico Evalúa, a public policy research group that has been studying the issue.
The group said that prison guards were often abusive to prisoners or corrupted by them. The nation’s spiraling prison population has led to a system of warehousing more than one of rehabilitation.The group said that prison guards were often abusive to prisoners or corrupted by them. The nation’s spiraling prison population has led to a system of warehousing more than one of rehabilitation.
“The Mexican penitentiary system is in crisis,” the group said in a 2013 report, which was followed by equally damning assessments in subsequent years. “And yet the issue is not being addressed, much less solved.”“The Mexican penitentiary system is in crisis,” the group said in a 2013 report, which was followed by equally damning assessments in subsequent years. “And yet the issue is not being addressed, much less solved.”
The country’s National Commission on Human Rights, which has said 65 percent of prisons are controlled by organized crime, has ranked San Luis Potosí prisons among the bottom in safety, overcrowding and prevention of violence. The country’s National Commission on Human Rights, which has said 65 percent of prisons are controlled by organized crime, has ranked San Luis Potosí prisons near the bottom in safety, overcrowding and prevention of violence.
Many prisons simply turn into centers for crime, with drug deals, extortion rackets and other offenses coordinated behind bars and taking place both inside and outside the walls.Many prisons simply turn into centers for crime, with drug deals, extortion rackets and other offenses coordinated behind bars and taking place both inside and outside the walls.
“Some prisons have turned into valuable assets for these criminal groups,” said Eduardo Guerrero, a security analyst who specializes in organized crime. “These facilities can serve as a source for revenue through constant extortion and a lucrative drug-dealing business inside prison.”“Some prisons have turned into valuable assets for these criminal groups,” said Eduardo Guerrero, a security analyst who specializes in organized crime. “These facilities can serve as a source for revenue through constant extortion and a lucrative drug-dealing business inside prison.”
The video footage suggests that the authorities had the foresight to install cameras to document irregularities. But prevention is another matter.The video footage suggests that the authorities had the foresight to install cameras to document irregularities. But prevention is another matter.
“Prisons are overpopulated, unhygienic, and fail to provide basic security for most inmates,” Human Rights Watch said in a report on Mexico last year.“Prisons are overpopulated, unhygienic, and fail to provide basic security for most inmates,” Human Rights Watch said in a report on Mexico last year.
Mexico has built at least two new, privately run prisons in recent years and has arranged training of some guards by the United States. But analysts said riots with multiple injuries or deaths still occur regularly, though they are not always reported to the news media.Mexico has built at least two new, privately run prisons in recent years and has arranged training of some guards by the United States. But analysts said riots with multiple injuries or deaths still occur regularly, though they are not always reported to the news media.