As usual 10 December will witness the "Espace d'interpellation democratique" when all citizens may critically comment on the actions and omissions of government. Additionally, a National Forum would be held to discuss the Constitution on dates yet to be fixed. It was recalled that the Constitution was adopted in 1992 just after the 'Revolution" (overthrow of Moussa Traore). In the heat of the moment, many issues were overlooked, and now everybody has something critical about the Constitution. It was time to ventilate and address the concerns of the citizenry on the Constitution. PRISON VISITS Prisons which were visited for the second time are addressed first. They are followed by those visited for the first time. PRISONS REVISITED Bamako Central Prison, Saturday 28 November ritical comments which were made about this prison on my first visit will be recalled, and the current situation indicated. A faulty drainage system prevented water flowing easily out of the prisons. Some of the gutters had been repaired while reconstruction work on others was in progress during my tour of the prison. On my first visit, the inmates of the Juvenile section of the prison found their cells so warm that they preferred an open space abutting upon the former. From seeping roof, stagnant water formed in the cells. On the followup visit, I found the previous juvenile section uninhabited: the inmates had been moved to what used to be the Female Wing for repair work to be undertaken in the former. The female inmates themselves had been moved to Bolle, and with them some of the juveniles. While the inmates at the prison continue to be served with meals three times each day, the quality and quantity of food were matters of serious concern to all the inmates I talked to, as on my previous visit. Complaints about lack of medicine, soap and long remand periods were repeated to me. Ten inmates claimed to have been on remand for more than 5 years. The tense atmosphere in the remand and convicts sections of the prison which was very noticeable and which partly contributed to my not entering the cells here, had ceased relatively. I neither saw nor heard allegations of incidents of assault by guards on prisoners. Other Changes Benches had been provided for visitors outside the prison. Posters outside and within the prison conveyed the message that imprisonment must be humane. Details of visiting hours had also been clearly spelt out at the entrance of the Prison. A room had been prepared to be used by lawyers for consultation with their clients. A shed with two benches had been constructed for prisoners and their visitors. But at the time of our visit, it was not being used by visitors. C