Relationship between guards and inmates Clothing Inmates provide their own clothes. Non-governmental organisations supply clothes for those who do not have any. It was said to be good with the guards doing their work well and the inmates reciprocating. Discipline and Punishment Mail There is no limit to the letters which inmates can write and receive. The Red Cross tries to unite inmates and families through correspondence. Family members and friends can visit inmates. Each inmate is entitled to 2 visits per month. Games Inmates played football and chess. They also sang, danced and sia_:..1 plays. But on the whole, there was a lack of equipment for games. Health It was noticeable that unlike the other issues above, response to my inquiry on this topic took a long time before it was made, and when it did come it was from different directions not addressing the issue. Eventually isolation in disciplinary cells was given as the main punishment. These cells also housed detainees who were a secunty risk (those arrested for or convicted of armed robbery, for instance). If a guard provoked a detainee the former would be punished. The main problems were, however, among the detainees. I - searLs As Iasi resort, firearm was used to prevent prisoners from escaping. in Med,,,a1 service was provided in the prison. Serious cases were referred to hospitals. T ondition The direeTor spoke of an outbreak of cholera in the prison. \ vat to the premises Vocational Training Both academic and vocational training was provided. The latter is in carpentry, ceramics, clothe-making and electricity. There was also opportunity to take part in agricultural activity: the growing and tending of corn, beans and vegetables. Young adults were given priority in vocational training. Reading and writing lessons up to the 9th grade were given. Exercise/Stay in Cells Inmates who were not engaged in vocational training were allowed to be outside their cells two hours each day, one hour in the morning and another hour in the afternoon. Riots There had been riots by those on remand over food. The pnson had a very neat health centre with a nurse and assistants. Part of the prison had been cordoned off for those suffering from cholera or being treated for it. Since the outbreak of the epidemic in November 1997, 2 inmates had died, 28 were still receiving treatment. 310 had contracted the disease while 285 had been treated at the Health Centre. Also those infected with the disease at Machava civil pnson had been transferred to the Central prison for treatment. Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) was providing medical and material assistance to fight the epidemic. The water system, for instance, was being repaired by MSF. Kitchen and Dining Hall Food was cooked in a kitchen for all the inmates by some of them. They started work at 4 a.m. Unfortunately, a nice dining hall with 26 cement tables each 3 metres long was in disuse because most of the tables and seats were in a state of disrepair. 17 i6