l ylSltln Monday - Friday Week-end 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 3-6 p.m. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 3.30 - 6 p.m. Correspondence Unlimited but censored. An inmate was left paralysed after receiving an injection from a visiting foreign doctor. He had asked the prosecutor to put him on the list for provisional release in order to get treatment elsewhere, but he has had no response. Most of the prisoners have no families to help them. Their lawyers also never call to hear them. Health "Human rights does not exist in Mono (district covering Lokossa). Small problems between man and wife may end you in prison." No sick bay or first aid kit. Discipline Cell 2 3 disciplinary cells were provided for in the plan. One is used as such while the other 2 are used by the guards. Fighting and stealing are the offences which land prisoners in the disciplinary cell. The prison was opened on 12 December 1997. It was built with funds from France. Visit of the premises The inmate in the disciplinary cell admitted that he tried to escape twice, each time just before his release. He had no complaint against the guards. Two cells usually reserved for old or sick inmates were being used by other prisoners because of overcrowding. Complaints and observations from one cell sum up those from the rest. Unique ones are noted. There was the general fear of reprisals after our visit for what was feared to have been said, as this had happened after similar visits. The Director was asked to kindly ensure that this did not happen. Cell 1 They all had mats but not sufficient sleeping room. The food was insufficient and the cell very warm. The Director does not offer them the opportunity to complain to him. They get no answers to their questions and problems, from the guards. Their remand is long. 9 years was the longest remand noted. "If you are sick, you are abandoned to die. 9 prisoners have died this year. No amnesty has been given this year (a point made in other prisons)." The last director was so bad that there was a riot. The new director is good. Prisoners are not made aware of their right to bail until after years in custody. They contribute to buy medicine for each other, otherwise nothing is done for them. Soap is given once a month. Many are brought into custody because it is claimed that the public would lynch them. Light is put on between 6 - 7 p.m. It was on this day in daytime because of my visit. In this prison if you do not have money, you do not have liberty. You have to give money to the judge for your case to be heard." "Innocent people are taken into custody. A poor man has an argument with the rich; the latter complains, and the former is brought here." Kitchen This is now used as a food store. But when prisoners die or are about to die, they are brought here. Female Wln 5 inmates, one with a child, lived in a spacious and very neat cell. A small garden had been raised in the courtyard. Six years without trial was the longest remand time here. One of them was accused of witchcraft (killing through this medium). She was found guilty by an assize court. Another expressed surprise that women could be kept for a long time without contact with the outside world. They could not attend funeral of members of their family, for instance. Whenever they were sick, they had to support themselves. 44 45