28 which could well have been the result of assault with belt, as the victim claimed had been used by the guard, were very visible on the back and abdomen of this prisoner. They also complained that the guards demanded money before allowing visitors to see them. Two of the inmates complained that for two years they had been kept 24 hours a day in that cell without being brought before a court Out of the 17 inmates in this cell only 3 were convicts. All of them were allowed out only to have a shower or go to toilet. They also complained that the guards had asked them for money so that they could be allowed to change to cells 3, 4 and 5. 5 of those in this cell were juveniles. One of them, Amadou Saye (16 years old) had been there for 6 months while a 15 year old had spent a longer period than Amadou. Sometimes for 2 months, they complained, they would not get soap. Discussion with detainees in cell 2 Of the 24 inmates only one was a convict. 2 alleged that they had been beaten recently by a guard with belt. The wounds and marks on the bodies of Dramane Tambadou (17 years old and Ibrahim Dembele 18 years old) could well have been the result of assault with belt. The conditions under which the inmates were detained were generally similar to those of the inmates of cell 1. 2 of the inmates stated that they had been on remand in this cell for 2 years. They ate once a day, and the food was small. They denied that they ate rice on Sunday. A juvenile was in leg iron and he stated that he had been in that condition 24 hours a day. They claimed that detainees who give money to the guards were allowed to escape. To be able to live outside this cell one had to pay the guards CFA 10,000. A Liberian prisoner Anson David, I was informed, died of starvation. A prisoner who was operated upon in December 1996 needed medication, but had none. He claimed that his urine and stool were bloody. Ventilation in both cells was terrible, and there was very little light as well. It was not, therefore, surprising that when the doors of both cells were opened the inmates squinted. They were supplied with neither blankets not clothes. Final discussion with chief of guards When asked why the inmates of cells 1 and 2 were kept indoors the whole day, he replied that it was to prevent their escape. 29 He franldy informed me that he had his own policy for dealing with prisoners as regards security. If a prisoner tried to escape or escaped he would be apprehended and put into leg irons for 8 days. On a second occasion, the prisoner's arms and feet would be chained for 8 days. A third attempt or escape would be followed with beating with belt and a wooden stick. He was aware that his «bosses» from DNAPES would not approve of his practices since they were against corporal punishment for prisoners. But, according to him, if he was following the regulations he should order the guards to shoot prisoners who tried to escape. But he preferred to beat such prisoners. It was the only way to rehabilitate them and get them to obey prison regulations ( 'la seulc maniere de leur faire comprendre et respecter le reglement est de les cognen>). He confessed that he feared being prosecuted for the escape of a prisoner. The prison buildings were falling apart, and the prisoners could easily escape if deterrent measures were not taken. The registrar who had been away during my meeting with the Chief of guards then turned up to say that the two prisoners with marks on them had in fact been beaten by police officers during interrogation (qa la police ils ont des manieres de les faire parler»). I witnessed the reception into prison of a new accused person. In an interview with him he stated that he had been detained at a police station for 24 hours. He was not maltreated, and he did not see any one being ill treated there. He had, however, not had nay food during his detention. 28 August 1997, Mopti Governor of Mopti, Daouda Tangara Present at a meeting with the governor was Bokary Boire, Civil Administrator. The governor attributed the bad conditions of detention to harsh economic circumstances. He was aware that the prison was in a state of disrepair and was also overcrowded. I urged the governor to visit the prison with a view to effecting improvement which was within his power; and also seeing things at first hand.