A/HRC/16/52/Add.5 Barawagi Correctional Facility, Shimbu Visited on 21 May 2010 General information The Special Rapporteur was received by Michael Auirap, Acting Commanding Officer, who assumed the position two weeks prior. There were 202 detainees, including 17 females. According to Mr. Auirap, there were no juveniles. The prison was divided into two sections with two cellblocks each. Detainees on remand and high-risk convicted prisoners shared one section, while medium and low-risk prisoners shared the other. In addition, there were four detention (punishment) cells measuring 2x2 meters. The last death in prison had occurred in 2008. There were 48 staff members, including three female warders and four female corporals, who worked in four shifts. However, they needed at least ten more staff members. Between 8.30 and 11 a.m. and 1.30 to 2.30 p.m., the convicted prisoners worked. High-risk detainees were always separated from the others. The remandees are also separated, but not during the day. The Acting Commanding Officer stated that the main concern was the water supply. They pumped water from the river, but did not disinfect it, and they also collected rain water. The staff suffered the same water shortage. Detainees were allowed to leave the cell on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for one hour in order to empty the toilet buckets and wash themselves; however, the time was insufficient. Two days before the visit of the Special Rapporteur there had been a violent incident, where 22 detainees escaped or tried to escape. This resulted in collective punishment and the beatings took place at the guard’s house. During an incident on 11 December 2009 and as a form of punishment, no food was served to the detainees and the guards shot teargas into the locked dormitory. According to some officials a few detainees were about to be released on parole and when others requested to be released, they tried to escape. The Special Rapporteur also heard about instances of inter-prisoner violence, mainly due to the water shortage. Individual cases Cell 4 – Remandees Section The remandees have a large garden, a non-functioning television, natural light, and the dormitory was in a good condition and did not smell bad. However, the detainees did not have mattresses. The remandee who has been there the longest had been there for 11 years, and he suffered from a mental illness. Another detainee has been there for four years and five months. Around 22 detainees out of 45 had been beaten by the officers, mainly with bush knives, stones, belts, boots and iron bars. One detainee had just been beaten and presented fresh and large marks. The main reasons for the beatings were to chase them back to their cells or if someone escaped. Collective punishment was also used. On 11 December 2009, they were locked-in with teargas. Visitors could bring cooked food, but it had to be eaten immediately. They received three meals a day but complained about the lack of medication. Their main recommendations were to improve the food and to have a system for them to go to court more often, as currently they remain on remand for very long periods. A male detainee, aged 24, was arrested at home by seven community police officers. He spent a week at Kundiawa Police Station and was then taken to Barawagi, where he was beaten by an officer with a fan belt on his back, cheeks and ears. When he fell on the ground, the officer kicked him while three officers watched. The reason for the beatings seemed to be “revenge”. He was taken to a medical staff who gave him some aspirins. He would go to court soon but had no lawyer. 54