La Modelo

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La Modelo (English: The Model [Prison]) is a prison in Bogotá, Colombia. With a population of 5,000 inmates, the facility is known for its violence. The prison's north wing is filled with left-wing rebels while the south wing is filled with right-wing government supporters and paramilitaries. The area in between these two wings is where many killings in the prison take place. The prison guards do not carry weapons in the prison, although the ones in the guard towers do control rifles. Prisoners from both sides easily have access to guns and even grenades. Members of FARC continue to drill in their section of the prison. There are restaurants in the prison and one is sponsored by FARC which provides free food to left-wing rebels.

On April 27, 2000, 25 prisoners were murdered in fighting. After the killings and the publicity it created the government began to change the prison order. Many of the private shops have been shut down and security has been stepped up, although inmates still have access to arms.

[edit] References

• Battle Behind Bars. Discovery Times Channel. 28 May 2006.
• "Human Rights Abuses Against Prisoners." Human Rights Watch. 28 May 2006 <http://hrw.org/prisons/abuses.html>.