In Paraguay, South America, prisoners took control of a prison and took hostages, demanding that their demands be met. Some South American countries are struggling with prisons controlled by gangs.
According to local media outlets such as ABC Color on the 11th, prisoners rioted at Tacumbu Prison, the largest prison in Paraguay, the previous day, and 22 prison guards, including the prison warden, were captured by the prisoners. The Rotella Clan, a drug trafficking and violent organization with great influence within the prison, led this incident.
The hostage-taking occurred in opposition to the Minister of Justice’s policy to “implement a plan to secure control of Takhumbu Prison.” It is known that the Rotella Clan demanded the dismissal of the Minister of Justice in exchange for the release of the prison guards, as well as documents guaranteeing impunity for this incident.
Paraguayan authorities said order was restored after 15 hours and all prison guards were released. One inmate was found dead inside the prison. It is not known whether the demands of the hostage-taking prisoners were accepted in the process of resolving the situation, but Paraguayan President Santiago Peña said, “There will be no replacement of the Minister of Justice.”
In Venezuela, a gang leader imprisoned last month enjoyed a luxurious life in prison, including a mini zoo, a swimming pool, a nightclub, and even a baseball field, before escaping from the military’s suppression operation.
In July, in Ecuador, a gang leader imprisoned in prison filmed and released a video declaring peace and ending violence between gangs at a press conference inside the prison. At the time, even though some of the gang members even had guns, the police who appeared in the video did nothing to stop them, causing further controversy. The Ecuadorian government has announced a strong response policy, including declaring a state of emergency in prisons across the country, but gang violence in prisons continues to occur frequently.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.