Bolivia prisoners in desperate cry for help

Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 18:44:04 EDT

In Bolivia today 4000 prisoners in different prisons are on hunger strike. 
In the Cochabamba prison several women have gone to the roof of the prison 
and crucified themselves. The 300 women prisoners threaten to sew their lips 
together.   In the Santa Cruz prison 3000 are on hunger strike, many 
refusing to take liquids.  They are demanding a new sentencing law which the 
Bolivian Congress is considering and pardons.

The Pastorate has declared: "The state has imprisoned citizens, the majority 
of them poor, and imprisoned them for years under the presumption of 
guilt..."

We ask for letters/phone calls/protests at Bolivian embassies and
consulates.

Earl Gilman
El Nuevo Topo magazine
Socorro Obrero Sindical
Workers Democracy Network