MOSCOW, October 27 (RIA Novosti) — More than 5,000 prisoners are on hunger-strike to denounce conditions in Colombian prisons, particularly overcrowding, and to force the government to take action in order to reform the system, Notimerica news portal reported.
"We are going on hunger-strike and we want the government to pay attention to our requirements in this complex situation," Notimerica quoted one of the prisoners as saying Sunday.
At least 5,200 prisoners from 19 detention facilities across the country are taking part in the hunger strike, which is a last resort for Colombian prisoners who have previously taken part in several incidences of organized disobedience refusing to obey the orders of the guards.
The most difficult situation has been reported in the Combita prison in Boyaca, Colombia, where some 1,500 prisoners have been in organized disobedience for about a week, the news portal reported.
On October 25, Notimerica reported that Colombian prisoners were held in inhumane conditions. One prisoner's living space in a Colombian prison is no more than 60 square centimeters (around 10 in2).
