(10 Apr 2013) SHOTLIST
1. Wide exterior of "El Combinado del Este" prison with inmates playing baseball
2. Various of security towers, fences, and guards
3. High shot of guard walking with three handcuffed prisoners
4. Tracking shot of cell block with prisoners inside locked cells
5. Various of guard unlocking cell doors
6. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Yosvani Ramos, prisoner:
"We have faith in Cuban justice. Regardless of how stiff the sanction may be, they always give us many benefits."
7. Wide high shot of prisoners playing volleyball on court
8. Mid high shot of prisoners sitting around court
9. Wide of fence and security
10. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Lieutenant Colonel Rogelio Soto, prison warden:
"You are now being given the opportunity to enter our penitentiary even though we have imperfections, limited resources, and with the structural difficulties we have."
11. Mid of guard opening gate for nurse; gate jams, then guard locks it
12. Close up of guard's hands locking gate
13. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Lieutenant Colonel Rogelio Soto, prison warden:
"We are going down that road; we are going that way. This is a sign that we are willing to let our system be seen."
14. Mid of media walking through security point
15. Close up of security guard looking at monitors
16. Various of families visiting prisoners
17. Zoom out of guard opening gate for another guard
18. Tilt down of officer walking past beds
19. Wide of guard tower, vehicle disassembly plant in background
20. Tracking shot of prisoners disassembling rental car
21. Wide of security fence and towers
22. Tracking shot of drummers
23. Wide of prisoner band playing Salsa music for media
STORYLINE
In a rare display of openness, the Cuban government allowed foreign media to visit the island's largest high-security prison on Tuesday
"El Combinado del Este" prison on the outskirts of Havana houses 3,000 men in a 3.5 square kilometre (2.2 mile) compound surrounded by barbed wire, high fences and heavily armed guards.
Combinado is one of five maximum security facilities within a system total of 200 detention centres island-wide.
The prison visited by The Associated Press looked clean, recently painted, and showed no signs of overcrowding.
Cells consisted of three bunk beds, a toilet, and a curtained shower.
Inmates did not speak out against the institution.
The majority would not speak on camera, but did say that conditions within the prison weren't as bad as many outsiders would assume.
Some expressed concern over the fairness of the judicial system and long prison sentences.
Others held hope for their cases.
"We have faith in Cuban justice. Regardless of how stiff the sanction may be, they always give us many benefits," said Yosvani Ramos, a 37-seven year old inmate who has been awaiting trial for the past nine months for human trafficking.
Considered a crime against the state, human trafficking carries a mandatory seven to 15-year sentence in Cuba.
Cuba's prison system has been criticised over the years for not allowing independent international observers inside their walls.
Combinado's warden, Lieutenant Colonel Rogelio Soto of Cuba's Ministry of Interior, said that authorities are looking to destigmatise the penitentiary system's image by allowing visits like the one permitted on Tuesday.
"You are now being given the opportunity to enter our penitentiary even though we have imperfections, limited resources, and with the structural difficulties we have," he said.
"This is a sign that we are willing to let our system be seen," Soto added.
The parts are then sold by another government entity.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
26 сен 2024
