Céline contacted us via the orange button to alert us to tell us a disturbing situation in Lantin prison. “At the moment, detainees refuse to enter their cell, because since the fires, visits are not respected, they are hungry, there is almost nothing. Human rights are not respected, ”she says around 4:00 p.m.
Contacted by us, Yves Dethier, president of the CGSP at Lantin prison, confirms the demonstration: “They are in the courtyard and do not want to go back to their cell, because they denounce the conditions of detention” he confirms. “It’s quite noisy and tense, it hits the doors a little, it shouts. »»
Shortly after 8:30 p.m., the fifty detainees persist in their action. “Usually, they shoot in the weather time to win an hour or two, it’s a game, but here they go to the finish,” said Yves Dethier. The penitentiary establishment called on the local police, who would not have the means to intervene. For their part, the federal police consider that there is no reason to intervene, given the situation “relatively Peace and Love,” said President CGSP.
The management of the Lantin prison is on site and leads discussions with the dissatisfied. Everything takes place in peace and there are no incidents to report, provides the prison administration. After an exchange with management, two detainees agreed to reintegrate their cell. The others stayed in the courtyard, the spokesperson for the prison administration said around 9:30 p.m.
Detention conditions
Yves Dethier tempers Céline’s words, concerning the conditions of detention. He believes that there are exaggerations: “The strict minimum: care, food, hygiene is respected,” says Yves Dethier. He still recognizes certain problems: “With overcrowding and since the fire with the death of a firefighter, the canteen which brought together a lot of foodstuffs burned, you have to get it back on the way. It takes time, but they have their carefree meal, “assures the president of the CGSP at Lantin prison.
A tense situation that can degenerate
The situation on Saturday at Lantin prison is not new. Already Thursday, some detainees refused to get back into their cell, until the arrival of the federal police. “We are trying to give the best possible detention in terms of care, food, courtyard, more activities … But with the lack of staff we have, they complain, they are two or three in an individual cell, sometimes,” deplores Yves Dethier.
The union representative urges the government to grant more means to the prison. “We try to delay it all. We warned general management, but we sit on a time bomb. These are the same problems in Haren and to the North, ”he concludes, asking for structural solutions.
