CONDITIONS AT CHACABUCO PRISON CAMP

Created: 6/14/1974

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

MORALE AMONG THE PRISONERS AT THE CHACABUCO PRISON CAMP NEAR ANTOFAGASTA IS FAIRLY GOOD. THE PRISONERS ARE GIVEN CONSIDERABLE FREEDOM OF ACTION AND ARE ALLONEO Tu ELECT LEADERS TO DIRECT PRISONER ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE PERMITTED TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS AS LONG AS THEY ARE NONPOLITICAL. IN PRIVATE, POLITICAL DISCUSSION CONTINUES DESPITE THE BAN.

RELATIONS AMONG THE PRISONERS ARE GOOD. THE COMMUNISTS, HONEVER, MAINTAIN THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE CAMP AND KEEP

THEMSELVES ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE PRISONERS.

THERE IS NO TORTURING OF PRISONERS IN CHACABUCO, ALTHOUGH SOME SUFFERED MALTREATMENT WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED THERE INHE PRISONERSACT TO COMMIT MASS SUICIDE BY RUNNING AGAINST THE ELECTRIFIED FENCE ENCLOSING THE CAMP AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TORTURE, AND THE CAMP OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PLAN.

SANITATION CONDITIONS ARE DEPLORABLE, AND THE PRISONERS RECEIVE ONLY ONEAY. CONSISTING MOSTLY OF BEANS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE ALLOWEI TO RECEIVE FOOD PACKAGES FROM FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO KNOWN PLANS FOR ESCAPE HATCHED AMONG THE PRISONERS AND NO ARMS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN SMUGGLED INTO CAMP. EVOLVER THAT WAS LOSTUARD WAS RECOVEREDRISONER. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OVER TO THE AUTHORITIES SINCE ITS PRESENCE JEOPARDIZED EVERYONE. THE GUARDS ARE CHANGED EVERY TWO WEEKS AND THERE IS LITTLE CONTACT BETWEEN THEM AND THE PRISONERS.