WikiLeaks: The Unknown Prisoner

600 prisoners kept in a 40 ft x 38 ft cell.

George Donnelly Has been reading cables in his new project WikiLeak-a-day on Friday’s show he read 08Asmara546 which particularly caught my attention. The cable is dated 2008 Nov 12th.

In Asmara an Unknown prisoner who spent 5 months in jail recounted his experience. His name and many details are censored from the cable presumably for protection of the victims. He was placed in a 40 x 36 ft. cell with 600 fellow prisoners. There was no room to lay down. He also accounts the beatings he received during multiple interrogations.

The cable reveals that he was imprisoned for his name and social, religious and cultural reasons.The cable recounts: Prisoners were fed 2 pieces of bread three times a day and allowed to use the toilet twice a day. A bucket in the middle of the room served as a toilet between escorted bathroom breaks, but it constantly spilled and contaminated the room with urine and feces. Many prisoners could not talk due to the lack of water, their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths from thirst.

It goes on to state the reason for many prisoners was due to their religion, specifically protestants.

when the unknown prisoner was allowed out to use the restroom, he saw a man sitting with his arms tied and raised behind his back. His feet were tied together and a wooden pole was placed beneath his knees. He saw head with a rubber hose and wooden sticks.

Within this group children were included. The cable reports approximately 35 boys ages 8-13 detained with the men.

The unknown prisoner was released after five months of captivity and torture with no explanation to why he was released or detained. He was interrogated about his name & family members names they appeared to be suspicious of his national origin to his captors.