A visit to the jail.

Yesterday Marion and I went with Sister Marg Malady to visit the prisoners she teaches English to in the Miguel Castro Castro Penal Maximum Security. Prior to that we had to wait a number of weeks for our request to visit the jail to be processed and granted.
To say the least we both found it rather daunting to approach such an institution and the film ‘Shoreshank Redemption’ became a vivid reality as we faced all the check points and moved further into the complex. Some of the initial impressions were – concrete, steel, cold, close living, starkness, enclosure.
All the prisoners in this part of the jail are classed as political prisoners and as such are separated completely from the common prisoners. They are also classed as low risk. They were extremely friendly and were prepared to show us as much of the jail as possible. There seemed to be a very relaxed atmosphere in that they were able to move from cell block to cell block. All these four storey blocks were built around a central circular area.
A large proportion were employed in such activities as learning English, French or Italian, studying law or administration or working at ceramics, painting or woodwork. Some had even established their own small kitchens or shops. They do not receive a wage so they work out their own ways of getting some money. Basic foods are supplied by the authorities; however, they did say they do not get fresh milk, fruit or vegetables. They have to rely on visitors to supply that type of food.
Alex, their English teacher welcomed us to the group and also explained the present situation regarding their sentences, he has served fifteen of his eighteen years. The actual class consisted of twelve men with a wide range of English language ability. We then talked about why we came to Lima and answered many questions about Australia ranging from geography to social security and beyond! After about ninety minutes we shared a cup of coffee with a few and listened to an unbelievable classical guitarist.
It can be very sobering to talk to someone who has still seventeen years to serve; he will be seventy-two when released.
As Alex and his friends escorted us to the last gate they are allowed to approach we promised them that we will return and talk some more.
We both came away with this grand dilemma – on one hand should not the government come to terms with the fact that ‘enough is enough’ and show some leniency or are some of these men still basically terrorists and therefore deserve their sentence?
The final weird anomaly was that we returned to the multiple locks, bolts and steel mesh that we presently call ‘our home’!