Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Inmates Smash Windows At Fraser Valley Prison

Inmates in a cell block at B.C.’s Kent Institution maximum security prison smashed the outside windows of their cells last week and as punishment were denied food and access to showers, CBC News has learned.

Inmates in the prison's A block broke the windows, prompting prison staff to deny food to the inmates Sept. 20 and denied them showers for four days.

On Monday, food was again withheld as punishment because inmates would not take down blankets draped over the broken windows and over their cell doors. Corrections officers considered the blankets a security threat as guards couldn't look into cells.

Sources told CBC News the disturbance was a result of high tension levels inside Kent.

The Correctional Service of Canada confirms there was what it calls "a minor disturbance" at Kent last week and that an investigation is underway.

The federal government's independent prison watchdog agency — the Office of the Correctional Investigator — is already probing the alleged assault of an inmate by guards at Kent.

In a statement to CBC News Thursday, chief investigator Howard Sapers said the office is investigating a number of complaints from inmates.

“It would be fair to conclude we have heightened concerns regarding this institution," Sapers said.

The prison houses more than 200 convicts, with more than one-third of them serving life sentences. The prison staff numbers about 360.

Original Article
Source: huffington post
Author: cbc

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