Naharnet - New Riots Erupt in Roumieh Prison, Policeman Reportedly Taken Hostage - April 4, 2011

Riots erupted again in Lebanon's notorious main prison of Roumieh on Monday, after negotiations between security forces and inmates managed to end a 2-day mutiny on Sunday. At once, security forces sent reinforcements to the prison as Gendarmarie Commander Salah Jebran arrived on the scene to follow up on the situation and start negotiations with the inmates, the state-run National News Agency reported. Several reports said some inmates were demanding an amnesty as Al-Manar television quoted security sources as saying that the new riots erupted after a certain "provocation" by a guard against a number of prisoners. Al-Manar also noted that Gendarmarie chief Jebran had taken disciplinary measures against a number of prison officials over their "dereliction of duty," before his arrival at the jail. Meanwhile, conflicting reports emerged on whether or not inmates had taken a policeman hostage in the prison's ward D. Al-Manar quoted the Internal Security Forces' public relations department as confirming the reports, while LBC television quoted ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi as denying the matter. As the news about the renewed riots broke out, relatives of the Roumieh inmates staged protests across the country. An army unit managed to reopen the Beirut airport highway after angry protesters blocked it with burning tires. And in the Bekaa Province protesters blocked a road in Baalbek as gunmen appeared on the streets of the city. In the North, dozens of relatives of Islamist detainees blocked the Beddawi international highway. On Sunday, ISF chief Rifi announced the end of a two-day mutiny by inmates demanding an amnesty and better conditions. Rifi reassured "the Lebanese and the prisoners that the mutiny ended permanently and peacefully." "Together with the prison's administration, we sincerely conveyed the prisoners' demands to the judicial and political authorities," the ISF chief added. He also announced that the Lebanese State "has approved LBP 19 billion for creating two prisons in the North and the South and the projects have been already assigned to contractors." But "this plan requires a certain timeframe," he noted. On Saturday, several inmates clashed with wardens after a protest against "transfer and routine inspection procedures" inside Roumieh prison turned violent. A security source told Agence France Presse that a prisoner protested against the procedures at noon when he clashed with one of the guards. The squabble turned into rioting when the inmate threatened to harm himself if authorities do not meet his demands, the source said. Later other prisoners joined him and broke windows and burned mattresses inside their cells, the source told AFP. The same prison has been the scene of several mutinies. Two years ago, seven wardens were held hostage before a peaceful resolution was negotiated. The Interior Ministry has condemned the recent violence at Roumieh prison, noting that calling for the fulfillment of demands should not take a violent turn. It revealed that for two years, it has been working on improving the conditions in the prison after years of "chronic neglect." It demanded the government and ministries concerned to also assume their responsibilities in this affair. "There are various reasons behind the break out of the unrest, including the poor living conditions and the overcrowding," caretaker Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar told LBC on Sunday. He added that the ministry will have jurisdiction over prison affairs in 2012.(naharnet-AFP)