Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Overcrowding and poor sanitation at Tangerang Penitentiary (LP Pemuda) are said to be the main causes of the deaths of 50 inmates over the past four months.
"The prison was only designed for 800 people but it is now home to 3,816 inmates," warden Kosad Purwanto said Wednesday. He said that many of the deaths in the prison had been linked to overcrowding, poor sanitation and a lack of access to proper healthcare.
Penitentiary data shows that 10 inmates died in January, 18 in February, a further 18 in March and four more this month.
"Based on our records, most of the inmates died of respiratory problems. None of them died after an accident or violent encounter," he said, adding that 85 percent of inmates in the prison were drug users.
He said the existing 418 cells measured 1.5 square meters each and were occupied by eight to 10 inmates. They are designed for one.
Overcrowding is a widespread problem in the country's prison system.
The Justice and Human Rights Ministry, which oversees prisons, should be held responsible for the deaths, Jakarta Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) head Dedi Ali Ahmad said.
"The fact that there are hygiene problems in the (Tangerang youth) prison, which are related to overcrowding and poor sanitation, is against a UN resolution on the basic principles on the treatment of inmates," Dedi said as quoted by Antara.
Inmate numbers have recently increased at the penitentiary because it also receives prisoners through the West Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, the West Jakarta Police and the West Jakarta District Court, warden Kosad explained. The number of inmates increased from 306 in January to 1219 in March.
"The poor conditions have made inmates susceptible to disease. We have asked the Tangerang municipal health agency to provide more paramedics for inmates but there were no response," Kosad said. "There are only four doctors working here, which is certainly not enough."
Kosad said it was possible some of the prisoners had died of AIDS-related illnesses because many of them were drug-dependent and shared needles. "They even share toothbrushes, shavers and many other things," he said.
The last three inmates who died at the prison were identified as Karsim, 22, Muhamad Awage, 29, and Sudar, 25. The three died on Monday morning and their bodies were taken to Tangerang General Hospital's morgue.
Jaelani, who works at the morgue, said no autopsies had been performed on the bodies as the penitentiary had reported the causes of their deaths.
Prison doctor Ahmad Rivan said that he and three other doctors had difficulties in regularly examining inmates because of limited resources.
"Sick inmates should be isolated but this never happens here," he said, adding that the health facility in the prison could only accommodate 20 people while there were 100 patients a day on average in the penitentiary.
He said the team of paramedics assigned to the prison consisted of two doctors, two dentists and three nurses.