{"id":4466,"date":"2021-01-02T21:08:08","date_gmt":"2021-01-02T21:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=145543"},"modified":"2021-01-02T21:08:08","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T21:08:08","slug":"amnesty-calls-for-caution-in-ending-nzs-waikeria-prison-protest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/01\/02\/amnesty-calls-for-caution-in-ending-nzs-waikeria-prison-protest\/","title":{"rendered":"Amnesty calls for caution in ending NZ\u2019s Waikeria prison protest"},"content":{"rendered":"
By RNZ News<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Amnesty International is calling on New Zealand\u2019s Corrections Minister to ensure force is not used to end the impasse at Waikeria Prison \u2013 where 16 inmates are entering a sixth day of protest.<\/p>\n The human rights group said de-escalation techniques should be used to end the protest.<\/p>\n It said the protesters had already raised concerns about poor treatment, and the use of excessive force and withholding food and water would make things worse.<\/p>\n Sixteen inmates are now in their sixth day of a protest that began on Tuesday at the prison, near Te Awamutu.<\/p>\n Significant damage had been done<\/a> to the \u201ctop jail\u201d facility, after fires in several places during the protest.<\/p>\n Amnesty also wanted Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis to end what it described as \u201cdehumanising practices\u201d at Waikeria, and to launch an inquiry into the state of the country\u2019s prison system.<\/p>\n