Hunger Strike at Altiplano Super Max?... yes Barbie and Chapo?... no

 Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat
The Washington Post is reporting that the widely reported hunger strike, allegedly initiated by El Chapo and El Barbie, did in fact exist, but was small and did not include the two incarcerated cartel leaders.

Proceso magazine,  broke the story of the hunger strike, stating that it was El Chapo who was the author of  the grievance hunger strike which was joined by 1000 inmates over a five day period.

Rigid rules are implemented at the Altiplano No.1 super max prison. Strict regulations, mindful construction and offensive measures, assure the prison maintains its stratus of being the sole prison in Mexico that has not been confronted with a successful escape.  Many of the most notorious of prisoners are housed in Altiplano.

Visitors including attorneys, are not allowed to enter with wallets, shoelaces, pens, even tie clips.   Complaints include; inspections by guards inside underwear, and women must remove their bras.

 As in American super max prisons, for exercise inmates are allowed only one hour daily outside their cells, but are in a fenced inclosed area, they are not privy to the general prison population..

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Proceso had reported that the 1000 inmate hunger strike was to protest against  prison’s poor hygiene, medical care and food, and the assertion that Chapo had organized the strike, a remarkable feat under the isolated conditions he is subjected to.

NYT wrties: Not just that the world’s most fearsome drug lord was now apparently a human rights crusader but that he had the freedom of movement and communication inside the prison to pull it off".

Prison officials confirmed the July strike occurred, but states that Barbie and Chapo did not organize the strike, adding  their isolation makes it  a virtual impossibility for them to do so.

The hunger strike had 100 people involved, and lasted only 1 day.

Some of the notorious bigs that are or have been incarcerated in Altiplano are: