2 101 inmates got injured. In November, 2007, three violent incidents were registered, at least, in the premises and the most recent murder occurred on November 13, 2007; d) There is a serious situation of insecurity and great violence inside the prison, which is fostered, among other factors, by the overcrowding; the lack of appropriate custody; the entering and possession of cutting and thrusting weapons and firearms by the inmates, trade which can involve the participation of several officers in charge of the surveillance of the prison; and the lack of immediate and effective measures and plans proposed by the prison authorities in charge of the penitentiary and its functioning in order to prevent and avoid such violent events and eliminate cruel punishments and ill-treatments; e) Despite the seizures performed, the weapons- including the guns and grenades- still circulate within the prison and the violent events cannot be avoided; f) As to the fights, the inmates are commonly fighting over the control of the territory and the fights are, sometimes, started by the guards themselves, when transferring the inmates to other prisons or other areas within the same prison. The authorities have not yet adopted any measures to avoid these incidents and, g) The foregoing becomes more serious due to the lack of appropriate surveillance. There are only 20 guards in every shift for the surveillance of approximately 2.143 inmates. Furthermore, these officers have no access to some of the prison blocks where their physical integrity is in danger. Whenever the guards enter these blocks, the National Guard accompanies them. 3. The legal arguments of the Commission to base the request for provisional measures, namely: a) The exposed facts show prima facie the structure of a situation of extreme seriousness and urgency for the life and physical integrity of the beneficiaries of this request for provisional measures, who have been suffering serious threats against their lives and physical integrity whilst being confined, visited or while working in a correctional institution under the custody of the State; b) The urgency under the terms of Article 63(2) of the American Convention is evidenced by the death of tens of inmates and the serious injuries received by others between 2006 and 2007. These facts show a situation of imminent danger due to the inadequate safety conditions of the premises and the high levels of violence among the inmates and the guards against the inmates, all of which call for urgent intervention of the Court in order to avoid irreparable damage; c) Due to the exceptional existing levels of violence and insecurity, it is necessary to take urgent and immediate measures apart from the medium or long-term general plans for the humanization of the Venezuelan prison system. The situation is serious and must be repaired by taking immediate measures; d) The seriousness of the situation is evidenced in the multiple repetition of violent acts which have occurred continuously, along the passage of several years, specially in 2007. e) It is enough that the beneficiaries can be “determined” in order to receive protective measures and,

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