25 prison population was awaiting trial and was not separated from already convicted prisoners. 60(11) Multiple violations of the prisoners’ rights resulted from these conditions of severe prison overcrowding and overpopulation. The detention center was regarded by the authorities themselves as one of the worst prisons of the country, where there was drug, alcohol and weapon trafficking, and violence and maltreatment were a common occurrence, whether as a result of power struggles between internal mafias or at the hands of the guards. 60(12) The persons held at Detention Center of Catia, including the victims in the instant case, were subject to malnutrition, poor sanitary conditions and inadequate health care. For instance, prisoners were forced to defecate in the cells inside a container or on paper and to throw them out into the interior yard. Health care was extremely deficient and the chances of doing activities to maintain a quality of life according to their dignity, such as work, study or recreation were minimal. 60(13) The vexations endured by the prisoners were not only a common occurrence but also well-known to prison and law enforcement authorities. However, the appalling conditions at Detention Center of Catia remained unchanged until it was demolished. 60(14) Inadequate medical attention within prison facilities in Venezuela and lack of conservation resulted in the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, mycosis and influenza. In addition, sexually transmitted diseases were spreading at an alarming rate. 60(15) As regards to prison staff, in addition to being insufficient, it was inefficient due to lack of technical training. This had a direct negative impact on prison safety. Prison guards were underpaid, untrained and, therefore, prone to corruption. As was the case with Detention Center of Catia, because of insufficient civilian staff, military officers were required as a backup, specifically the National Guard, in order to control the prison population. This situation contributed to a climate of insecurity that stemmed from objective conditions of violence, danger, and threat, which caused anxiety, uncertainty and fear. The authorities of Detention Center of Catia did not ensure the necessary conditions for peaceful coexistence and safety to protect prisoners’ rights. d) On the events that took place inside the “Retén e Internado Judicial de Los Flores de Catia” (Detention Center of Catia) and the surrounding area between November 27 and 29, 1992 60(16) There are two versions of the events that took place at the Detention Center between November 27 and 29, 1992. The first version indicates that during the proceedings instituted before an ordinary court, several witnesses stated that, after the guards of the Detention Center learned the news of the attempt of coup through the media, they opened the cells and told the prisoners that they were free; when the prisoners came out they began shooting at them. Several testimonies indicate