23 As for the fire, although they blamed a guard, it was an inmate who set the fire. Their plan was to use the fire to try to escape. The inmates jammed the lock with a razorblade. He was asleep when the fire started. The inmates got out because the lock somehow opened on its own. There was no fire extinguisher. The guards were slow to go the victims’ aid and did so only when the firefighters arrived. Some of his friends died trying to save others. The inmate who set the fire is free. The witness does not want to remember the fire. He would like to study, as he only managed to learn to read. He was eventually released but was sent back with a three-year sentence. By now he has served three years and three months and has still not been released. f) Testimony of María Teresa de Jesús Pérez, mother of Mario del Pilar Álvarez Pérez, former inmate at the Center The witness’ son, Mario del Pilar Álvarez Pérez, was being detained in the Center. Mrs. Pérez’ family is poor and needed a considerable sum of money to get her son released from the Center. Finally, a lawyer told them that her son was to be released on Thursday, February 10, 2000; but he was never released and, in the early morning hours on Friday, was burned in the fire. The witness learned of the fire by way of the television. She went to the hospital and found that her son was in very grave condition. He had burns over his entire body and there was no medication at that time. They told her to buy antibiotics and blood, but she had “not one guaraní”. Her elder sister, however, gave her the money. She sold everything she had so that she could do everything possible for her son. Eight days later, the electric power at the hospital went out four times and her son began to tremble. She was with him when he died. At the time of his death, Mario del Álvarez Pérez was “18 [years old], today he would have been 25.” She said that she had been deeply affected because she is a mother. She also said that she grieves for all the young children who were burned in the fire. The Center was said to be a satanic place. During her visits to the Center her son told her confidentially that the inmates were hungry, cold, had little or no clothing and were tortured and beaten. The Center was about a mile and a half from her house and the visit was for a half hour. For a visitor to get in, she was required to take off her clothing so that it could be checked. The Center appeared to be clean, and her son was seen by a physician because he had chest problems. She thought of her son every Sunday, because Sunday was the day she visited him. In order to be able to bring him something, she sold anything she could. At the time of her affidavit, her partner had died just 22 days earlier. She herself suffered from high blood pressure, asthma and insomnia, and “wants to join her son.” Her son helped her with his siblings; “he was like the father.” She added that she would never forget what happened to her son, as it is a pain indelibly impressed upon her heart and nothing can relieve it. She has a framed photograph of her son at home always, so as never to forget his face. She asked the Court to provide “all possible assistance,” as she is alone with nine children and does not want them to go hungry or in need. She wants something better for her children, so that they do not go the way of her son Mario. She also