on various geographic conditions. As testified by witnesses, all PPC are
equipped and surrounded by a variety of formidable devices to prevent
escape and camps are reported to be under constant watch by guards.
2)
Internal Control System, Control of Prisoners and Method of
Control
The internal control system is basically uniform in all PPC. Some differences
are noted in respective PPC and by sectors (valleys) in the same PPC. It is
observed that the differences are in relation to the characteristics and size of
the PPC involved.
All PPC are characterized by reliance on the SSA for internal control,
guard units for external security, work supervisors (unit general chief, unit chief,
platoon leader, control committee members, etc.) and prisoners. There is a camp
superintendent. There are systems of internal operation and control of prisoners
for production at each PPC. There are operational committees for the control of
prisoners and the management of production (high-security camp). The
committees are comprised of a chairperson, inventory clerks, junior level
executive secretaries, an employment union chairperson, a chairperson for youth
workers, and telephone operators, all of whom are prisoners.
Some of the main disguising characteristics of the PPC are the systems
of (1) surveillance of prisoners by prisoners, (2) system of informants and (3)
control of prisoners by prisoner-supervisors, as appointed by the camp authorities.
To maximize the workforce and ensure loyalty of the prisoners, the Camp
Superintendent and SSA officers select and appoint prisoners to be platoon
leaders, company commanders, unit chiefs, senior unit chiefs29 (titles vary by
PPCs). They are given the responsibilities to supervise production and control
other prisoners. Accordingly, instructions are given to prisoners by these prisonersupervisors who have the prerogative to beat and torture them. Therefore,
prisoners find themselves in conditions of competition with other prisoners to
monitor and inform on the transgressions of other prisoners for the purpose of
being selected by SSA officers to supervise other prisoners, e.g. the position of
unit-chief. SSA officers prefer to commit brutality in an indirect way by using a unit
chief or platoon leader to carry out the “dirty work” of meting out violence to the
prison population.
29
In the PPC, with the exception of SSA officers and guards under the
command of the Superintendent, unit chiefs, senior unit chiefs and inventory
clerks are all prisoners. They are loyal to SSA officers, monitoring and
controlling fellow prisoners.
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