Havana, Cuba. - A small US city, devastated by the world economic crisis, decided to sell its large prison facility. The federal government bought it to accommodate several prisoners that still remain in the illegal Guantanamo base. They are detained as alleged terrorists, although no official charge has been pressed against them.

The Thomson Probation Center is in Illinois and can accommodate 1 600 inmates. Last Tuesday, President Obama ordered to buy it.

For some media, this option is part of Obama’s promise to close the prison in Guantanamo. However, the President admitted last month that it would be impossible to close the detention center in January 2010, the date he had fixed.

The Illinois jail, about 250 kms from Chicago, was built in 2001 at a cost of $ 130 millions. Now, it will be adapted for extreme security conditions in the cells where the alleged terrorists will be moved.

Admittedly, refurbishment works will take no less than 6 months. This makes Obama’s promise just another one he has failed to keep in his first year as a President.

Illinois authorities allegedly accepted those inmates because refurbishing the jail will generate employment and revenues in times of soaring crisis.

According to state officials, the transfer of inmates from the illegal base of Guantanamo to the Thomson Center could generate up to 3 000 jobs.

Notwithstanding, some Republican Congressmen from Illinois object the transfer for fear that the state becomes a potential target for terrorism.

Some US economic circles even speak of “Northern Guantanamo.” They hope that closing the detention and torture center that Washington operates in Guantanamo and moving the inmates into US mainland can create expectations that help overcoming the current economic hardships and prevent further evils.

Nowadays and due to the economic crisis, 3 penitentiaries and 5 probation centers are about to be closed in the United States. This will imply that up to 1 000 employees will be fired.

Reportedly, the inhabitants of neighboring towns regard having suspects of terrorist activities in their “backyard” as a necessary “sacrifice.” They are willing to accept it for the sake of saving their towns, since the prison is the driving engine of the local economy.

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )