[music]
Why are they carrying it?
To make cocaine...[laughing]
This is coca.
This is the coca leaf.
Because of this little plant, there's lots of fighting.
Some people want to kill this plant, but others don't.
That's why people get killed.
I don't want it to die.
Lots of people, how would they live?
Those who live from coca
like my family.
Alex, hurry up. While you chew coca, we're going to finish.
I've been picking coca since I was seven years old.
38lbs.
Not even 6lbs.
You get cocaine from this leaf.
If the cocaine business ever stops
there won't be life in Chapare.
I've got 6 brothers.
Hernan is my oldest brother
and I'm the second oldest.
[cars honking]
For the last year, my brother and I have lived in the city
to go to high school.
Hernan and I were dreamers
we wanted to have a band.
He wanted to buy drums
but my brother didn't know where to get the money
and dad wouldn't give it to us.
[soft music playing]
The next day he called and said, "I've been arrested."
I've been arrested.
Passengers for Buenos Aires, Argentina. We're leaving.
My brother left with two kilograms of cocaine.
[SAN SEBASTIAN PRISON]
[yelling and whistling]
When they opened the gate and I went in
I was so scared
I was shaking
when I saw all the people inside.
[whistling and yelling]
This is how we baptise all the new inmates
a tradition in all the prisons nationwide.
I got baptised with paint
and also piss, you have to swallow it.
[yelling and whistling]
Almost a week
almost a month I was crying
walking around crying.
I didn't know he'd gone to do those things.
I sent him to the city to study.
I had no idea.
Now he's in prison
no matter what you do, if you cry or scream.
What's done is done.
Nothing's free in here.
You have to buy your cell with your own money.
[Cell For Sale. Large and comfortable with Cable TV and view of the street.]
If you can't afford a cell you sleep outside.
It's not safe either.
The thugs
can attack you at anytime
or do whatever they want.
[TV] ...the white of one large egg. Each teaspoon has 5 to 7 calories.
[TV] Cum contains vitamin B12, potassium and as much protein as a large egg.
Someone was killed here last night
a guy was cut
he was going to be released the next day.
His enemy went into the room and cut his throat.
I saw it.
Where they cut was all white
it opened up and blood gushed out.
A man talked to me.
He said you've got to be patient and relax
he told me to talk to people and make friends.
It was Mario.
We didn't know each other, I'm getting to know him here.
I didn't know him, he didn't know me.
I don't know what he did, just what he tells me.
How long were you at the border? >>What?
How long were you in prison at the border?
Four. >> 4 months?
And here? >> 1 month.
1 month here, 5 in total.
Hernan told me, "Deisy you have to study!"
You've got to study.
At least you have to study for both of us.
[Teacher speaking]
Those first months I missed him so much
he got caught in April and my grades dropped.
I'm the only one who visits him
because our parents live far away.
Hernan Torrez to the front gate, you have a visitor.
Hernan Torrez to the front gate.
I thought the prison would be like in the movies.
They didn't have uniforms and weren't locked up either.
But the children
live with their parents inside the prison.
I didn't know until he called me.
I didn't know what to do, it was like everything was over.
I felt my life was over.
I was scared, I didn't want to call anyone.
Dad didn't know anything, neither did mum.
I was the only one who knew.
Dad cried.
"Either way, what can we do?" I said.
I told him not to cry, but he cried so much.
I wish I called dad, he'd have gotten angry and dragged me back.
What did we fight about?
When you're young, you fight about anything.
I'd chase him with a stick and he'd climb up a tree.
We'd laugh afterwards.
When she visits, I don't miss her, but when she doesn't, I get sad.
I'm really sad he's in there.
Because he's not studying
his life is going by.
He's stuck, he's not getting out of prison any time soon.
He's trapped.
If this isn't cleared, it looks bad for him.
He won't get out.
The problem is
there's no future for this guy.
My dad sent money, so Hernan could buy a cell.
I was supposed to buy a cell
next to his.
But it was all closed.
It didn't have a window like this one.
That's why I didn't buy it.
I want to paint it blue
and buy another floor covering.
How much did it cost?
This one? $2100 (USD).
You've paid for it? >> Yes.
Your sister brought the money? >> Yes.
Deisy? >> My sister.
[playing guitar and singing]
He was like a little kid.
Doing what he sees in the movies.
I've always liked music.
I want to be a musician, a famous musician
and everyone know who I am.
At the moment I'm in San Sebastian men's prison
in the city of Cochabamba.
In my case, I'm accused of manufacturing cocaine.
I'm a pisa-coca
and was caught by the drug police.
They caught me working.
I stamped, kicked and mixed coca leaf with water and lime.
Why do you do that?
To soften it.
To soften the leaves.
The leaves?
Yes, the ground up coca leaves.
It's like when you chew coca leaf and spit it out.
It's like that because the grinder grinds it.
To get the white powder.
To get cocaine.
That's why it's done.
Violeta and Dan came to the prison everyday to teach us English.
They'd ask about our lives and film our stories.
We start for real. 1, 2, 3, go!
A, B, C...
J, K...
K.
You made a mistake.
Mario stuffed it.
[laughing]
Sit in the accused's seat!
[saying A, B, C's in English]
They also gave us little cameras to film ourselves.
Are you filming me?
Tell me again, what's this for?
This is to take photos, right? >> Yes, that one is to take photos.
This is to turn it on, this is to zoom and this is to film.
Are you recording? >> It's not recording yet.
I told you to record, go on. >> Yes.
Now I'm recording.
Ok, let's film each other.
[laughing] I'll film everything.
There's my door, my suitcase, my bag of gold.
What else? and you...
Well done, Mario >> Now I'm a professional.
[whistling and shouting]
The police enter the prison at 7am and at 7pm
and call our names to see if everyone's there.
After that, they go up on the roof and spy on us.
[on phone]
[Happy birthday Hernan!]
Thanks.
[All the best.]
[I miss you Hernan.]
[When are you coming home?]
Maybe next year.
[Congratulations.]
[dance music playing]
I feel sorry for Hernan because he's so young.
He reminds me of my own kids.
It's missing something.
A little bit of meat.
My four kids are in Sucre with my wife
the bus ride is 70 Bs ($10).
She works as a house keeper.
They have no money, how can they get here?
It's far, it's a 9 hour trip.
I don't have money to call them, because when I call
the phone is expensive, it's more than 20Bs ($3).
So, that's why I don't call.
Because I don't have any money.
[rain on tin roof]
I didn't have money for a lawyer
that's why I accepted Dr Miriam
because she works for free.
Can you please explain Mario's case?
They were found, as we say, with their hands in the pie.
He will be given 8 years at least.
The people who organize this have money
and they don't get caught.
They pay people like Mario and tell them
if you get caught I'll help you.
I worked for one of the others who was caught.
He was released like that.
The lady boss
paid his bail and helped get him out.
She paid for everything
and he went free.
Why doesn't she help Mario?
I don't know why...
Mario was probably a part-time worker
and didn't have much experience.
He said it was his first day working.
I imagine
because when the bosses know them, they help them.
How do you feel Mario? Your trial is today.
I'm a little bit desperate.
Mario Bernal to the gate, you have your court hearing.
I'm coming, I'm coming.
Mario Bernal!
Here's the padlock. Don't forget to lock it. Ok?
See you soon dear Mario.
What happened in your trial?
It was bad, really bad
Why was it bad? >> It got suspended again.
I'll probably have to retire in prison.
My kids are abandoned, I don't know how they are.
I don't know what happened to my family
I only see them in my dreams
I say my youngest daughter in my dreams.
[crying]
[soft music playing]
Hernan was filming me when the police saw him
they took his little camera and put him in the dungeon.
My brother told me he was in isolation
it was cold, he didn't have anything
they took his clothes and everything, he told me.
Time goes by very slowly in here.
No friends came, no-one. I didn't want to talk to anyone.
It was like everything was over for me.
Totally over.
I was fucked.
He thought it would be easy
to take the cocaine to the border and get paid.
The boss was there
and saw Hernan get caught.
He said his boss winked at him.
He wanted the boss to get him out.
Hello? >> Hello Don Carlos.
Who am I speaking with?
It's Deisy.
What's up?
I want your help to get my brother out of prison.
I don't have money to help your brother.
It's your responsibility to help get him out.
It's his responsibility, he decided to get involved in this.
I just gave him the opportunity.
But you came looking for him.
But he accepted, I didn't make him, he wanted to.
It's not my responsibility he decided to get involved in this.
The only option I can give you to get him out
is to do the job he was doing and take drugs to Argentina.
If you want to do it let me know.
Good evening.
Do you read in coca or cards?
You need to be very careful.
You're planning something.
Look.
You have to be careful. There's something in your way.
That's what I can tell you.
[soft music playing]
Name? >> Rocio Quispe
[THE REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA INTERNATIONAL BORDER]
I was so scared.
Everyone I passed I thought could be police.
I crossed the border on foot.
I gave everything to the boss and that was it.
And then I went back.
I went so he would help my brother
help my brother get out of prison.
Good morning. How are you? >> Good.
Mario, what time do you get up to clean the prison?
At 5am or 4:45.
Everyday, every morning.
When I came, there were only 180 prisoners
now there's more than 600, they behave worse than babies.
They throw rubbish everywhere
all day.
Did you know how to write when you arrived here?
A little bit.
I didn't know how to spell anything
I only knew how to write my name.
The truth is no-one visits me, I don't have family
no economic help
so I have to find ways to support myself, work and study.
[applause]
I decided to write about Mario's story
because his case shows all the faults of the system.
Behind this clan or small group of vulnerable people
there are much bigger interests at stake.
[applause]
[PALACE OF JUSTICE COCHBAMBA DISTRICT]
Mario, what happened?
I don't know, but I just heard that our audience has been suspended.
I don't know why.
I think we'll find out in the next few minutes.
This was the 5th time their trial was suspended
and every day I see trials suspended for whatever reason.
Time goes by
and a person who may be innocent, he's waiting in jail for three years.
We have the power to investigate, if it's the police or the prosecutor
I have the obligation to report it.
Who is the public prosecution convicting at the moment?
Only micro-producers or micro-drug traffickers.
But where are the big fish?
Who's protecting them, so they never get caught?
The Times!
Who's this guy here?
[reading] Delays: there are over 70,000 trials waiting.
Mario is one of 600 people living in San Sebastian Prison.
He's been behind bars for 33 months without a sentence.
Today, pre-trial detention is the rule
but only for poor people.
Those with money get out of prison easily.
That's everything.
One night I dreamt of escaping
I escaped on a motorcycle
the police chased and shot at me
I swam across a river
I was on a bike.
Then I woke up and thought, I won't get out for ages.
I don't think I'll get out, because I dreamt of freedom.
So I tell myself, it doesn't matter. What can I do?
I thought his boss would help
help get him out of prison
but no, it didn't happen like that.
Now, the only way we can help your brother...
What I want to know is
do you know the boss
the one who gave the drugs to your brother?
Yes I know him.
Did the boss offer you to smuggle it?
Y...
I'm a lawyer, not a policeman. You don't have to be afraid.
My idea is
to set a trap with the help of the prosecutor.
The boss will give you the drugs and the police will be watching.
He will get caught
and go to prison, but they won't do anything to you.
I don't think he'll trust me, I already fought with him.
You say to him
"Give me the drugs and I'll take it to earn some money"
"money to get my brother out of prison."
That's the only way we can help your brother.
It depends on your decision. Ok?
I'd like to inform on the boss so he goes to prison like my brother.
The boss wasn't there, he was hiding.
They told me he'd been gone a month.
If I'd found him, I would have set a trap.
My boss told me.
What did he tell you?
That my sister wants to inform on him.
He told you that?
I haven't talked to my sister about that yet.
I think it's really bad for me. >> Why?
Because I don't think she should inform on him.
Why?
Because...
You don't think she's right?
She wants to inform on him because of ...
Because the boss is happy and you're in...
Yeah, she's right but
I'm not going to be in here forever.
This man is going to help me when I get out.
You think he's going to help you? >> Yes.
When I'm out we'll talk.
We'll come to an agreement and help each other.
But, if he's not helping you now?
Outside when I talk to him...
not with my sister.
But if he doesn't want to help you now?
Outside...
He'll help me somehow.
I know lots of cases
with young boys, 18 to 20 years old
they get caught
and get scared because they're young
and then
the bosses say, "don't worry, I'll get you out."
Then without a doubt they forget them.
How much was he going to pay?
I think it was $100, it wasn't much.
Maybe $200.
Can you imagine? For $100, you pay 8 years in prison.
If you get to Argentina, it costs at least...
What you buy here for $1500, you sell there for $15,000.
And they give you $100.
Who takes all the risk?
The person who transports it.
The other lawyer said we could open another case
inform on the boss to the police
say it was him who asked us to transport it
something like that to say he's the guilty one
and then open another case.
But to open a new case you have to catch him with drugs.
Say you catch the boss, the owner of the cocaine.
Ok?
They'll catch him and detain him.
But it's not going to help your brother at all.
Because your brother's already sentenced.
The problem is your brother took the blame in court.
It won't help.
[singing happy birthday]
Make a wish.
Next year, I want to get out.
This is my culture, from my hometown
and pants as well.
[laughing]
What has your lawyer told you?
She told me, there's nothing to do, just wait for the trial.
She said she'll do everything possible.
I was surprised when my lawyer showed up
here in the prison.
I'll tell you what's better to say at the trial.
Because if you contradict yourself
it's better you keep your mouth shut, okay?
You made a declaration to the police?
Of course, but only what I was instructed to say.
When someone says, "I'm innocent"
you have to show you didn't know what you were doing
you were just working to support your family.
My boss hasn't talked to you about me?
I don't even know her.
You don't know her?
I'll see you're given the minimum sentence
and you'll be out in 3 years.
What's your boss like Mario?
A country-side woman dressed in traditional clothes.
[laughing]
Maybe they're blaming him so they can go free.
Something like that.
Maybe they sold you out?
Maybe, maybe... I don't know.
I can't say anything
if I don't know anything.
Do you think your lawyer
is working for you
or your boss?
I asked Deisy to introduce me to her lawyer.
If they judge you as a 'pisa-coca', you should be free.
The law is very clear, I'll read it for you.
Article 47 says it clearly.
In the second part, in relation to manufacturing cocaine.
People who work in the maceration of coca, called 'pisa-cocas'
would be given a 1 to 2 year prison sentence
with a 200 to 500 day fine
if they collaborate with the investigation
and the capture of the organizers.
You have to collaborate with the capture of your boss
we all know she's not in jail.
That's the thing at the moment.
In the trial you have to declare.
The only way Mario, is to tell the truth.
Good afternoon Miss lawyer, it's Mario Bernal.
I have something to ask you.
I know you know the woman...
my boss.
The trial is very soon and I want to talk to them.
Tell them if they don't help me
I'll burn them all at trial
I don't care if they kill me, I'll burn them all.
Mr Mario Bernal, what do you say in your defense?
I will say the truth Mr Judge and the truth will set me free.
I'd like to say of my own free will about the day I was working
I was working...
I'd like to add to my declaration.
Think about your kids' future, that will give you courage
to speak in court.
Because if you don't talk you'll lose your kids.
If he does that, they can get revenge and kill him.
As soon as he gets out they can pay someone to shoot him.
In my declaration I want to tell the truth
because I know the truth will set me free.
I was looking for work at the market in Cliza.
A green car came along
and they asked if we wanted to work
and I said yes.
He put water in a barrel then poured in lime
there were crushed coca leaves in the other room
I was mixing the coca leaves.
That's when the police caught us.
They asked, "who's the boss and who are workers?"
"If you tell us, we'll let you go."
Pointing at us with their guns.
One of these guys, told me not to say anything
because the boss is his family
his first cousin.
That's why no-one said anything
and neither did I.
I was afraid and did what they said and didn't say the boss was that lady.
When I arrived here in prison the lady who hired me
came to tell me it was very good I didn't say she was the boss.
The accused are condemned to 5 years.
To be served in San Sebastian Men's Prison.
We got a sentence of 5 years each.
That's the bad, but the good is
because I've been here for 3 years
I don't have long to serve of my reduced sentence
I've almost served my time.
Looks like I will get my freedom.
The others appealed the sentence
so I was allowed to be released on bail.
I don't know where to get $1000 to pay my bail.
I have to talk to Hernan, maybe his dad can help me.
Would you go to Chapare? >> Yeah, why not?
To work.
We'll pay your bail and you can work with my dad.
So, can you help my dad?
Alright!
I'll do whatever I can to get out of prison.
You can work on my land.
He'll work in the same thing. >> He can plant coca.
That will be nice. >> A cocaine factory. [laughing]
You'll harvest it and make it.
We're scaring him.
Good evening boys.
Good evening Mario.
Has your bail been deposited? >> Yes.
It was deposited today.
So what's missing? >> My release papers.
That can arrive tomorrow or the next day.
Depends on the court.
Depends on the court doesn't it?
These are all the things you've collected?
Yes, in three years I've collected all this.
Hernan told me to relax
I told him I'd work with his family
I'd treat his family like my own
because they're helping me, I told him
I thanked him
he almost cried as well.
[rain on a tin roof]
How many people is the cake for? >> 15.
This one is big enough, because that one is for 30 people.
Happy birthday brother.
You have to wish him a happy birthday.
Now we have to sing.
[singing 'Happy Birthday']
All my little brothers wanted to be in my band
I'd teach the little ones
buy a guitar for each one
for another a keyboard, drums
I want a piece from here to here.
[laughing]
everything to teach the little ones.
I didn't have enough money, that's why I went
without thinking, I thought it would be easy.
But that dream didn't come true.
[whistling and yelling]
You're rioting because the prison is overcrowded?
It's really overcrowded.
This is a small prison with more than 700 inmates.
It's small
and only has 8 toilets for 700 inmates.
Cover your faces to make an impression.
[metal and wood hitting ground]
[boom] [yelling]
[NEXT - THE PROTESTS IN THE PRISONS]
The president Evo Morales approved a pardon for prisoners
and sent it to parliament to be approved.
This morning, president Evo Morales approved presidential decree 1445
to pardon people deprived of their freedom.
This measure should help reduce
overcrowding in the prisons.
This pardon is not for the benefit of dangerous prisoners.
Families
who unfairly, in many cases
and others, because they don't have legal help, are in prison.
This presidential pardon will be good for these families,
to get their freedom before the holidays at the end of the year.
Out for Christmas!
Maybe you'll get out on Christmas Eve!
We'll have to see.
If it happens, great.
If it doesn't happen, what can I do?
[Applications for pardon are open.]
Hernan, isn't it? >> Yeah, Hernan
I had to bring a photocopy of his ID card.
Everyone on the list has to have their records computerized.
They're all being assessed.
Are you going to issue his work certificate?
Yeah, we'll do that here.
When will he get out?
It depends on the board, because they have to assess it.
They'll determine
who gets released.
So you'll just have to wait, until the board makes its decision.
Thanks. Bye.
[Teacher reads out results.]
Torrez Vargas, Deisy 60% (pass).
To everyone who passed the exam
welcome to the engineering department
and university life.
Who came?
Someone from prison administration.
I always forget their names.
What did they tell you?
They congratulated me.
What for?
For what's been approved. It's positive they said.
I can go.
Finally he can leave this hell.
These are my coins.
What will you do with them?
I'm going to throw them away.
When?
When I'm getting out.
The police will say, "Shorty, get out!"
Are you going to leave with that?
Yeah, like that.
With all your heart.
With all my heart, I'll leave like this.
Will you leave with an empty heart?
My empty heart.
[music]
When are you coming back to see us, Shorty?
If you don't come to visit, I'll come and punch you.
I'll be honest, I'm not coming back.
So you'll let me hit you?
I won't come back. I've been here too long.
I sold my cell, you've got 15 days to move out.
There weren't many pardoned at first
and one of them was my brother.
[whistle]