This essay was written by Dr. Nora Baladerian as a summary of the powerful testimony of approximately 20 survivors who had been confined as teenagers in "boot camps" or so-called "boarding schools" in the United States and abroad.  Dr. Baladerian and I attended this forum as guests of the sponsoring organization -- the International Survivors Action Committee.
                                                                 -- Thomas F. Coleman, Esq.

Sunday – 10/18/04

Yesterday I attended a meeting that left me stunned.

It was a meeting of former prison camp inmates.  There were people who had been in about 7 different camps throughout the United States and other countries who, while listening in rapt attention to the stories each told, often looked to each other to say, “Wow.  That happened at my camp too!”  Those present had not known each other, but had heard about the different camps.  They shared information about what they had been told.  Some said that they had “wished” they could have been in the other camp, as the rumors were that conditions were better over there.  They were not.  They learned, yesterday, that talk of better conditions was all lies.

These prison camps were all under a single authority.  Sanctioned by their government, these camps operate without any regard for human rights.  Here is what I learned.

There were “rule books” given to the inmates upon their arrival at the camp.  Rules included severe punishment for minor infractions, such as moving your little finger, or scratching your hand.  There were punishments meted out for engaging in normal conduct such as talking to others.  You were not allowed to talk to other prisoners or “staff” at any time without permission.  On the other hand, talking and certain statements were required in the mandatory meetings.  At those meetings, one person sat in the middle of a circle and led by the staff “forced” to admit to having been a victim or perpetrator of various acts including abuse, drug use, and other criminal behaviors.  Whether or not these were part of the prisoner’s experience made no difference, you had to say they were…or else.

Capture was reported to have been carried out by 2 or 3 captors (large males and females) in the dead of night who at the hands of another were allowed into your bedroom, usually in a middle or upper class neighborhood. You were taken – duct tape over the mouth, forced into a vehicle and transported, some handcuffed, to a remote location.  Some locales were in remote areas within the USA while others were in other countries or territories.  These include Samoa, Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Cayman Islands.

Intake included a brief interview, removal of all clothing and jewelry, and a humiliating de-lousing procedure.  After this, you were given prison garb to wear.  All personal belongings were taken away.  No shoes were allowed.  The request for shoes was said to signal a plan to attempt an escape.

All camps were surrounded by 12 or 15 foot fences, or by natural barriers such as crocodile filled lakes observed by 24 hour guards.

Besides these conditions, all inmates reported that there was filth and unhealthy and inhumane conditions, including cockroaches, other bugs and rodents as constant companions.  Scabies were rampant.

Sleeping quarters were barren.  Steel 3 tiered bunks, with 4 to a bunk making 12 to a room plus a guard.  Use of toilets was regimented, controlled, and observed by staff.  Showering was infrequent, also observed by staff.  Food was sparse as well.  Small portions of cold rice and beans, with water to drink was the daily fare.  Yet, daily activities were long and rigorous…and meaningless

One panel (prior inmates of each camp were grouped according to the camp) spoke of being forced to move many huge rocks from the bottom of a hill or mountain to the top…then back down to the bottom then back to the top.  The meaninglessness of the activity was almost as spirit breaking as the task was physically exhausting.  A daily exercise in futility.  The work continued for 14-16 hours per day, in blistering heat, no shoes, little food.  There were many physical injuries, as no protective wear was provided….no gloves, no sunglasses, no protection from the heat, no shoes to protect the feet.  Many scars were shown to us on the hands, arms and feet.  Injuries would turn to infections due to lack of hygiene, showers and medical attention.

Others at another camp had more meaningful work.  They reported that upon arrival at the camp, there were no buildings or facilities.  It would be their job to build their own prison.  Again, they were given no shoes, no protective equipment, no protection from the elements.  Chiseling rocks and cement, moving heavy materials, using saws, hammers and nails. One young boy said that anyone could easily have lost their sight, from the chiseling without eye protection equipment. Again, injuries went unattended, no medical or hygienic treatment was made available. Injuries turned into painful infections, yet there was no reprieve from work detail.  Work was 14-16 hours per day.  Prisoners suffered severe weight loss, anemia, sicknesses, wounds not treated became infected, yet they were forced to continue to work.  These were in areas of hot temperatures (jungles and deserts), so each step was painful on dirt with no shoes that was hot and scattered with construction materials.

Others reported on how the “program” worked.  There were levels or classes.  One “graduated” from one level to the next by compliance with the rules, which changed serendipitously and often had nothing to do with improved behavior or any lesson or goal.

These reminded me of tactics used against Prisoners of War that were reported after the World Wars, Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.  Mind and body numbing cruelty carrying out the orders of Administrative authority by sadistic and cruel guards and “staff”.

Rules that were essentially meaningless and strictly enforced by cruel punishments if broken, only to change to other meaningless rules a day or week later.

There was a familiar ring to those revelations.  That various “staff” or “guards” meted out the consequences – or favors- based upon “favorites” they had among the inmates.  Some would not be punished at all for a particular infraction while another was severely punished.

What were the punishments?  These included, for both males and females, tortured physical positions that had to be maintained for hours or days.  Being “hog tied” (the hands tied behind the back tied to the feet bent up to them), face down in the hot desert sand for many hours or days.  Skin was burnt off.  Eyes swollen.  If there was resistance, guards weighing about 300 pounds would sit on the resistant inmate, for hours.  Shoulders were twisted out of the socket by this method.  Bones were broken (“I heard a couple of “pops” when this happened, and I knew my bones were broken”, said one former inmate”.)

No medical attention was provided for any of these injuries or conditions.  One recalled that an injured and later infected prisoner became so ill that she was finally taken to a hospital, where the medical staff said that without treatment, she’d have been dead within 30 minutes.

Was there sexual abuse?  The women reported that they personally were raped or knew of others who were.  Gang raped by staff, private repeated rapes, forced sexual behavior.  All accompanied by threats of severe consequences if they told anyone about the rapes.  Public humiliations and seductions were commonplace.  Perpetrators included camp Directors.  There was no escape.

While I listened to each person speak of the horrors they had endured, the words that have been recently splattered repeatedly on our news programs and print media rang in my head:  terrorism, terrorists, War on Terrorism, Homeland Security, Abu Ghraib.

The US President’s words, “We’re gonna find the terrorists and bring them to justice”; “We’re gonna rid the world of terrorism”, “We have declared war on terrorism”; “We want people around the world to be safe, to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy here in America”.  “We want to spread the freedoms we have to other countries”.  “We’re gonna hunt down the evil-doers and do away with them.”

Well guess what, Mr. President.  These prison camps are operating right here in Indiana, Utah, Iowa, Montana, Florida, and other states.  Some, after kidnapping the prisoners, send them to camps they operate in Mexico, Costa Rica, Samoa, Jamaica and other countries.  These camps are under your authority.  The “evil-doers” operate with impunity under your jurisdiction.  You have the power to close them down.  You want to “hunt down the terrorists”?  You have their addresses!  You have the complete power of whether the abuses described stop or continue.  What do you choose?

As FDR said, as President, “the buck stops here”.  At the President’s desk.  You are the President.  There are records that show that you have been given and chosen to accept money from the owner/operators of these terrorist camps.

I am asking you, as President, all members of Congress, all those in the Department of Justice to immediately Stop Trafficking in Abducted Teens.  All of the prisoners described above, are American children, ranging from 9-20 years of age.  Stop Terrorism in our Homeland.  When you say, “the freedoms we enjoy right here in America”, I want all Americans to enjoy the freedoms, but as you can see, the children in these terrorist camps do not enjoy the freedoms you assert.  Don’t’ you?

The terrorism, permitted and supported by loopholes in legislation could be closed off if you cared.  If we really cared about human rights, these camps would be closed immediately.  You could do it in one day, if you wanted.  If you cared.  There is no difficulty in locating these terrorist camps…their addresses, staff members are easily located…just go there!  I’m sure that as President, they would let you in.

Who are the prisoners?  They are our nations children.  CHILDREN!!!  Children as young as 9 and kept prisoners after their 18^th birthday.  So long as their parents continue paying (about $4,000-$8,000 per month) for the capture and imprisonment of their children, the children are forced to stay.  How do the kids escape?

1. Parents run out of money…then the child is released.
2. They turn 18.  If parents can still pay, then,
   1. They stay until they “complete the program”, meaning until parents can no longer pay or
   2. They are allowed to leave and given an “exit plan”.  An example of the exit plan is
      i. that the child is given a bus ticket to a location far from the parental home
      ii.  A nominal amount of money ($5 to $40)
      iii. Told not to contact their parents
3. At the same time, the parents are contacted and told that under no circumstances should they allow the child back into the home or be given money, or else all of the progress the child has made will be undone.  They are told to use a perverted “Tough Love” approach, which has nothing to do with love, or even the “Tough Love” program and philosophy.

Thus, the child is left on the streets of an unknown city, with no money and no resources.  A terrifying experience for a person of any age.

And what are the physical, social, emotional, psychological and spiritual outcomes?  All reported being damaged, severely, in each of these spheres.

1. an impaired physical growth and development, due to severe malnutrition during the developmental years;
2. the natural physical scars and malfunctions due to the effects of malnutrition, torture, injury and untreated infections
3. mental confusion due to constant exposure to systematic mental torture
4. poor academics and educational achievement due to a complete lack of, or inadequate exposure to education.  One girl reported that as a gifted student prior to her incarceration, the use of remedial texts by uneducated, unqualified “teachers” was intellectually demeaning, draining and damaging.  She was left completely unprepared for adult life as well as intellectually debilitated during the process.  She was required to “dumb down” and was punished, humiliated and ridiculed for using words natural to her.  Being academically prepared was “a big no-no” (using the approved dumbing down vernacular that would have been approved in the prison camp).  WHAT HAPPENED TO “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND”???
5. Because no radio, TV or print media was allowed, the inmates were left completely unaware of world events.  Or any events for that matter.  For those who were incarcerated prior to 9/11 and who exited some time after, none of that world-changing information was known…they all have to learn now, the important changes that have occurred,,,for example, that there was a war in Afghanistan, a war in Iraq was begun and continues.
6. All described symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, severe depression, severe anxiety.  Symptoms such as frequent night terrors, nightmares, daymares, severe anxiety every day, an anxiety whenever around other adults, being in a room (always surveying for an exit option), feelings of continued brainwashing, not being able to think straight, self doubt self-loathing, lack of purpose, needing permission for everything, thought control, lack of social skills, personal skills, skills needed for independent living, difficulty in intimate relationships.  And without funds, unable to acquire proper therapy…along with fear of therapists, as “staff” purporting to be therapists had worked with them extensively.  None of these survivors have a sense of trust, either of others, themselves, or their environments.  None of what they experienced and survived has been charged against their perpetrators as crimes, so they cannot qualify for assistance from the Victims of Crime Assistance Act.
7. Family relations are bankrupt.  Many of the survivors reported that their parents do not believe the conditions they describe.  The parents continue to believe the perpetrators.

The industry of trafficking in children is a 100 million dollar a year industry.  The parents are told that their children are being sent to a luxury “boarding school” with wonderful amenities, therapists, a fine educational program, recreation including beach trips, horseback riding.  The truth is the exact opposite.  For the parents not to believe their own children, is a huge betrayal for the children.  What is more important in life than our family, our children?  Do we really revere children?  Do we honor our children?  No, we place our trust in strangers who take our money, and deny our love and trust in our children.  Why?  Well, to be the parent of a tortured child would be heartbreaking, of course, and one would of course feel great guilt and remorse for putting one’s child in a terrorist camp.  But to admit to having done so is at this time beyond the emotional capability of many parents.  So, the survivors of these camps have also lost what is most important to them, their parents and immediate family.

Survivors are left on their own, abandoned and rejected by their family, to survive economically, socially, psychologically and spiritually.  There is no “Veteran’s Hospital” to which they can go for recovery.  There is no program to assist them as they make their way into adulthood. 

Who will stop this practice?  Who will stand up for the rights of children to be loved and treated with respect?  Who will stop the possibility of continuing or new terrorist camps for kids?  Who?

I was involved in the rescue of one child who was kidnapped and hidden away in one of these camps in Montana.  The local sheriff and other local authorities are in bed with the camp.  I have personal knowledge that their “medical staff” is not qualified to practice in the state.  They have no qualified teachers, although they advertise themselves to be a “boarding school”.  Their mental health director and staff have no degrees or qualifications in mental health.  They probably walk in off the street, having been cashiers somewhere and get a job as a therapist, teacher, guard or staff. 

Who will step up to close these terrorist camps for kids?  Who will pull back the curtain of the lies they tell parents and the public to get their money, then torture their children?  Who will close the loophole of education for these children, so they can get a proper education to prepare them for adulthood?  Who will allow them conversations with each other, so needed for building proper social skills?  Who will say that torturing children is bad for America?  Will you?