- The associative radio station La Clé des waves launched a daily program during the confinement so that inmates of the Bordeaux-Gradignan remand center can hear the messages and dedications of their loved ones.
- In a period of progressive deconfinement, L'Autre parloir (90.10 FM) rediscovers its original niche. As since 1992, it will be broadcast every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- The administration placed an order for radios so that all the detainees could listen to L'Autre parloir, but it has not yet arrived. So La Clé des waves launches a call for radio donations.
"We have no more news from you, we miss you", "did you receive my letters? " From the start of the containment linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, the program L'Autre parloir replaced visits by families of prisoners to the Gradignan prison, which brings together more than 500 prisoners, near Bordeaux ( Gironde). The historic Wednesday evening meeting, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, then became daily. Each evening, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., eight volunteer radio presenters from La Clé des waves took turns to become "the megaphone of families unable to see their loved ones".
“With confinement, the visits were suspended and the link was broken. It became very hard for the detainees. It was like a double punishment, recalls host Xavier Ridon. "The Other Parlor" had fallen in lethargy for almost five years, in particular, since cell phones circulate in prison. But a citizen collective came to wake us up and, faced with the demand, we switched to the daily version. "
Over 400 detainees do not have radios
With deconfinement, the visiting rooms have not completely reopened. Only one visit per week per prisoner is allowed, compared to two to three in normal times. Then L'Autre parloir will continue to broadcast every Wednesday evening, "until everything is in order, or even after." And so that everyone can listen to the family's dedications, the radio today calls on volunteer animators and donations.
View this post on Instagram
Every evening, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., your messages of love or support to the inmates of the Gradignan remand center. On La Clé des Ondes: Call 05 56 60 69 99 Listen to 90.10 FM Listen to lacledesondes.fr Share L'Autre Parloir Merci #bordeaux #gironde #bordeauxmaville #graduche #prison #appel #parloir #confinement #solidarite #initiative #radio # covid19
A post shared by Radio - La Clé Des Ondes (@radiolacledesondes) on Apr 24, 2020 at 6:12 am PDT
"There is still a lot of waiting among the detainees but some do not have a radio," explains Xavier Ridon. A hundred have one, more than 400 do not have one and among them, a good fifty do not have the means to buy it at all. The prison has placed an order, but there is a hiccup and it does not arrive. Those who want to offer one to inmates can contact La Clé des waves by email * or on their Facebook page. "We will find a niche and a meeting place to collect the equipment," said Xavier, who adds that specialized stores have offered to give a boost.
Free antenna, practical information and press review
Since March 17, L'Autre parloir has received over a hundred calls. A record. Moms, companions, wives or sisters record messages that come from the heart, calls that ask for news or sometimes broadcast live on the air. Jeanne, 5, delivered a “this is when you are going home. We can go to McDonald's. I love you love dad and see you soon ». A former detainee took the time to deliver his health tips to the friends who remained behind bars. "His message was very lively, full of humor," says Xavier. He told them to eat well and wash their hands well. "
On the prison administration side, André Varignon, the director, informed the detainees about the existence of this daily meeting. Finally, when the telephone parlor line was saturated, he asked the eight presenters to broadcast the number of the second launched during the confinement. “As for us, we are working on these three axes: free broadcasting, practical information on the prison environment and current press reviews. Depending on the orientation of our animators, the editorial line can move ”, explains Xavier Ridon. Julia communicated on the progression of the epidemic or the barrier gestures, when Christophe, of the International Observatory of Prisons, did not hesitate to communicate on the positions of the Ministry of Justice.
Our file on deconfinement
Thanks to L'Autre parloir , a son who remained in prison was finally able to hear on the air all the members of his large family saying "I love you". And that of "the pink house and Macau" drop a "we are waiting for you even if it is very long. Be patient and have confidence. We hope you can phone soon. Write to us and get back to us quickly. You miss everyone. "
Society
Coronavirus: "The risk of mutiny hangs over prisons", warns the Comptroller General of places of deprivation of liberty
Bordeaux
Coronavirus in New Aquitaine: What do we know about the mutiny at the Uzerche detention center?
* To listen to L'Autre Parloir, it's Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on 90.10 FM or the lacledesondes.fr website. To broadcast messages and dedications, it's 05.56.50.69.99 for the direct and 09.62.63.35.46 for the answering machine and by social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
- Aquitaine
- Video
- Bordeaux
- Coronavirus
- Deconfinement
- Covid 19