Even animals want to be free: Sister of "El Chapo"

Bernarda Guzmán, the alleged sister of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, expressed today that "even an irrational animal wants its freedom," during a visit to the maximum security prison of "El Altiplano," where the drug kingpin is currently being held.

Guzmán and other relatives and the lawyers of "El Chapo" are planning a hunger strike, in demand of better treatment for the convicted drug dealer.

"El Chapo" has been confined in that prison since January 8, and according to his legal representatives, he is unable to sleep because every night he is awakened at least once, in order to see if he is still alive. That treatment, according to Guzmán Loera, is making him feel like "a zombie".

In the opinion of his sister, the treatment is because the authorities are angry after his escape from that very prison in July, using a mile-long tunnel to leave his cell.

"I would like to ask the authorities of this jail to do something fair," expressed Bernarda Guzmán, who has not been able to meet her brother and pointed out that he "has never hurt anybody".

One of the lawyers of Guzmán, José Luis González Meza, explained that a tent will be installed in the area in order to house the relatives who will participate in the hunger strike.

In regard to the extradition of her brother, Bernarda Guzmán said that his family is against it, even while "El Chapo" requested it through his lawyers in light of the bad treatment he is enduring.

Finally, due to the mounting pressure from the press, Bernarda Guzmán left the area in a vehicle, apparently not willing to participate in the hunger strike.

"We are concerned that he will be treated worse than a war criminal (in the United States)," expressed lawyer González Meza, who is afraid that his client could end up being held at Guantánamo.