PRISON CONDITIONS AMOUNTING TO CRUEL, INHUMAN

OR DEGRADING TREATMENT

The topic of overcrowding has been discussed by Thai government officials for several years; however, little has yet been done to actually reduce the prison population. In the last 3 years since 2003 since the prime minister so called war on drugs was launched hundreds of thousands more people have been thrown into prison, not to mention the unofficial shoot on site policy by police which (only officially claimed 2.500 lives in the first few months) By the prime minister Toxin Shinawhat own admission at least 20% of those in prison are innocent.

Lard Yao womens prison and Bombat Narcotics Remand prison are extremely overcrowded and in some dormitories there have been divided horizontally into two floor so prisoners have to live in cells with ceilings as low as 4 ½ to 5 feet height, leaving them unable to stand straight. It appears that the prison system has not been given a proportionally larger budget to deal with this influx of prisoners, and also a large proportion of this budget is skimmed off to line the pockets of corrupt guards and officials. Severe overcrowding persists and is getting worse, although it is unclear as to how much this is due to lack of money and how much is to lack of political will on the part of the Royal Thai Government. Poor prison conditions are exasperated by corruption of officials and guards.

RAMPANT ABUSE OF RIGHTS BY WARDERS

Human rights commissioner Charan Ditthapichai said: inmates still suffered brutal punishment at many prisons in Thailand, “we admit old punishment methods have been used at many prisons. But Mr. Charan conceded it was difficult to convince prison officials to adopt humane practices even though it would cost them very little or nothing at all”.

Christmas in Bangkwang

 

 

MIRACLE IN THE HILTON

Miracle over Christmas Eve night!

500 !!! Prisoners almost half of the prisoners in my building, 95% of them devoted Buddhist’s convert to Christianity in order to collect a deep fried sausage and chicken leg, given out by the Christian church to only Christians, on Christmas Day.

 

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Christmas Day Morning, Jingle Bells!!

 

6.30 am :- I’ am dreaming!, I must be!!, yet my eyes are open and I’ am wide awake. I can hear sleigh bells!, I tell Bobby ( one of my cell mate’s) “Yeh! Sure Steve Santa’s Sleigh really comes to Bangkok Hilton, the Devil maybe”.

I look out through the bars of our cell to see a hundred or so prisoners shackled in elephant chains walking across the prison yard.

Merry Christmas Bobby, “Merry Christmas Steve”

 

 

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Christmas Dinner at the Hilton!

 

Turkey, Roast?

Well almost!!

A 4 inch x 3 inch clear plastic bag of steamed rice and a 4 inch x 3 inch bag of brown water and fish head, with today’s bonus of a deformed shape cucumber also about 3 inch in length given to the first prisoners in line.

By Steve Willcox

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Mr Steve Willcox

Bangkwang, Building 6

117 Nonthaburi road

Nonthaburi 11000

Thailand

 

 E-mail steveatbangkwang@yahoo.co.uk all letters will be posted to him