Inmates Seize Prison In The South

[sriracha john]

400 inmates seize control of Nakhon Si Thammarat jail

Nakhon Si Thammarat - About 400 inmates armed with sticks, iron bars and knives seized control of the Nakhon Si Thammarat jail Thursday morning demanding the transfer of three guards, police said.

Police commanded by the provincial governor were rushed to the scene to control the situation but inmates were still in control of the prison.

The event broke out at 8 am.

Intially, police said the detainees divided into side - pro and against wardens - and clashed using all kinds of available weapons, including wood sticks, iron bars and knives. But reporters later found out that the inmates were united to seize control of the prison.

The detainees seized control of the cafeteria and study area and all guards were evacuated.

The Nation

[Jai Dee]

Nakhon Si Thammarat inmates set fire on prison building

Nakhon Si Thammarat - Inmates in Nakhon Si Thammarat prison set fire on a Sala inside the prison's compound and threatened that they would burn all buildings if Corrections Department chief refused to talk to them.

The inmates that seized the prison in the morning demolished the Sala before setting fire.

They were heard shouting while watching the fire that they would more buildings if Natthee Jitsawang, did not come to see them within five minutes.

The inmates earlier demanded to negotiate only with Corrections Department's chief Natthee Jitsawang.

Some 400 inmates have seized control of the prison, demanding the transferring of three guards accused of beating up inmates.

The revolt took place at about 8 am and the inmates, who were armed with knives, iron bars and sticks, took control of the prison at 9 am.

The prison, located in Mamuay Pray village of Tambon Nasai in Muang district, houses about 400 male inmates who are about 18 to 22 years old.

The inmates, who cover the face with cloth and hat, gathered at the third-layer gate and shouted demand for the transfer of the three guards.

They also threw stones at prison guards, who were evacuated to be outside.

The inmates stopped throwing stones when seeing reporters nearby. They raised their hands and cheered to sign victory for photographers to take pictures.

The inmates then raised signs with words demanding transfer of three guards - Sakol Jongsiri, Jamras Mukda, and Thanom Mangsathorn.

They also conveyed messages through the signs that they wanted to meet Nakhon Si Thammarat governor Wichom Thongsong and wanted reporters to go inside to interview them.

The inmates also brought ten of them to reporters to see that they had been beaten up by the three guards.

Nakhon Si Thammarat police chief Pol Maj Gen Sudjai Yannarat led some 100 policemen to wait outside the prision.

Police said one of the leaders of the revolt was identified as Makiso Debark, who was convicted in launching bomb attacks in Yala's Betong district. He was transferred to the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison two months ago.

Source: The Nation - 14 September 2006

[sriracha john]

This initial report was made before things soured and the officials lost control of the prison:

Authorities keep protest at Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison under control

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 14 (TNA) - Over 200 prisoners jailed in this southern Thai provincial town staged a protest strike Thursday protesting the prison care system, demanding the transfers of five wardens, while authorities concerned have kept the situation under control.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya told journalists that Nakhon Si Thammarat governor, southern senior prison officials and provincial police forces are jointly taking care of the incident and the situation has been under control.

"The inmates have no heavy arms, but only spoons, forks and small knives from the prison's kitchen," said Pol. Gen. Chidchai. "The local authorities are negotiating with their leaders.

"Only half of the inmates at the prison have staged the protest; so, the situation should return to normalcy shortly," he added.

The inmates, mainly held on drug cases from juvenile detention centres, seized the compound of the provincial prison at around 8am, throwing whatever objects that were available in the prison wards and yards, and shouted for the guards to leave.

The protesting prisoners voiced their complaints over the poor conditions inside the prison, and focused attention on five wardens who they claimed treated them badly, demanding that they be transferred to another facility.

Senior prison officials tried without success to convince the protesting inmates to end their strike and send representatives to negotiate with prison officials. Refusing, the inmates demanded to meet only with Corrections Department director-general Natthee Chitsawang.

Full security at the prison was restored by about one hundred police officers deployed to control the situation.

- MCOT

[Jai Dee]

An inmate (left) used baton to push down a man acting as a negotiator with the inmates who have seized Nakhon Si Thammarat prison since Thursday morning. The group beat and kicked the man, an inmate from a Yala prison, and refused to talk with him. The injured man was already taken out from the prison.

Source: The Nation - 14 September 2006

[sriracha john]

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE

Inmates seize southern prison

Hundreds of prison inmates on Thursday took control of a jail in southern Thailand and have threatened to burn the jail down unless their demands are met. About one third of the 483 prisoners seized control of the jail in Nakhon Si Thammarat , 560 kilometres south of Bangkok, chased the guards out and demanded a meeting with Correction Department Chief Natthee Jitsawang to arrange a transfer of three guards who had allegedly beaten the inmates, radio reports said. The inmates burned down a sala, or Thai pavilion, in the prison compound Thursday afternoon and threatened to burn their living quarters as well unless their demands were met.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=112897

[sriracha john]

Prison revolt ends

Inmates of Nakhon Si Thammarat prison who seized the prison on Thursday ended their revolt after Corrections Department chief Natthee Jitsawang promised to investigate their claims some guards assaulted them.

Natthee who arrived the scene from Bangkok at about 4.30pm said their demand to improve quality of food and water would also be met.

Natthee's promises drew applause from about 400 inmates who later dispersed to their cells. The negotiation was made as the inmates wrote their demands on a piece of paper and handed it over to Natthee who waited outside the prison's compound.

Their demands included that the prison authorities would not take any legal action on the inmates who joined in the revolt and that a committee will be set up to investigate the guards who allegedly beat the prisoners.

Meanwhile an inmate told reporters that the prison's guards usually kept the food from relatives of the inmates for themselves. "Guards liked to beat us when they were not pleased with us," he said.

The revolt took place at about 8 am and the inmates, who were armed with knives, iron bars and sticks, took control of the prison at 9 am.

The prison, located in Mamuay Pray village of Tambon Nasai in Muang district, houses about 400 male inmates who are about 18 to 22 years old.

The inmates, who covered their faces with cloth and hats, gathered at the third-layer gate and shouted a demand for the transfer of the three guards.

They also threw stones at prison guards, who were evacuated to the outside.

The inmates then raised signs with words demanding transfer of three guards - Sakol Jongsiri, Jamras Mukda, and Thanom Mangsathorn.

The inmates also set fire to a Sala inside the prison's compound and threatened that they would burn all buildings if Natthee refused to talk to them.

The inmates demolished the Sala before setting it afire.

They were heard shouting while watching the fire that they would more buildings if Natthee did not come to see them within five minutes.

- The Nation

[Scott]

So is everything under control there now?

[Jai Dee]

Prisoners riot over 'abuse' by wardens

More than 400 inmates rioted for about eight hours at a local prison yesterday in a protest over five wardens accused of physical assault and stealing.

The drama only ended when Corrections Department's director general Nathee Jitsawang agreed to most of the inmates' demands. These include an inquiry into the wardens, improved welfare and the decision not to punish any of them for the disturbance.

Armed with knives and iron bars, the angry inmates burnt down a warden's wooden shelter and severely assaulted a fellow detainee, identified only as Thanakorn, on suspicion that he had given tips-off to the wardens during the chaos.

Thanakorn sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised.

The riot dragged on from around 9am till 5pm. The situation turned violent when the protesting inmates attacked Thanakorn, then burnt down the warden's shelter amid cheers from their fellows. They also threatened to set fire to more property if Nathee did not come to negotiate.

Located in Muang district, the prison only detains young male inmates between 18 and 22 years old. Most are serving sentences for drug-related charges.

Officials said most inmates were armed during the riot with iron bars, knives and wooden sticks they brought from the kitchen and vocational training zone.

Nathee immediately flew from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat when he learned of the incident. He also instructed local police and senior officials to take charge first.

When Deputy Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Wongwiboon Kijwiboon rushed to the prison, the protesting inmates refused to negotiate. Police officers, fire trucks and ambulances were also dispatched to the scene.

During the disturbance, some 10 inmates climbed onto the prison wall to let media crews see their injuries allegedly inflicted by the prison wardens.

The inmates said they wanted five wardens - Sakon Jongsiri, Jamras Mukda, Thanom Mangsathong, Pramong Chanasit and Bonyarit Ponsaman - transferred. They also demanded improved welfare and immunity from punishment for causing the havoc.

The inmates painted a board saying, "We will not allow the officials to abuse us anymore". The wardens were accused of assaulting the inmates, and stealing goods that the inmates should have received from their relatives.

As the situation dragged on into the late afternoon, police installed spotlights around the prison walls out of concern the inmates might attempt to escape after nightfall.

However, when Nathee arrived at 4.20pm the negotiations started. Inmate Makisor Deboh, who was jailed for a bomb incident at Beyong Hospital in Yala, talked to Nathee via loudspeakers before he submitted written demands.

At 5pm, Nathee agreed to most of the demands and the inmates stopped their angry and violent protest peacefully.

According to Nathee, the inmates will not be punished for yesterday's incident. The five wardens will face an immediate probe. The prison's director Chupong Pongpensawas plans to tackle welfare problems at the jail.

"As for their demands to be transferred to a prison in their hometowns, we will consider each request on case-by-case basis," Nathee said.

Source: The Nation - 15 September 2006

[Jai Dee]

Inmates end their protest at Yala prison

The protest at Yala central prison by inmates ended after authorities accepted their demand for the transfer of three guards they alleged of mistreating them.

Yala governor Boonyasit Suwannarat (บุณยสิทธิ์ สุวรรณรัตน์) said the situation has already returned to normal. The more than 100 inmates called off their protest and clean up the prison after prison director Somneuk Pongpetch (สมนึก พงษ์เพชร) agreed to relieve the three guards from duty.

Mr. Somneuk said communication failure between inmates and guards led to the protest. He said officials were ordered not to use violence against inmates and treat them with mercy.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 September 2006