Picture: Thai Rath

 

A familiar sight pre-pandemic is back on the streets of Bangkok and neighboring areas.

 

Chain gangs.

 

About one hundred prisoners were putting out sandbags near the Nonthaburi clocktower and port as well as undertaking cleaning operations along Chaeng Wattana Road, reported Thai Rath yesterday.

 

Forty convicts came from Bangkok Special Prison, Bang Khwang and Klong Prem, 37 from Pathum Thani and 19 from Nonthaburi jail.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Justice minister Somsak Thepsuthin said he was unable to attend in person due to meetings at Government House but he said he had sent along food and drink for the chain gangs as encouragement.

 

He said that there were plenty more prisoners who were available for public service like this, just ask the corrections department if you need them.

 

Chain gangs were once a frequent sight in Thailand though their use was stopped during the pandemic, notes ASEAN NOW. 

 

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where are the chains?

2 minutes ago, malibukid said:

where are the chains?

In the pick-up....????

Set em free

Hummm.  Slave labor.  I thought that was a human right's violation.  But who cares?

Probably voluntary, non violent folks, as who wouldn't help out.  Anything to get out from the four walls and some fresh air.  Maybe an extra serving of rice at chow time as an incentive.

 

Or knock a few weeks, months off the ol' sentence.  WIN WIN

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Chain gangs were once a frequent sight in Thailand though their use was stopped during the pandemic, notes ASEAN NOW. 

Chain gangs have never been a sight in Thailand; chain gangs are groups of prisoners who are forced to do the work.   All prisoners working outside the prisons are volunteers.

3 hours ago, connda said:

Hummm.  Slave labor.  I thought that was a human right's violation.  But who cares?

Who cares?  The prison service does, all the prisoners are volunteers, none are forced to work in these groups.

52 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Probably voluntary, non violent folks, as who wouldn't help out.  Anything to get out from the four walls and some fresh air.  Maybe an extra serving of rice at chow time as an incentive.

 

Or knock a few weeks, months off the ol' sentence.  WIN WIN

Spot on.

4 hours ago, malibukid said:

where are the chains?

Pawned them already.

Thanks Lou, some posters here on this forum seem to forget that they are not in their home country.

   Good reminder.  I have only seen inside one Thai prison, and the cells are not as decked out as in North America.

Harvey