At least 3 killed in southern Thailand prison riot

[News_Editor]

At least 3 killed in southern Thailand prison riot

2011-09-05 20:45:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

PATTANI, THAILAND (BNO NEWS) -- At least three people were killed on Monday morning when a prison riot broke out in the southern region of Thailand, officials were quoted as saying by local media.

The incident in the Pattani Central Prison began when a group of more than 40 inmates launched an attack against five other prisoners, causing them to flee to the roof. Three of the targeted prisoners later slipped and fell, after which they were beaten to death by the rioters, according to the Bangkok Post.

According to the reports, the incident initially began as a minor scuffle between a large group of Muslim inmates and another group of Buddhist prisoners who had been appointed as warders' assistants. The Muslim group reportedly complained that they had been treated unfairly by the appointed warders' assistants, particularly in food distribution and in the kitchen management, leading to conflicts.

During the riot, prison staff were forced to release prisoners from the Narathiwat and Yala blocks, reportedly increasing the number of rioters to 200. There are around 1,200 inmates at the Pattani Central Prison, and a total of 800 prisoners are believed to have participated in the rioting.

As the rioting continued, a letter was written to prison and provincial officials by representatives of the Muslim inmates, promising to end the rioting if a list of demands that was presented on behalf of the rioters was fulfilled.

In addition to modification of the prison's regulations, the group demanded the replacement of wardens' assistants and prison kitchen management with Muslim inmates. In addition, the rioters requested that those previously assigned as warders' assistants and other Buddhist prisoners who helped create the conditions would be relocated to other prisons.

According to the Bangkok Post, Pattani deputy governor Lertkiat Wongpopan called for an emergency meeting with senior provincial administrators and prison officials after receiving the letter. The riot ended on Monday afternoon after the demands of the inmates were accepted.

Southern Thailand is majority Muslim, despite the country being mostly Buddhist. Separatist groups in the southern regions have brought constant and violent uprisings in the region for the past 6 years, leaving more than 4,300 people killed and more than 7,000 others injured.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-09-05

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Security Tightened at Pattani Prison after Riot

Security at the Pattani prison has been tightened following yesterday's riot, which left two inmates dead and another seriously injured.

The Pattani prison today allows families of inmates to visit them in prison on the occasion of Hari Raya, the official end of Ramadan.

The prison was crowded with a number of relatives who want to make sure that their loved ones are safe after a riot that broke out yesterday, leaving two inmates dead and one seriously injured.

Director-general of the Corrections Department Chartchai Sutthiklom called a meeting of the Pattani prison commander, police officers and administrative officials to assess the damage caused by the riot and follow up on the investigation into the case.

Chartchai said that the situation at the prison has returned to normal.

He said the Corrections Department will take the demands made by the inmates during the riot into consideration.

The inmates had demanded that the prison's kitchen staff be replaced with Muslims.

He added the incident is being investigated and officials will make every effort to find out the masterminds behind the riot.

Over 500 officials of crowd-control units from 15 police stations in Pattani and Yala provinces as well as the Southern Border Provinces Police Operations Center have been deployed to maintain peace and order at the prison.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old inmate identified as Maropee Maree died of respiratory problem late last night.

An investigation showed that he began having trouble breathing and died shortly after.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-06

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Buddhist inmates to be moved after riot breaks out in Pattani prison

By The Nation

A total of 149 Buddhist inmates will be transferred out of Pattani prison after a riot broke out on Monday between them and Muslim prisoners who allege that they are being treated unfairly and not provided halal food.

Of the Buddhist prisoners, 39 are being detained at the same cell as the Muslim inmates who sparked the riots and will be moved as soon as space is available at a prison in Songkhla. A Buddhist prisoner who was severely beaten during the Monday riots succumbed to his injuries last night bringing the number of casualties up to two. A Burmese inmate remains hospitalised.

The situation returned to normal yesterday when some Muslim inmates were allowed visits from their relatives. However, as a preventative measure, all knives and sharp objects were removed from the prison's kitchen and only 20 visitors were admitted at a time until further notice.

In a separate incident, 30yearold Muslim inmate, Morabi Yalee, died from a stroke early yesterday. Since his condition was chronic, his relatives have not sought an investigation into his death.

A meeting was held by Corrections Department directorgeneral Chartchai Sutthiphrome to discuss longterm measures to deal with crowded conditions and prevent future riots. The officials also discussed the possibility of constructing new prisons and finding more staff, though no decision had been made about inmates detained for security offences influencing and instigating other inmates.

"The situation has returned to normal. Staff shortage is a reason attributing to the problem in addition to overcrowding," Chartchai said, adding that Justice Minister Pracha Promnok had been informed of all the details and was expected to provide further instructions.

"Criminal procedure will be conducted to find out who is responsible for the injuries and deaths," he added.

MajGeneral Akkhara Thiproj, a senior Internal Security Operations Command official based in the deep South, said transferring Buddhist inmates was not a longterm solution and voiced his support for the speedy construction of new prisons. The officer said insurgents were causฌing unrest and divisions among residents in the South, though he did not confirm that they were behind the recent prison riots.

-- The Nation 2011-09-07