Political Detainee Site 'Nothing Special': Thai Dept Of Corrections

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POLITICS

Political detainee site 'nothing special'

by Kornchanok Raksaseri

Photo : Korbphuk Phromrekha

The chief of the Department of Corrections yesterday played the role of tour guide, giving the media a light-hearted look at the ongoing renovations of the Lak Si temporary prison in an attempt to dispel suspicions it is being done up to make certain detainees more comfortable.

The detainees in political cases would not be transferred to the facility tomorrow(Wednesday) as originally scheduled, he said, as the renovations are still under way and running water is not yet available.

GROUPING THE DETAINEES

Department director-general Pol Colonel Suchart Wong-ananchai said it had not been decided how many prisoners would be transferred to Lak Si.

Once the number has been determined, the department and prison officials would decide on how to group the detainees. Suchart said he would not take part in this decision.

Relatives will be allowed to visit and talk with detainees on the first floor.

The four-storey building is near the compound of the Royal Thai Police Sports Club. Each floor comprises rooms of various sizes. A maximum of 300 detainees can be housed on the second to the fourth floors.

"Air conditioners definitely cannot be installed; they'd all be broken," Suchart joked, referring to the open-air cells. He was not sure whether electric fans could be installed.

The prison appears less spacious than other prisons, he said, pointing out that the only places for recreation are the halls near the stairwells.

"For security reasons, detainees will not be allowed to use the rooftop," he said.

The only stress-relief activities likely to be permitted were reading and receiving visits from friends and relatives, he said.

SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR

Detainees will sleep on the floor. Each will be given a cloth mat, a pillow and a blanket. Toilets are in the cells.

The biggest cells are at each end of the building, housing 50 inmates.

Some rooms are designed to house only one person, but two people might have to share these if the detainee population grows too large, Suchart said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-20

[Bakseedaa]

Sounds like a 5 star prison to me... running water....WoW... and maybe conjugal visits in those single cells, if the money is right..?

[sparebox2]

I wonder if the VIP room is built for Thaksin private use?

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Pheu Thai MP Denies Hidden Agenda in Relocation Request for Red-shirt Detainees

A Pheu Thai MP denied that there was any hidden agenda at the red-shirt caretaker's meeting with the Department of Corrections chief and that it was in accordance with suggestions from the Truth and Reconciliation Panel.

Pheu Thai Party list MP Weng Tojirakarn denied that the planned meeting between the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship's acting chairman Thida Thawornset and the Department of Corrections director-general has any hidden agenda.

He said the red-shirt caretaker will request the relocation of red-shirt detainees in the provinces to the Lak Si prison camp, which is in accordance with suggestions from the Independent Commission for Truth and Reconciliation, chaired by Kanit Na Nakhon.

Weng discussed that the panel's suggestions that the red-shirt detainees should be held in a proper facility, the kind which is different from a normal prison and was used for political prisoners in the past.

The Pheu Thai MP added that the relocation of political convicts is not exclusively for red-shirt leaders and members, but also for other eligible detainees according to the specified conditions.

There are currently 30 red-shirt detainees are in Bangkok, excluding Arisaman Pongruangrong, and 40 others in the provinces.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

[FOODLOVER]

Has the information on thread count been released?

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Red-shirt Chief Seeks Relocation of 72 Jailed Peers

The leader of the red-shirt movement has submitted, to the Corrections Department, a list of 72 names.

The names are those red-shirt detainees whom the group believes should be moved to the new temporary holding center in Lak Si area.

Red-shirt leader ThidaThawornseth has submitted a list of 72 names of red-shirt detainees to the Corrections Department.

The list contains the name of red-shirt detainees whom the red-shirt group believes are classified as political prisoners and should be moved to the new holding center in Lak Si.

Thida said the individuals on the list are facing charges related to the lese majeste law, Computer Crimes Act and politically-related charges.

Thida cited the recommendation, made by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission, for the red shirts to be held separately from the regular remand population.

She demanded the Corrections Department provide the red-shirt group with details of who will be transferred to the temporary holding center and those who fail to be qualified.

Thida wanted the specifics of when and how long it would take to move some of the key detainees including red-shirt key leader Arisman Pongruangrong.

After a two-hour meeting with the chief of the Corrections Department, the department revealed the transfers will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

A 17-man committee has been set up to review the transfer process.

The review process could take up to 30 days.

The new facility is located in Lak Si. Each floor of the four-story building comprises rooms of various sizes.

A maximum of 300 detainees can be housed on the second to the fourth floors.

Detainees will be sleeping on the floor.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-20

[tukkytuktuk]

"I'll take the four poster mat, does that come with fluffy pillows included? and reschedule that meeting with little sister, oh and could you get me fly fishing by j.r hartley. Don't forget I like my bath at precisely 31 centigrade. Thankyou, now leave me alone I'm organising a dinner party with the boys." he said.

[mahtin]

Was this the one on channel 3 earlier?

Wish I could afford a holiday there.

[slapout]

A 17 member committee is going to decide who, when and where??? If this committee follows typical Thai procedure, any ultimate decision will have to go to some legal group for verification, then to a Ministry for a stamp of approval, and then even a possible Cabinet look see. Maybe press coverage should be considered, thus they may already be in their new home.

I am beginning to understand why local made/sold vehicles have such a limited color choice in this country.