Fighting for their freedom: Thai prison inmates earn parole by beating foreign kickboxers in brutal tournaments and 'bringing honour to their country'
Klong Prem Central Prison organises 'Prison Fight' tournaments
Inmates can battle for their freedom or a reduction in their sentence
By Ted Thornhill

Prisoners are normally punished for fighting – but one jail in Thailand does just the opposite.

Klong Prem Central Prison offers inmates the chance to have their sentences reduced or even be released, by beating outsiders in fights. There's also prize money up for grabs.

The concept is a twist on Jean-Claude Van Damme movie In Hell, where prisoners fight each other to entertain the warden.

The bouts at the Thai prison take place at a tournament called ‘Prison Fight’, which features a ring with this title emblazoned across it.

The bizarre sense of razzamatazz is heightened by the fighters’ clothes – they wear special ‘Prison Fight’ shorts - and the cheerleaders who sometimes parade around.

The fights are watched by prison officials and huge numbers of inmates.

Full story: http://www.coloradonewsday.com/national/44405-fighting-for-their-freedom-thai-prison-inmates-earn-parole-by-beating-foreign-kickboxers-in-brutal-tournaments-and-bringing-honour-to-their-country.html

-- Colorado Newsday 2014-02-26

To bring honour........how crazy can it get ?

Thunderdome becomes reality!

That is so thai!

The social system here is so devoid of a sense of right and justice at every level - why is it even surprising anymore what the officials dream up.

I wonder if this will spread to Phuket for you know who

Meanwhile, in Brazil, the women's prisons hold prison beauty contests.

(Some members may remember the Thai woman who won a contest, and the Thai media went ape over it, quoting people as saying she had brought great honour to Thailand, despite being a convicted drug smuggler, while one senior official in her home province said "we must find her a job when she gets back and do everything we can to help her". A real Ripley's, that one.)

Sounds like Spartacus fighting for his freedom in the mines - History is just an endlessly repeating loop when you think of it.

Honour is the objective...

Brute strength is the means...

Knowledge and wisdom is for sometime in the future...

Didn't see the brutality in the article and seems the foreigners are willing fighters that aren't prisoners.

You kick the <deleted> out of a farang and you bring honour to Thailand, for this we will release you.

Getting out of prison would certainly motivate me.

Should be on TV

Price less Thai loss of face & all

I could swear I watched this movie, except it was racing to the death or something.

Not solely a Thai phenomenon. This was going on at Corcoran prison here in California for years. Gladiator style fights staged by the guards, and if their candidate lost, and they did not feel he had put out the necessary effort, they would shoot him. Only difference, they did not win their release if they won, they just got to stay alive, and maybe an extra bowl of oatmeal or boiled egg. The only way it was stopped was by a guard exposing it, he had lots of proof, and a wild chase ensued across part of california, as prison guards chased him in prison vehicles, attempting to secure and destroy the evidence.

Fighting for their freedom: Thai prison inmates earn parole by beating foreign kickboxers in brutal tournaments and 'bringing honour to their country'

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So if one lost--will he get some xtra time added on--for " Bringing Dis-Honor " to the country--

Good stuff keeps recycling the tough criminals! Shows if your a tough guy you can get in and out with a little payday on top of it!

Send Boyka (Steve Adkins - Undisputed 2 & 3), in. He'll clean house.

Disgusting news.....But fits right in this lovely culture.... MS>

I think its a good idea.

Gives them all something to aim at and work towards.

Then if they beat one, they get out and will be thankful to farang forever.

Should be some money in taking dives for the foreigners....the bigger the crim...the bigger the fee.

Should be on TV

Now it is.

let's welcome these convicts back into society with open arms...they have been rehabilitated by Thainess

For Klong Prem Central Prison World Cup see here.

I expect many prisoners would do most anything to get out of prison early...even succumb to the prodding of their prison bosses (both prison officers and gang leaders....might be hard to tell the difference) to fight for parole/early release. A form of enslavement to fight in the ring....maybe like a gladiator slave from Roman times.

Not solely a Thai phenomenon. This was going on at Corcoran prison here in California for years. Gladiator style fights staged by the guards, and if their candidate lost, and they did not feel he had put out the necessary effort, they would shoot him. Only difference, they did not win their release if they won, they just got to stay alive, and maybe an extra bowl of oatmeal or boiled egg. The only way it was stopped was by a guard exposing it, he had lots of proof, and a wild chase ensued across part of california, as prison guards chased him in prison vehicles, attempting to secure and destroy the evidence.

your dreaming......California the most Liberal State..hahaha......now time to wakeup

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Not solely a Thai phenomenon. This was going on at Corcoran prison here in California for years. Gladiator style fights staged by the guards, and if their candidate lost, and they did not feel he had put out the necessary effort, they would shoot him. Only difference, they did not win their release if they won, they just got to stay alive, and maybe an extra bowl of oatmeal or boiled egg. The only way it was stopped was by a guard exposing it, he had lots of proof, and a wild chase ensued across part of california, as prison guards chased him in prison vehicles, attempting to secure and destroy the evidence.

Sounds incredible. Citation please.

You kick the &lt;deleted&gt; out of a farang and you bring honour to Thailand, for this we will release you.

Indeed, what better way to redeem oneself with society?

Perhaps a slight adjustment of the TAT logo should be in order in view of this, something with a bit more ooomph than Amazing Thailand... how about "Thailand, f***ing nuts!"?

Dark side from the dark ages!

great idea, now is the time thailand needs brutal violent thugs on the streets more than ever. release them all