Behind bars: Thai women pay high price for drugs

[webfact]

Feature:
Behind bars: Thai women pay high price for drugs
by Delphine THOUVENOT, Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

AYUTTHAYA, June 24, 2014 (AFP) - Lured by easy money, an escape from poverty or family pressure, thousands of women are locked up for drug offences in Thailand, which has one of the world's highest rates of female imprisonment.

Mai, 27, was sentenced to three years in jail after she was caught with 20 "yaba" pills -- a slang term for methamphetamine known locally as "crazy medicine" -- used by tens of thousands of Thais from taxi drivers to students.

"The amount of yaba was more than was considered for personal use so I was charged with selling," said Mai, whose boyfriend is also in prison for dealing methamphetamine.

She is serving her second stint behind bars in a prison in Ayutthaya north of Bangkok where she lives with her baby boy, and has no hope of early release in a country with one of the world's strictest anti-drugs policies.

A three-year jail sentence for meth possession is routine in Thailand, where use of the illegal stimulant is rife.

Within Asia, the kingdom is second only to China in terms of methamphetamine seizures.

More than 95 million meth tablets were seized in Thailand in 2012, up almost five-fold from 2008, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Much of the region's meth is produced in strife-torn border areas in neighbouring Myanmar and smuggled across the border.

Thailand saw nearly 196,000 methamphetamine-related arrests in 2012, the most in Asia, according to UNODC.

Sixty-nine Thai women were also arrested for drug smuggling overseas in the same year, compared with just three men, the UN agency said.

At the prison in Ayutthaya, the walls of the children's room are covered with drawings.

But despite the flower beds that welcome visitors and the hair salon, life is no picnic with prisoners required to carry out cleaning and other tasks, said Mai, dressed in the same light blue uniform as the 650 other inmates.

The prisoners sew beads on T-shirts for a salary of just 100 baht ($3) a month, with the proceeds of the sales going towards the operating budget of the prison.

- 'Still human beings' -

In a country without a culture of socio-educational support for inmates, one Thai writer is trying to change her compatriots' views of prison.

"We want the society to look at the prisoners as human beings. Everyone can make mistakes or be jailed as a scapegoat," Orasom Suddhisakorn said.

Orasom leads writing workshops in prisons and has already published two collections of these stories, "Facekook" -- "kook" meaning prison in Thai -- that have sold several thousand copies.

The stories are familiar -- of ordinary women sentenced to years in prison for a handful of yaba pills.

As a young penniless divorcee, one inmate wrote of how she sold the drug to raise her son, while another recounts how her foreign boyfriend manipulated and used her as a mule.

A third tells how she sold drugs to follow the tradition of her family, in which everyone, from her aunt to her mother, lived from meth trafficking.

- Remembering the past -

At one of the workshops, attended by about 20 inmates, 23-year-old Sawapa said writing "helps me to organise my thoughts".

"It makes me think of the past, of my family, of how I lived," she added.

Sawapa, who was jailed for possession of 30 yaba pills, recounts being led by a neighbour into small-time dealing while she was a student.

Her mother wants her to resume her studies and eventually take over the family grocery store. But her release date is not until 2018.

This tough treatment of small-time traffickers is one reason why Thailand has one of the world's highest rates of women prisoners.

Roughly 42,000 women are behind bars in Thailand -- about 14 percent of the total imprisoned population, according to the corrections department.

That compares with around nine percent for the United States, five percent for China and zero percent for Liechtenstein, according to the International Centre for Prison Studies.

Nearly half of the female inmates in Thailand are serving sentences for trafficking or possession of meth.

At the Ayutthaya jail, the figure is 80 percent, according to the prison director.

Orasom, the writer, is one of the rare voices to advocate a better support for prisoners.

But some other activists are calling for a reduction of prison terms for drugs, arguing that the harsh policy -- which can result in decades in jail -- has failed to curb dealing.

"People get 20, 30 or 40 years when it would be three years in other countries," said Danthong Breen of rights group Union for Civil Liberty.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-24

[GeForce]

"More than 95 million meth tablets were seized in Thailand in 2012"

How many of these were sold back into the market by corrupt Police?

A roundabout comes to mine

Edited June 24, 2014 by GeForce

[losworld]

3 bucks a month sewing beads and let me guess the warden has a big house and a Merc.

[hyperdimension]

"More than 95 million meth tablets were seized in Thailand in 2012"

How many of these were sold back into the market by corrupt Police?

A roundabout comes to mine

I can't imagine the seized items being destroyed considering the large gap between the monetary value of the items and policemen's salaries. so let's assume that most of it is released back into the market. Combine it with all other supplies that managed to get through (which I assume is most of the total supply, as seizures are only a tip of the iceberg), then it is clear that the rate of consumption of methamphetamine is enormous. Now how much of this consumption has led to problems? Can anyone provide drug-related crime statistics? I think that the proportion of consumption of illegal drugs that directly results in harm to society is so small that the strict and costly enforcement of drug laws may be a huge waste of taxpayers' money and may be inflicting more harm than the drugs themselves (such as imprisoned parents like those mentioned in the article not being able to properly care for their children). Please provide evidence to prove me wrong.

[WitawatWatawit]

A better descrption of life in a Thai prison, read Sandra Gregory's "Forget you had a daughter" or "The damage done" by Warren Fellows. Although Gregory, who was sent back to the UK to complete her sentence, says UK prisons are far tougher.

[coma]

"More than 95 million meth tablets were seized in Thailand in 2012"

How many of these were sold back into the market by corrupt Police?

A roundabout comes to mine

None. However it is more probable that the quality seized was quite considerably larger than the 95 million reported.

[TallPalm]

Well there you go, Thailand has just admitted that it runs a Prison Slave Industry - very lucrative.

[jackinthebox]

I liked the part where Thailand is compared to Lichtenstein.

[darrendsd]

Well there you go, Thailand has just admitted that it runs a Prison Slave Industry - very lucrative.

No,

All prisons have similar schemes.

[hobz]

I wish they would imprison corrupt officials and police instead. Drugs should be legal for anyone that doesn't harm others.

[Hawk]

As one can see, imprisonment is not a deterrent! Money rules!

[h90]

"More than 95 million meth tablets were seized in Thailand in 2012"

How many of these were sold back into the market by corrupt Police?

A roundabout comes to mine

I can't imagine the seized items being destroyed considering the large gap between the monetary value of the items and policemen's salaries. so let's assume that most of it is released back into the market. Combine it with all other supplies that managed to get through (which I assume is most of the total supply, as seizures are only a tip of the iceberg), then it is clear that the rate of consumption of methamphetamine is enormous. Now how much of this consumption has led to problems? Can anyone provide drug-related crime statistics? I think that the proportion of consumption of illegal drugs that directly results in harm to society is so small that the strict and costly enforcement of drug laws may be a huge waste of taxpayers' money and may be inflicting more harm than the drugs themselves (such as imprisoned parents like those mentioned in the article not being able to properly care for their children). Please provide evidence to prove me wrong.

A critical discussion about drugs isn't possible at all. Making Kratom and Coca leaves illegal which is used without since centuries without problems is just crazy. Or Marihuana that causes way less problems than Alcohol. An adult should be allowed to decide himself what narcotics he want or don't want to use. His body. By banning it, mafia and some politicians that are related get rich.

[Loles]

It's really awful.

Many poor people think if they carry or sale yaba their life will be up. But no way.

[bigbamboo]

I liked the part where Thailand is compared to Lichtenstein.

Me too. But of course in 'tax haven' Liechtenstein crime is legal.

[Kerryd]

And here I was hoping to hear the story of the inmate who was busted for selling drugs (because she didn't want to work at a real job), and promised to pay some rather large sums of money if she was let go, then proceeded to try and scam boatloads of money from various foreigners, even planting drugs on at least one (not me) in order to blackmail him, while stealing house and vehicle registration books (and trying to access their bank accounts), before she (and her Thai boyfriend) got caught selling more drugs and she ended up back in prison. I'm lucky that I'm a naturally suspicious person or I may have ended up getting screwed as well (and not in the "nice" way).

So many of these pity stories try to make it sound like all the inmates are just hard-luck cases and oh, she only had a little bit of drugs on her (when she was caught). Let's just pretend that she probably hadn't sold thousands of pills before getting caught. Let's pretend they are all sweet and innocent and this was the very first time they had ever done something bad (in most cases, this was probably just the first time they'd been caught, but had probably been selling/smuggling for quite some time before being caught).

In Vancouver, the dealers know that as long as they don't get caught with more than 3 grams, they don't face jail. There are dealers working the corners who have been busted dozens of times, but because they had 3 grams or less on them (EACH TIME) the courts decide it's just "personal" use and let them go. In some cases the dealers are back selling on the corner before the arresting officer can even get the paperwork done for arresting him in the first place.

But in the press, or when a bleeding heart with a personal agenda reports about it, they are all poor, misunderstood, hard-luck cases that we should feel sorry for and pity. The only thing missing so far is the outstretched hand expectantly waiting for me to put cash into it.

[wandasloan]

I can't imagine the seized items being destroyed considering the large gap between the monetary value of the items and policemen's salaries. so let's assume that most of it is released back into the market. Combine it with all other supplies that managed to get through (which I assume is most of the total supply, as seizures are only a tip of the iceberg), then it is clear that the rate of consumption of methamphetamine is enormous. Now how much of this consumption has led to problems? Can anyone provide drug-related crime statistics? I think that the proportion of consumption of illegal drugs that directly results in harm to society is so small that the strict and costly enforcement of drug laws may be a huge waste of taxpayers' money and may be inflicting more harm than the drugs themselves (such as imprisoned parents like those mentioned in the article not being able to properly care for their children). Please provide evidence to prove me wrong.

Even though you can't imagine it... One year ago Thursday:

Thailand destroys almost 6 tons of confiscated narcotics and marijuana

http://goo.gl/Tkg9GG

Check the photo. And even though you can't imagine it... roughly the same will happen again this June 26, which is Thursday. Imagine that!

.

[Ulysses G.]

The War on Drugs has been a failure all over the world. Why keep up this charade?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
-Albert Einstein.

[DLock]

The War on Drugs has been a failure all over the world. Why keep up this charade?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein.

Agree, make the penalties much harsher as a deterrent and keep increasing severity until people take notice.

[h90]

The War on Drugs has been a failure all over the world. Why keep up this charade?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein.

Because it keeps the prices and the profit high.

[slygeeza]

just another aspect of the slavery that Thailand is rightly becoming famous for

[e2x10]

The war on "Drugs" is a cosmic hoax. Never worked, never will. People are going to do what they do. Alcohol, Cigarettes far more destructive.

Complete waste of resources and money. Legalize.

[beenhere2long]

The War on Drugs has been a failure all over the world. Why keep up this charade?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein.

Agree, make the penalties much harsher as a deterrent and keep increasing severity until people take notice.

i have read many daft posts..but yours DLock takes the biscuit...well done.

[myluckythai]

Calling for a reduction of prison terms for drugs??

Arguing that the harsh policy has failed to curb dealing?????

And you think lower sentences will do this?

Do these people not see the damges done by Yaba and ice.

HIgh sentences don't make it better, but neither wil lower ones. At least they feel the pain of their mistakes unlike Holland where sentences are ridiculously low

What is the exuse as a buddhist to try to and make a profit by ruining others or at least aiding them to ruin themselves.

[h90]

Calling for a reduction of prison terms for drugs??

Arguing that the harsh policy has failed to curb dealing?????

And you think lower sentences will do this?

Do these people not see the damges done by Yaba and ice.

HIgh sentences don't make it better, but neither wil lower ones. At least they feel the pain of their mistakes unlike Holland where sentences are ridiculously low

What is the exuse as a buddhist to try to and make a profit by ruining others or at least aiding them to ruin themselves.

Selling drugs in the pharmacy and all the drug dealer and mafia have no job anymore.

Problem fixed.

[sanuk711]

The War on Drugs has been a failure all over the world. Why keep up this charade?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein.

Agree, make the penalties much harsher as a deterrent and keep increasing severity until people take notice.

i have read many daft posts..but yours DLock takes the biscuit...well done.

I think he was just trying to be ironic -- "like keep killing them until they realize the error of there ways", weren't you DLock,..?? ..........you were just tying to be ironic weren't you, ...your not really "that" stupid are you DLock.......Help me out here a little,..............

[Oziex1]

The War on Drugs has been a failure all over the world. Why keep up this charade?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

-Albert Einstein.

Agree, make the penalties much harsher as a deterrent and keep increasing severity until people take notice.

i have read many daft posts..but yours DLock takes the biscuit...well done.

Yeah, like some countries have the death penalty and still it goes on!

[MMarlow]

"More than 95 million meth tablets were seized in Thailand in 2012"

How many of these were sold back into the market by corrupt Police?

A roundabout comes to mine

You seem to know, why not tell us? Perhaps you have no idea at all.

[MMarlow]

3 bucks a month sewing beads and let me guess the warden has a big house and a Merc.

Well if they didn't get involved in the drug business and got jobs, let's say as a prison warden for example, then they would have a good chance of not being in prison earning 100 baht a month.

And, yes, it is only your banal guesswork about 'the warden' having a big house and a Merc.

[MMarlow]

Well there you go, Thailand has just admitted that it runs a Prison Slave Industry - very lucrative.

How much do other countries pay their prison inmates?

[CraigSchuler]

Moral of the story.....Don't mess with drugs...pretty simple!