KLONGPAI PRISON

Hilltribe Inmates at Klong Pai Central Prison - 30 May 2004 :
         submitted by Paul Hunt : [valleyscript@yahoo.com]

Klong Pai Central Prison was built about 5 years ago to accommodate burgeoning numbers of
prisoners from seriously overcrowded Bangkok prisons. It is located about 250 kilometers
north-east of Bangkok on the main road to Nakhon Ratchasima. There are two completely
separate prisons for men and women.

There are probably 5,000 or more male prisoners, a considerable number of whom are ethnic
minorities, including hilltribe people. Below are lists of Akha, Karen and Hmong hilltribe
inmates who have been located in blocks 1, 2 and 3. Mon, Wa and Shan inmates from
Myanmar held in block 2 are also listed. There are about 50 men from Myanmar in block 2.
Prisoners cannot communicate between blocks.

On 29 January 2004, prison officials said there were a total of 2,234 women inmates, of whom,
21 were from Myanmar, 16 from Laos and 11 were Karen. They did not know, or were unwilling
to give, further details concerning hilltribe prisoners.

On 11 February 2004, the Justice Minister visited the prison and gave a speech to all the
prisoners. He said that there would be a general amnesty for all prisoners on Queen Sirikit's
72nd birthday, 12 August 2004. However, he gave no further details.

Concerning conditions inside the prison one inmate told me this: "In fact, words cannot explain
how difficult life is here. Even our drinking water from the river five kilometers away is
untreated. This causes many water-born diseases and infections, which are difficult to get
treatment for because there is no doctor around and facilities are limited."

Prisoners here also have problems with lack of payment for the work they do.

Visits lasting only 20 minutes are allowed Monday to Friday, except holidays.
  08:30 to 11:30 and 1300 to 1430 hours. 

Letters can be sent to prisoners at the following address:
  PRISONER NAME
  BUILDING NUMBER
  Klong Pai Central Prison,
  300 Klong Pai,
  A. Sikiu,
  Nakhon Ratchasima
  THAILAND 30340

Prisoner names

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