This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-pacific-13598193
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Prisoners in Thailand kept 'shackled and cramped' | Prisoners in Thailand kept 'shackled and cramped' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Vaudine England BBC News, Bangkok | By Vaudine England BBC News, Bangkok |
An independent rights group in Thailand, the Union for Civil Liberties, has opened a campaign to improve conditions in Thailand's jails. | An independent rights group in Thailand, the Union for Civil Liberties, has opened a campaign to improve conditions in Thailand's jails. |
It has issued a report on prisons which highlights overcrowding, the use of shackles and the lack of medical care. | It has issued a report on prisons which highlights overcrowding, the use of shackles and the lack of medical care. |
The group has campaigned against the death penalty and praises the government's promise to commute death sentences to life imprisonment. | The group has campaigned against the death penalty and praises the government's promise to commute death sentences to life imprisonment. |
That makes improving prison conditions even more important, it says. | That makes improving prison conditions even more important, it says. |
Thailand's prisons are built to hold about 100,000 people - but according to the government's own figures, they are holding more than twice that number. | Thailand's prisons are built to hold about 100,000 people - but according to the government's own figures, they are holding more than twice that number. |
As a result, the conditions, says the Union for Civil Liberties, are horrendous. | As a result, the conditions, says the Union for Civil Liberties, are horrendous. |
People have to sleep in tight rows on hard floors. In these sleeping cells, each prisoner has an average of one square metre - as opposed to the four to six square metres described as the minimum by the Council of Europe. | |
Danthong Breen, chairman of the union, says the overcrowding is shocking. | Danthong Breen, chairman of the union, says the overcrowding is shocking. |
Welded chains | Welded chains |
"In the women's prison it's particularly bad. You have 200 women in a single cell," he told the BBC. | |
"If one of them has to get up at night to go to the toilet, they all shift a bit and when she comes back the space is gone and she has to stand up all night. | "If one of them has to get up at night to go to the toilet, they all shift a bit and when she comes back the space is gone and she has to stand up all night. |
"The level of crowding is inhuman and inhumane." | "The level of crowding is inhuman and inhumane." |
The other horror, he says, is the widespread use of shackles. | The other horror, he says, is the widespread use of shackles. |
These are welded on to the ankles of long-term prisoners and are not removed, even during illness, until the sentence is served. | These are welded on to the ankles of long-term prisoners and are not removed, even during illness, until the sentence is served. |
The United Nations has criticised the practice. The Thai foreign ministry has promised to end it. The constitutional court ruled the practice was wrong. | The United Nations has criticised the practice. The Thai foreign ministry has promised to end it. The constitutional court ruled the practice was wrong. |
But the reality of the over-crowding and a ratio of warders to prisoners of about one to 45, makes the practice hard to stamp out. | But the reality of the over-crowding and a ratio of warders to prisoners of about one to 45, makes the practice hard to stamp out. |
Prisoners with money are able to improve every aspect of their life behind bars, Mr Breen says. | |
But a lack of government money is holding back investment in new facilities and extra staff. | But a lack of government money is holding back investment in new facilities and extra staff. |
The civil liberties group suggests Thailand could look more at using non-custodial sentences. It estimates at least half of those jailed are being held for drugs offences. | The civil liberties group suggests Thailand could look more at using non-custodial sentences. It estimates at least half of those jailed are being held for drugs offences. |
And it hopes that whatever government emerges from elections next month, the promise to no longer impose the death penalty is kept. | And it hopes that whatever government emerges from elections next month, the promise to no longer impose the death penalty is kept. |
Previous version
1
Next version