Life behind bars
Thai prisoners, unlike their American or European counterparts abroad, live in open rooms devoid of beds or other furniture, writes Richard Barrow
Published on March 20, 2008
Thailand may appear to attract a lot of foreign criminals. But there is also a number of foreigners who get on the wrong side of the law through unfortunate circumstances and simple bad luck. Some are detained for months on end before they can clear their names and get released. What they have to endure once inside Thai jails is not easy, blogger Richard Barrow revealed in a recent piece he wrote for www.Thaiprisonlife.com: "Unlike their American or European counterparts, Thai prisoners live in open rooms with no beds or furniture of any kind. They aren't even given any bedding. Sheets can be bought and some people stuff these with old clothes in order to make pillows. "Cells are about four metres by seven metres. On each side, people are lying side by side with their feet facing the middle. Down the centre of the cell, there are two rows of other prisoners. There are on average 50 prisoners in one cell.
Cells heat up quickly "There isn't enough room for all of them to lie on their back. New prisoners are only allocated another room to lie on their side. They are packed in so tightly that they cannot turn over. If they have any money, they can bribe the cell boss to let them lie on their backs. But, there isn't enough room for them to all do that. "The prisoners have to eat and shower by 3.30pm. Then they are taken to their cells. There are only two fans and you can imagine with so many people in the cell it heats up quickly and the smell from sweaty bodies becomes overpowering. "The squat toilet is at the far end of the cell. This has a low wall about two feet high. Imagine what it would be like if you needed to answer the call of nature during the night and had to clamber over all these bodies.
"At least the lights are kept on all the time. But then, that is also a curse because it makes it difficult to sleep. The prisoners are locked in here for 14 hours per day. "They are not allowed to bring any food up to the cells. If you have enough money, you can bribe the cell boss and prison guards to allow you to be transferred to another cell. But, they are all much the same as each other." Barrow's description continues. For more on life in Thai prisons, visit ThaiPrisonLife.com.
MORE ON THe web: www.thaiprisonlife.com
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