Nine hurt in riot at Songkhla Prison
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NINE PEOPLE including a prison guard were injured when a riot erupted at Songkhla Prison Monday. About 200 inmates were reportedly angry about the crowded conditions and strict regulations, especially searches for drugs and cell-phones.
The riot erupted at 8am and ended in the afternoon, after prison officials agreed to consider the inmates’ demand which included cell improvement and a call for Songkhla governor to shift prison chief Piratpon Wongwet, the latter of which officials claimed to be undoable.
Corrections Department chief Wittaya Suriyawong made an emergency trip to Songkhla to inspect the riot-hit 2,500-inmate prison. He said he ordered the facility to be closed and prohibit visitors. Fourth Army Region chief Lt Gen Prakan Cholayut, who went to control the crisis along with Corrections Department deputy chief Reungsak Suwari, said inmates burned mattresses and a visitor building in the compound as well as metal gates between Zone 1, 2 and 3.
During the riot, 100 relatives of inmates threw stones and booed in front of the jail in protest at the ban on visitors – after hearing false rumours that many inmates had died and been injured.
