Unfair system in immigration jail
The reported recent unshackling of the ankles of many prisoners at Bang Kwang Central Prison is a good beginning, but other reforms also need to be made: nutrition, hygiene, healthcare and security for prisoners, among other things.
In the case of nutrition, it is widely known that prison food is inadequate to maintain good health. Both Thai and foreign inmates try to buy extra food at the prison shop, using funds they have earned, donations from relatives and friends, and loans from their consulates. The relatives and friends pay their donations to the prison cashier and receive an official receipt, while the amount received is credited to the prisoner’s account at the shop.
This system operates in every prison in Thailand, but not at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) on Soi Suan Plu in Bangkok. There, the foreign prisoners waiting to be deported receive the same food as provided in other prisons. However, they cannot receive cash from their visitors to buy food and necessities at the IDC shop. There is no justification for this barrier. The IDC officials should be authorised to receive cash for prisoners, give official receipts and pay the money for the prisoner’s credit at the IDC shop.
Ray W Archer
Bangkok
