[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

23 Thai inmates died in Burma's jai



23 Thai inmates died in Burma's jail since 1994

Feb. 13 1998
The Nation

Twenty-three Thai inmates in Burma's Inseng Prison have died since 1994
because of poor conditions, three recently released prisoners said yesterday. 

Speaking at a press conference, Yord Yoo-on said that some prisoners who
had been very ill died recently after medical aid supplied by Thai
authorities through Army Commander Gen Chetta Thanajaro was instead used to
help only Burmese inmates. 

He said 82 Thais, most of whom are trawler crewmen convicted of trespassing
in Burmese waters, are still detained in the prison, which is located in a
Rangoon suburb. 

Yord said many had begun to experience early stages of paralysis as a
result of long detainment in a very confined space as well as a prison
restriction denying them exercise. 

He also called on Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to ask the Burmese
authorities to shorten jail terms for Thai inmates who had been given
long-term sentences starting with those with sentences of 10 years or more. 

Rachane Plengwitthaya, head of a trawler crewmen's group who organised
yesterday's press conference, said he thought that the use of Thai-supplied
medical aid and equipment on only Burmese inmates might have stemmed from
poor communications between the general and Burmese authorities. 

He added that four inmates are now suffering from serious health conditions
such as liver infection and paralysis. "They might die without proper
medical treatment," he said. 

Rachane, a Burmese prison inmate himself, also called on the Thai
authorities to compile the names of Thai inmates and inform their families
about their capture so that assistance could be delivered to them directly. 

Later on, a senior Army officer close to Chetta dismissed Rachane's
speculation regarding the miscommunication between the general and Burmese
authorities, saying that the nearly one tonne of supplies might not have
been efficiently distributed among inmates. 

Col Niphat Thonglek also cited Burma's "courtesy" over the prisoner issue
extended regularly to Thailand, saying that 300 Thai inmates have been
released over the past few years, in addition to 99 others released in
December to mark His Majesty the King's 70th birthday. 

The officer also said those who were released "sometimes demanded too
much", and that their actions at home calling for fair treatment had
worsened the situation for those who were still detained in Burma. 

"The Army has always tried to help Thai inmates in Burmese prisons, but
sometimes we don't have much reason to ask frequently for their release,"
Niphat said.