Seven inmates shot

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 11

Seven inmates shot

NZPA-AP Bangkok Hundreds of police and special assault teams stormed a maximum security prison yesterday, killing seven inmates and quelling a 28-hour riot. The prisoners were demanding reduction of their long jail terms, authorities said. About 100 foreign prisoners, including Australians, were reported not involved in the riot and were not among the dead or the three wounded. Most of them are serving lengthy sentences on drug charges. The police withdrew from Bang Kwang maximum security prison as a helicopter made two passes over the walled compound holding 7119 prisoners. Radio Nurpar Thailand quoted the Minister of the Interior, Sitthi Chirarochana, as saying the Government could not give in to

the prisoner’s demands and police loudspeakers warned the rioters that under Thai law they could be shot if they continued resistance. The prisoners broke windows and furniture and started fires but had no firearms, the police said. Officials of a Chinese charity organisation that collects the dead for burial said all seven dead had gunshot wounds. Two were shot by the police as they apparently attempted to commit suicide. One of the two was about to hang himself while another was setting fire to a cloth wrapped around his body, the charity group said. The police said the rioting prisoners were well organised and demanded a general amnesty under which their sentences could be reduced. All inmates were serving terms of at least 20

vears. Amnesties sometimes are granted bj - Thailand s King Bhumipol Adulyadej to mark a special 'occasion. In 1981 more than 18.000 prisoners were freed or had their terms reduced. The amnesty marked the 200th anniversary of the founding of Bangkok and the royal dynasty. The last disturbance at Bang Kwang, in the northern outskirts of Bangkok, was 11 years ago and lasted a month. Thai authorities made it clear they wanted this riot stopped quickly. Bang Kwang has 18 Americans and eight Italians as well as prisoners from Australia, Britain, France, Spain and other nations. Thailand is a centre for trafficking of heroin from the so-called Golden Triangle, and some of the carriers are young Westerners.