PATTANI: Three inmates were killed and four guards injured in a seven-hour riot at the Pattani central prison, allegedly triggered by a protest over searches for mobile phones and drugs.
Conditions at the prison in Muang district returned to normal after a combined team of police, soldiers and local officials moved in and arrested those involved in the violence, Pattani deputy governor Veeranant Pengchan said on Saturday.
Corrections Department chief Pathikhom Wongsuwon said the prison’s strict rules to search for mobile phones and illicit drugs sparked the violent incident.
A prison official surveys fire damage inside Pattani central prison on Saturday. (Photo by Abdulloh Benjakat)
He made the comment on Saturday afternoon after he inspected the site and discussed the incident with prison officials.
Mr Pathikhom said two inmates upset by searches for banned items incited as many as 200 fellow prisoners to stage the riot on Friday afternoon and the incident then escalated into violence.
Prison staff, he said, had followed proper procedures to control the riot to minimise damage. Inmates who were not involved had been separated from the rioters.
Seven other inmates were injured in the melee and there was fire damage, some of it heavy, to parts of three prison buildings.
The riot broke out at 4.30pm Friday and involved several dozen inmates. Some threw stones and scrap wood at guards who tried to intervene. The rioters then set fire to the canteen and other properties. Ten fire trucks were called to the scene and the flames were put out.
Talks were held earlier between prison officials and rioters who presented a list of 10 demands that were later rejected. Details of the demands were not disclosed.
As the situation became tense, security forces were deployed. Some 300 police, soldiers and local officials moved in to arrest those involved in the riot, which ended around 11pm, said Mr Veeranant.
The damage to inmates' living quarters and other prison facilities is still being estimated.
The three dead inmates were identified as Su-anant Pongsao, Serm Chankhunthorn and Kriatisak Chanduang. Su-anant sustained stab wounds when a brawl erupted among the inmates. He was taken to Pattani Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Serm and Kiartisak perished of severe burns during the fire.
Local media reports said some inmates were thrown into the flames during the melee.
The four injured guards were Suthep Phetkiang, 56; Kartkong Rattana, 53; Sulaiman Khongkaew, 45; and Siwakorn Jitrat, 30. They sustained head injuries after being struck by hard objects and stones.
Relatives of the inmates flocked to the prison on Saturday to seek information about the incident and the condition of jailed family members.
Charnchao Chaiyanukit, the permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry, said two of the dead inmates had served as helpers of guards and were killed by their fellow inmates during the riot. The third inmate was killed after the riot was brought under control. The causes of the deaths were being investigated further, he said.
Relatives flock to the Pattani central prison to seek information about the incident. (Photo by Abdulloh Benjakat)
Mr Charnchao said one of the two inmates who incited the riot was in jail for attempted murder and the other for theft. They had breached prison rules and were facing transfers to another prison, he said.
Authorities plan to expand the investigation to find out how other inmates joined in and whether officials followed proper procedures to re-establish control, he said.
After the riot, about 300 inmates were transferred to four prisons in nearby Songkhla province: Na Thawi district prison, Songkhla provincial prison, Songkhla central prison and Songkhla correctional facility.
The transfers were aimed at regaining control of the situation and did not mean that they were involved in the riot, said Mr Charnchao. Officials are preparing to explain the transfers to relatives of those involved.
Transport is being arranged for relatives to visit the transferred inmates at the facilities in Songkhla. The transfers were not permanent, he added.
Human rights activist Angkhana Neelapaijit called on prison authorities to disclose the names of inmates who were transferred to other prisons.
Ms Angkhana, who is also the vice-chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission, went to the Pattani central prison around noon on Saturday to visit inmates but was not allowed in.
She said she was reponding to the concerns of relatives about the plight of their jailed family members. She expressed disappointment at being barrred, saying she had good intentions and simply wanted to talk to the inmates and hear about the problems that sparked the riot.
A fire truck and police van are stationed outside at Pattani central prison to deal with Friday's riot. (Photo by Abdulloh Benjakat)