Prison update, the Bangkok Hilton. Back to Bang Kwang

I wrote earlier about my visit to the infamous Bangkok Hilton, Bangkwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi Thailand. Now to the innocent bystander it could seem a bit of a gruesome thing to do but it's not that bad to be honest and since meeting Tony Flanaghan, who was caught in Bangkok with 700g of Heroin and subsequently given the death penalty I've been going back most weeks to visit him.

If you read my previous blog entry you'll know that his sentence has been reduced to 33 years which he's optimistic will be reduced further, that generally he's a pleasant, affable, well read type of guy who accepts his fate and guilt and maintains a positive outlook.

That first impression I got of him still stands after another 3 or 4 visits, however more and more information about the place is forthcoming when I visit.

I think it was the second time I went I had one of the guards pointed out to me, a guy called Chavoret Jarubon who as well as working for the Department of Correction has written and published his autobiography entitled "The Last Executioner" (I'm not getting a backhander for this but if you've got a spare weekday evening to kill look it up on amazon and buy a copy its amazing). It tells of how he joined the prison service and ended up assisting executions then as he became more au fait with the procedure actually sent a total of 55 inmates on to "Level 2" himself.

When asked if he was afraid of ghosts (which to a westerner would equate to does his conscious or guilt bother him) he replied,"No I'm more afraid of my wife."

Although the blurb says he's retired he still performs gate duty and has looked me over phlegmatically as I walked the through the prison gate on 3 occasions, I wonder if he's weighing me up in his mind ,"83 kilos' should go with one bullet and burn down to about half a kilo of ashes."

On my last blog I mentioned a German girl called Elsie who was visiting her boyfriend, let me stand corrected, she's actually called Rosie and a lot the prisoners are friends with her and she religiously visits her boyfriend, a Dutch heroin smuggler who she has not yet met on the outside.

Yesterday I was sat in the visit section waiting for Tony and Rosie sat next to me waiting for her boyfriend when Rosie pointed at an inmate who was being visited by what I initially thought was a Russian woman. She has a typically German unemotional way of talking.

"That is Avaeil (sic)," she pointed at the prisoner, "He is from Israel."

I re evaluated my judgment of his visitor's nationality, and when presented with the following information re evaluated her wisdom in visiting Avaeil.

"The other prisoners call him Miss Barbeque."

"Why's that."

"He was arrested with a suitcase in Bangkok and when the police looked inside they found his wife cut into pieces."

Quite what alerted the police to Avaiel's guilt remains unknown but I find it hard to guess the body language somebody would show having hacked your other half to death being confronted by the police.

When Tony arrived I asked him about Avaeil, and he professed that he didn't know but wouldn't be surprised because the place is full of nutters, it is a prison after all.

He went on to explain that there was a similar guy in his room who was, surprisingly both qualified as a doctor and lawyer who chopped his nearest and dearest to pieces and stored her in the fridge. Presumably with his background he was not only able to do a neat job but tell the police which bit was which when they discovered the pieces and subsequently defend himself in court without having to claim against his insurance for the legal fees. I'm sure his parents were pleased that all the money they spent on his education hadn't gone to waste.

Despite Tony's upbeat coping strategy he does have the odd moan, well moan's probably the wrong phrase but he does highlight the occasional negative aspect. Apparently HIV is rife within the prison, as is TB. So unfortunately as soon an HIV case becomes AIDs the sufferer tends to be on quite a short stay because TB is so infectious.

Tony also tells me that homosexuality is rife within the prison, not only is it rife it's often on full view as there is nowhere private and people who are that way inclined (which across the world always seems higher out of necessity in the prison population than outside) tend to "get it on" in public when the urge takes them.

Now before you get on your "He's a homophobe horse" most people who know me will shoot you down on that one, but to have to watch or see people having sex if you're not a swinger or seeing it on a movie in the comfort of your own home ain't that much fun to be honest. I know when I've driven a taxi and couple's get it on irrespective of their orientation it's real sickner to have to deal with. Add the diseases into the equation and you've got a bit of recipe.

On one visit an American girl sat next to me came to see a male inmate and decided to show him her tattoo, sounds quite innocent until I tell you it was just below her knicker line, it raised my pulse significantly so quite the effect it had on a male who's been incarcerated for 5 or 6 years I really don't know.

Among other bizarre inmates is the monk who is serving a sentence for paedophilia (which he still pleads not guilty and as appealing against) who is visited by loyal parishioners who also bring their children to receive his instruction and the highly connected "agent" or "facilitator" who is given the run of the prison who is inside for organising and orchestrating high profile assassinations.

Anyway there's a chance that my little series of visits may be coming to an end because I've been offered a job (not finalised yet ) but looks like I'm going to be busy 9to 5 in Bangkok and if it doesn't pan out I'll be heading back to England.

Anybody in Bangkok who's passing through or resident with time to spare, Tony and all the other inmates would appreciate word from outside and some inexpensive gifts from the prison shop or even letters from further afield wouldn't go amiss. In itself it would be an education and you'd be doing your good turn for the day.

If you need more details contact me through myspace.

Cheers

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