THE PRISONER “BLUESHIRT TRUSTEE”

 

 Article 28 of the United Nations (UN) standard minimum rules in the treatment of prisoners states:

“No prisoner shall be employed, in the service of the institution in any disciplinary activity”

The UN states in order to eliminate such abusive practices, the corrections department should

eliminate the use of “Blue Shirts Trustees"         Here depicted in a prisoner cartoon sketch as a RAT in a rather funny sense. This is no joke and far from funny.

These Rat’s, Goon Squad, Attack Dogs for the guards are responsible for much of the widespread abuses within the prison system in Thailand including murder.

My first encounter with these Blue Shirt’s was in Lard Yao Prison. When we reached one of the main gate houses within the prison we were lined up and searched by these guards (or so I thought) in blue uniforms complete with medals and badges depicting a tigers head with 2 batons either side of it.

In the gatehouse they had a rack of riot shields and batons I could see my fellow Thai prisoners were terrified of these guards, so after passing through the gate, I asked a Thai prisoner, “Why are those guards wearing blue uniform and not the standard beige colored uniform of the other prison guards, are they special riot prison guards”? no they are Trustee Blue Shirt Prisoners! “What”!! But they control the gate. They not only control the gate, they control your life here; don’t piss them off as they will happily take your life away.

SO WHY WOULD FELLOW PRISONERS ACT IN SUCH A WAY?

Firstly you must understand that Thailand’s prison system is unlike any other in the world. All standards and codes of normal behavior go out the window here in these inhumane conditions.

Enormous thought must have gone into the design which brutalizes prisoners here in every way. Forced to live like animals, many prisoners have lost all decency, dignity and self respect, none more so than the Blue Shirts.

These low lives have sold their souls for a 3 month remission every year in their sentence. They’ve forgotten they are prisoners and seem to genuinely enjoy their role as enforcers and executioners for the guards here.

CRIMES COMMITED AGAINST OTHER PRISONERS BY THE ‘BLUE SHIRT’S’ LEAVE PRISON GUARDS FREE FROM RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEY WHO HAVE SECRETLY ORDERED THE ‘BLUE SHIRTS’ TO COMMIT SUCH ATROCITIES IN THE FIRST PLACE. BEATINGS ARE ADMINISTERED UNDER THESE ‘ORDERS’ AND A ‘BLIND EYE’ IS TURNED BY THE GUARDS AND NO FOLLOW UP ACTION IS EVER TAKEN SUCH AS INVESTIGATIONS OR PUNISHMENT OF THE PURPETRATORS.

On 2 occasions in 2004 Bombat Narcotics Remand Prison, I witnessed atrocities at the hands of the ‘Blue Shirts’.

July 7th I helplessly watched from my locked prison cell as a single foreign prisoner was beaten to a pulp, by at least 10 Blue Shirts and other Thai prisoners in the cell opposite.

The prisoner was given no warning before he was set upon by the mob as he lay on his blanket reading. Only when he was unconscious did the beating stop. Laughing prison guards then proceeded to drag him bleeding and battered from the cell and without any medical treatment was thrust into our cell, leaving us to take care of him. The swelling and bruising about his head and face was sickening to see. He was suffering from severe concussion, his head seeming to have swollen to twice its natural size. The rest of the night we spent trying to comfort him as he cried out in pain.

The following day it became public knowledge that his horrendous attack had been ordered and sanctioned by the guards for a small infraction which involved him swearing at a guard on the gate the previous morning.

One day later, before the prisoner had a chance to complain to his embassy, he was packed up and shipped out to another prison. No official investigation ever took place and the ‘Blue Shirts’ were never punished and could be seen laughing and gloating amongst them selves and the guards for days afterwards. (Name of the prisoner not supplied for his own protection)

Only a month later I witnessed the second incident. One evening after lockup a loud commotion could be heard coming from the neighboring building. We could clearly see over the wall into the next cell block from where we were. 2 or 3 foreign prisoners were having some sort of disagreement with the ‘Blue Shirts’. Shortly some guards arrived on the scene each carrying 2 or 3 feet long batons which were handed to the ‘Blue Shirts’ and other Thai prisoners.

The sickening sound of the batons thudding into their bodies and the baying of the crowd for blood was one of the most frightening sounds I ever heard. The beatings continued for at least 15-20 minutes and batons were passed over so that other Thai prisoners could join in with the violence. The guards themselves did not lift a finger to stop the mob and stood looking on and laughing. Eventually things quiet end down and 3 limp bodies could be seen being carried off, presumably to the hospital.

Other duties of the ‘Blue Shirts’ include acting as spies for the guards stand over and extortion, performing just about everyone of the manual duties the guard is supposed to perform himself:- Body searches of prisoners locker and cell searches, locking of gates and cells. Official visitors from various departments from outside the prison came to Bombat Narcotics remand prison, ‘Blue Shirts’ normally manned the gates and held the keys. There would be a panic of activity as un-announced visitors arrived and ‘Blue Shirts’ quickly handed keys to the various gates and doors over to the guards, many guards hadn’t a clue which key fitted which lock and official visitors stood waiting as a guard fumbled for the right key to a gate. These RATS do every conceivable thing for the guards from daily massages, weekly hair cuts, clipping their finger and toe nails, fetching and carrying for them, cooking and preparing all their meals, washing and ironing of their uniforms. Any paperwork is all written out for them only to sign.

It seems every prison guard has his air conditioned office with TV and fridge and at least 3 or 4 ‘Blue Shirt’ man servants which pamper his every need. If a guard does venture outside his air conditioned environment to the heat of the day, an entourage of ‘Blue Shirts’ surround him as personal body guards, hovering and anticipating his every move, pushing ordinary prisoners out of his path.

There is usually one European style toilet in our building, but it’s reserved only for guards, a @Blue Shirt’ stands guard over it, every single time a guard uses it the ‘Blue Shirt’ washes not only the toilet, but washes the entire tiled floor. It’s the cleanest place in the entire building.

A ‘Blue Shirt’ will stand for hours on end with a pair of tweezers singular plucking every white hair out of a guards head.

All meals and drinks for the guards are paid by the ‘Blue Shirt’ or extorted from other prisoners.

These RATS scurry around the prison all day long to find the tiniest infringement committed by fellow prisoners to report to their masters the guards.