30/11/2009
Anucha Charoenpo
Bangkok Post
The Prey Sar prison which is presently home to Thai spy suspect Sivarak Chutipong and thousands of other Cambodian and foreign inmates is under fresh fire for its "appalling conditions".
The complex - described as one of the most notorious jails in Southeast Asia and often compared with the infamous Tuol Sleng prison under Khmer Rouge rule - has been slammed for alleged human rights violations.
"I've often heard about brutal torture against the prisoners there," said a 25-year-old Cambodian woman.
"It's really scary. I think most Cambodian people know well about its conditions."
Prey Sar is the largest of about 20 prisons in Cambodia. It houses 2,500 to 2,600 prisoners despite being originally designed to house a maximum of 1,200, a prison warder said.
Mr Sivarak, who worked at Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on Nov 12 for relaying information about the flight schedule of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who flew into Phnom Penh a day earlier after being appointed economic adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Prey Sar, in Dor Kor district about 10km from central Phnom Penh, is under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior and the Health Ministry.
The public perception of the prison is one of "fear and brutality". It is reportedly cramped and lacking in proper health care.
"We have treated all prisoners well - all the allegations are groundless," said the prison warden.
He said all prisoners had good sleeping arrangements.
If they were ill, the prison provided them with proper medication.
"I have seen and talked to Sivarak. He is healthy. We take care of him very well because we know what is what," the warden said.
It has been more than 10 years since the Cambodian government moved prisoners from the centuries-old jail built during French colonial rule in central Phnom Penh near the Royal Palace complex to Prey Sar.
Prey Sar was a commune and detention centre during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, when more than 1.7 million people lost their lives.
Some say the brutality at Prey Sar is reminiscent of Tuol Sleng, the torture and detention centre also known as S-21 and now a genocide museum.
"Prey Sar is not much different," said 51-year-old Sameth Tul, a victim of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Sameth Tul was 17 when Khmer Rouge soldiers took control of Phnom Penh and later ruled all of Cambodia.
He was living in Takai [KI-Media note: Takeo?] province, south of Phnom Penh, at the time. His family was sent to work in a nearby commune and lived there for nearly four years until the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime.
"Fortunately, no one in my family was killed because we were all farmers," he said.
"Those being killed were doctors, teachers, academics and lawyers.
"I remember the whole experience of when I was locked up in the commune camp," Sameth Tul said.
"I had to get up at 3am and [go to] sleep at 11pm.
"Many people died of torture, and lack of food and sleep."
The complex - described as one of the most notorious jails in Southeast Asia and often compared with the infamous Tuol Sleng prison under Khmer Rouge rule - has been slammed for alleged human rights violations.
"I've often heard about brutal torture against the prisoners there," said a 25-year-old Cambodian woman.
"It's really scary. I think most Cambodian people know well about its conditions."
Prey Sar is the largest of about 20 prisons in Cambodia. It houses 2,500 to 2,600 prisoners despite being originally designed to house a maximum of 1,200, a prison warder said.
Mr Sivarak, who worked at Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on Nov 12 for relaying information about the flight schedule of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who flew into Phnom Penh a day earlier after being appointed economic adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Prey Sar, in Dor Kor district about 10km from central Phnom Penh, is under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior and the Health Ministry.
The public perception of the prison is one of "fear and brutality". It is reportedly cramped and lacking in proper health care.
"We have treated all prisoners well - all the allegations are groundless," said the prison warden.
He said all prisoners had good sleeping arrangements.
If they were ill, the prison provided them with proper medication.
"I have seen and talked to Sivarak. He is healthy. We take care of him very well because we know what is what," the warden said.
It has been more than 10 years since the Cambodian government moved prisoners from the centuries-old jail built during French colonial rule in central Phnom Penh near the Royal Palace complex to Prey Sar.
Prey Sar was a commune and detention centre during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, when more than 1.7 million people lost their lives.
Some say the brutality at Prey Sar is reminiscent of Tuol Sleng, the torture and detention centre also known as S-21 and now a genocide museum.
"Prey Sar is not much different," said 51-year-old Sameth Tul, a victim of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Sameth Tul was 17 when Khmer Rouge soldiers took control of Phnom Penh and later ruled all of Cambodia.
He was living in Takai [KI-Media note: Takeo?] province, south of Phnom Penh, at the time. His family was sent to work in a nearby commune and lived there for nearly four years until the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime.
"Fortunately, no one in my family was killed because we were all farmers," he said.
"Those being killed were doctors, teachers, academics and lawyers.
"I remember the whole experience of when I was locked up in the commune camp," Sameth Tul said.
"I had to get up at 3am and [go to] sleep at 11pm.
"Many people died of torture, and lack of food and sleep."
13 comments:
Prey Sar prison is really scary place for prisoners and bad people.
Cambodian government should impove this condition just follow Thailand performance. It is easy, those who do wrong, shot them. If they stil alive, burn them alive until die. This is Thailand' s standard.
It a prison. what you expect dumb ass? It's still better than u.s prison.
Oh shut the fuck up 7:49 AM!
There are many innocent lives that are currently house there.
If you must fucking know, majority of these people are wrongfully convicted and or have spoken against your stupid gov't.
You sounded like a KR. I think you are!
9:11,
I don't fucking think so! Our US prison systems help incarcerate inmates and release them when deem necessary. We don't cramped up all inmates in one general populations like your dump/inhumane little shit holes.
We, treat our inmate(s) like a human being should be treated. And if they are mistreated, there is a law in place to protect their legal rights. We served three square meals a day. I doubt it if those guys get fed twice a day.
So, don't compare our prison systems with your underdevelope so-called prison.
9:28 Am
Sound you are experiencefull in US-prison!!! how long have you been in that 5 ***** US-prison? is it good as you said!! if so.. You better go to live in it again of foever rather than you work hard for your life in public. ( Every thing is free there in US-prison..)
Khmer
10:20am hun sen 's dick sucker ,your wife waiting for you, otherwise hunsen's clans will take care of your wife.
10:20 AM A.K.A Khmer Lorp,
Go back and reread my post again....you illiterate!
Let just say that I only stayed there 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. Too much math for you? I work there....dumb-ass!
Yeah, everythings free! Did I studder?
You claimed that it is better than US prison. Care to explain?
In Prey Sar if you have money they treat you very well. If you don't have money they will treat you very badly. If they think your relative have money they will hold you for ransom. If you visit a prisoner you must pay fee before you are able to see them. If you want decent food you must pay. if you sick you must pay for medication. I am afraid to go to Cambodia.
"i've heard stories that each room has its own AC and hot-water shower" says a 30 years old man. Come on anybody can go online and write shitz, where's the credibility on this site? That's what these people of Ki-media are doing they stretch facts.
I am sad to see such conflicting comments. I am sad that we are two busy fighting each others very hard and forget about the our national interest. I am sad that we miss completely the purpose of this articles. This siem writer compare the Prey Sar prison to the S-21 without any credentials or proofs. This article is politically motivate to discredit Cambodia.
God bless us
Cambodia should have a death penalty like Thailand so that Thai spy could be death right now,
11:40,
Guilty as charge? Skip the whole judicial process and hang 'em? Why if that was a family member of yours?
Stop overloading your jungle brain! If you use it right, it shouldn't be that complicated.
(11:40)
Oh, Cambodia do have a death penalty. It's in the hands of your local gov't.
They (gov't) are the judge, jury and the executioner. Cambodia haven't figure out what the court systems are in place for.
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