DRUG INMATES BUILDING OWN CAMP HOUSES

Forging unity aim of rehabilitation plan

Kanchanaburi

The government has launched the Wiwat Phonlamuang school programme to limit
the spread of drugs and ease prison overcrowding.

The prisoner reform programme is being carried out at military areas in
Kanchanburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai provinces.

Under the programme, drug inmates sent to undertake rehabilitation and
vocational training build their own camps _ wooden houses, command
headquarters, canteen, library, schools, vocational training hall and
farming areas.

Col Ongart Pongsak, of Surasee military camp in Kanchanaburi, said the
government thought inmates would benefit from building the camps. The task
would forge a sense of unity.

``When they feel like this, I believe they will not run from the programme
and might summon the inspiration to give up drug abuse and other crimes,''
Col Ongart said.

At Surasee camp, the programme has been underway since May. About 200
inmates turned up from prisons in Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom and
Ratchaburi.

The inmates spent about a month building their 20-rai camp at Thung Kang
Yang in Sai Yoke district.

Manas Kruawan, 34, a drug inmate from Nakhon Pathom prison, said he was
proud to have taken part.

``I feel this camp is like my house because I built it with my own hands,''
he said.

Montree Thesthong, 29, from Nakhon Pathom prison, said memories of the camp
would stay with him and other inmates for a long time. All inmates helped
get it up and stayed together for six months.

Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said he had asked the Corrections
Department to evaluate the Wiwat Phonlamuang programme.

The Corrections Department would report on how many inmates returned to
commit crimes or turned into useful members of society.

The programme initially provided rehabilitation and training for two groups
of addicts and another group of inmates.

The first group was treated under the Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Act.

Users and addicts do not go to jail but are diverted to rehabilitation and
treatment.

The second group wanted to give up their drug habit and volunteered.

Another programme is reserved for drug inmates sentenced to prison or
serving probation. If the result is satisfactory, they are released ahead of
their jail terms.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry held a seminar yesterday to work out
measures for slowing down or suspending prosecution of drug addicts since
the new law regards them as patients and not criminals.

However, they will have to meet the conditions set for medical treatment and
if they do not meet them then the authorities will still have the option of
prosecuting the cases against them.

Pongthep Thepkanchana, the justice minister, said that at present there are
some 400,000 drug addicts who have voluntarily entered treatment and another
5,000 who were forced to undergo the programme against their will.