Amnesty accuses Thai jails of abuses

Thailand's prison system is massively overcrowded, Amnesty says

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Human rights organization Amnesty International has released a report alleging widespread abuses by Thailand's justice system.

The report says torture and beatings of suspected and convicted criminals top the list of abuses.

It also points to acute overcrowding in the Thai prison system with about 174,000 prisoners held in 15 prisons with a reported capacity of only 90,000.

The report was released by Amnesty after working hours Tuesday and the Thai government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.

Amnesty says police, army and prison officials have all been implicated in carrying out abuses which the group says has been directed especially at the most vulnerable segments of society -- the poor, ethnic minorities and foreigners.

"Torture should not be accepted as normal behavior -- it is a gross abuse of power," Amnesty said in a statement launching the report.

"The government must do much more to publicly condemn it and to investigate those responsible and hold them to account."

The report alleged "beatings and kicks are generally the form of punishment given to inmates on suspicion of breaking prison regulations."

It added that "trusties" -- inmates given special privileges by prison authorities -- often carry out the beatings.

Amnesty said one of the main causes of the harsh conditions in Thai jails was chronic under funding of the justice system.

It also blamed a lack of adequate training for police officers, many of whom the report alleges routinely use torture to extract confessions from suspects.

Among those most likely to face mistreatment, the group said, are refugees and migrant workers from Myanmar, prisoners from Africa, poor Thais and ethnic minorities, "all of whom are marginalized in Thailand."