The Corrections Museum

Thailand's Prison History

Bangkok, Thailand

The Corrections Museum is only open by appointment. From Monday through Saturday you can ringup the place and book a tour for the following day. It is one of the least visited 'spots' in Bangkok ...only because none of the tour books have found it.

Production of the book by Arwee

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The BoxThe Confession HookGun Execution PhotosThe Elephant ballThe Finger SmashThe Head SqueezeBrain Tease SketchesBeheadingDeath by GunRestraintsBarsBeheading PhotosJaw Work SketchesFire SketchesEar Poke sketchWhip SketchTower and GunsAdministrationDinner TimeModel Prison

The Box

The Corrections Museum

The live prisoner was laid out in this coffin size box to give him a taste of claustrophobia. Tomake matters worse the box was allowed to rest outside under the hot afternoon Bangkoksun. Small air holes ensured that the prisoner did not die from lack of air. His hands were tiedso that any small itches would remain bothersome.

Gun Execution Photos

The Corrections Museum

These B/W photos show the 'backside' of an execution by gunfire. In all cases the prisoner isterribly dead.

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The Confession Hook

The Corrections Museum

Prisoners who balked at voluntary confessions were given additional persuasion to talkwith the help of the jaw hook. Bound and upright, the prisoner was forced to stand on histoes; a hook was placed under his chin. When his physical stamina faltered the hook wouldbite deeper and deeper into his jaw.

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The Elephant Ball

The Corrections Museum

This clever device was not known in the West ... or, if it was known about, it was not used.Why? No elephants! The prisoner was put in this large rattan ball. The ball was liberallysprinkled inside with sharp nails. Then the fun began: an elephant was encouraged to kick theball down the field.

The Head Squeeze

The Corrections Museum

Quite simple but very painful: the prisoner's head was placed between two sticks and atourniquet was employed to pinch the poor fellow's brain.

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The Finger Smash

The Corrections Museum

Like with the head squeeze it took only a small amount of effort on the part of the torturerto make the prisoner scream. A supplementary tool (or tools) allowed the operator to peelback the prisoner's fingernails at the same time.

Brain Tease Sketches

The Corrections Museum

This is an artist's impression of how it looked to the bystander to see someone's brainexposed to the elements (including a helping of hotlead).

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Beheading

The Corrections Museum

Prior to the introduction of the firearm Thailand used beheading by sword to guarantee thatthe prisoner would no longer be up to any more mischief. After the 'head-man' had done hisjob one of his helpers would chop off the prisoner's feet so that the leg irons could berecycled. Thailand's best loved executioner came from China (he is pictured here). By theway, the condemned man was entitled to choose his final meal.

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Death by Gun

The Corrections Museum

After the sword came the gun. This remained Thailand's preferred method of dispatch until it wasreplaced by lethal injection.

Thailand's marksman was a loner and a pro. The prisoner was tied with his back to the gunner.A piece of tarp with a strategically placed bull's-eye target was placed between the gunner and hisprey. The gun was set to whip out half a dozen rapid shots. The last of the photos shows the actualgun that was used.If you continue to view this book you'll find some B/W photos of a shot prisoner.

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Restraints

The Corrections Museum

Sometimes the prisoner only had to be held still; the main theme was not to make himscream with agony ... rather it was to keep him in one place. Of course, many times abyproduct of the restraining device was discomfort.

The picture with Golf in it illustrates how a couple of bamboo poles could easily be employedto keep the man from making a dash out the door or though a window. It also made dining areal chore ... not just for him but for his table mates as well.

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Bars

The Corrections Museum

The prison was a British design. Built by the same firm that gave the English the Bow Streetprison it has a nice feel to it...from a design point of view. Though political prisoners hadprivate cells the remaining cells were packed with as many souls as could be squeezed intothem. There were no lights, windows or 'facilities'.Golf had her own cell.

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Beheading Photos

The Corrections Museum

After his head was cut off it was paraded about on a stick. Three of the less clear picturesshow the actual beheading with the prisoners blood fountaining up from his still erect body.These are very old photos...probably taken with primitive cameras...perhaps the photographerwas even under a bit of stress.

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Jaw Work Sketches

The Corrections Museum

The mouth was a favorite object for Thai torturers.

Fire Sketches

The Corrections Museum

Of course, fire was the last straw.

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Ear Poke Sketch

The Corrections Museum

A poke in the ear was easily at hand.

Whip Sketch

The Corrections Museum

Of course, the whip was always useful ... especially when supplemented with a blade.

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Tower and Guns

The Corrections Museum

Of course no proper prison would be safe without a guard tower and a bunch of shotguns.

Administration

The Corrections Museum

Let's not forget the cogs ... the bureaucracy ... without which none of this would have beenpossible. These Thai language typewriters worked hard and long turning out confessions,autopsy reports, inmate menus, public relations handouts, execution orders, etc. Withoutthem the whole system would have slowed to a crawl.

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Dinner Time

The Corrections Museum

Prison food! Maybe not the stuff served up where the Watergate burglars did their time. But,probably better than the flattened cockroaches that had 'to do' when the cells wereoverbooked and the prison kitchen was working to rule.

Model Prison

The Corrections Museum

No, the original prison ... except for the museum buildings ... is no longer here. It has beenmoved to a location close to the airport. In it's place ... where there were once execution

fields and cells ... there is now a park named after the current Queen.Though the movers did leave behind a model of the place.

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