United Thai Nation Party says island prison 'possible and not fantasy'Listen to this articleAtthawit Suwannapakdee, deputy leader of the United Thai Nation Party also known as Ruam Thai Sang Chart. (Photo: United Thai Nation Party)Atthawit Suwannapakdee, deputy leader of the United Thai Nation Party, on Monday clarified the viral debate over the party’s proposal to establish an offshore prison — dubbed by netizens as the “Azkaban prison” — saying the idea was not a fantasy and was feasible by converting abandoned oil rigs into detention facilities. Ruam Thai Sang Chart plans to repurpose abandoned oil drilling platforms in the Gulf of Thailand, whose concession contracts have expired. “With a sea prison, these problems will be eliminated because the sea is the best natural barrier,” he said. The deputy leader said he was confident the idea was practical and could be implemented immediately, noting that party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has experience serving as both justice minister and energy minister.

Source: Bangkok Post December 29, 2025 14:23 UTC