Craft fair to mark 100 years of jail

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket is to host an unusual national craft fair at Saphan Hin from July 20 to 26. The fair will mark the 100th anniversary of the island’s prison and will be titled, appropriately, “Neung Roi Phi Kangmanmook” – 100 Years of the Prison. National Corrections Department director general Siva Saengmanee flew in yesterday morning from Bangkok to announce that, because of the anniversary, Phuket had been chosen for this year’s prison fair, featuring products made in jails all over Thailand. Products at the fair (to be held at Saphan Hin, not in the jail) will include woodwork, furniture, metalwork and basket-weave products, all made by prisoners, and all for sale. A crowd of about 5,000 is expected for a concert, starting at 9 pm on the first day of the fair, which will feature Thai singer-actor, “Touch” Na Takuatung as well as performers from Phuket. K. Siva said the fair is being held to remind people of the way Phuket people once lived and to teach a new generation about traditional skills that deserve to be kept alive.