A prime ministerial candidate from Thailand’s United Thai Nation Party (UTN) has defended the party’s proposal to build a sea-based prison, insisting the idea is practical and not inspired by fantasy, after it was widely mocked online and compared to the fictional Azkaban prison from the Harry Potter series.
Thailand is heading toward a general election on February 8 following the dissolution of parliament on December 11. Political parties have begun unveiling their candidates and campaign promises to attract voter support.
UTN, also known as Ruam Thai Sang Chart, drew public attention after one of its campaign billboards went viral on social media. The billboard proposed imprisoning drug offenders on an oil rig in the middle of the sea to prevent them from fleeing justice.
The proposal triggered widespread online criticism, with many netizens ridiculing the idea and likening it to a fantasy prison. In response, UTN deputy leader and prime ministerial candidate Atavit Suwanpakdee stepped forward to clarify the policy.
Atavit said the sea prison concept is realistic and achievable, arguing that conventional land-based prisons often fail to curb the influence of powerful and wealthy inmates. He claimed some prisoners are still able to communicate freely, order drugs, or arrange illegal activities from behind bars.
He explained that a sea-based prison would use natural isolation as a security measure, limiting communication, restricting access, and reducing opportunities for smuggling contraband.
Atavit added that the proposal would make use of existing infrastructure, suggesting that abandoned oil rigs in the Gulf of Thailand—built at a cost of billions of baht and no longer in use—could be converted into high-security detention facilities.
He reiterated that the plan is not unrealistic and said UTN would be ready to move forward with the project immediately if it forms the next government.
