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 Letter from Jail- Nepali Times
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Posted on 04-21-10 12:00 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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Posted on 04-21-10 4:23 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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any nepali in Bangkok who browse sajha....please help him..u never know what comes infront of your life...if anybody can talk with nepali embassy in bangkok will be appreciated.
 
Posted on 04-21-10 10:28 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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please help him .....why our govt. donot put efforts to help him out...I hate politicians and nepali government


 
Posted on 04-21-10 10:39 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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"But I was arrested at the airport by police when I couldn't offer them US dollars underhand. I was sentenced to life imprisonment and have now spent 17 years here."- This isn't true, is it? There's got to be a story behind that, right?
Last edited: 21-Apr-10 10:38 PM

 
Posted on 04-22-10 2:05 AM     Reply [Subscribe]
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I think this was written way back in the 90s but Foreign Prisoner Support Service has his story here :
http://www.phaseloop.com/foreignprisoners/newschandra.html

Nepalese man pleads for retrial

CHANDRA Kumar Rai, a 32-year-old Nepalese man, is in jail for drug trafficking, but it is questionable whether or not he should really be there. Rai was represented pro bono by a lawyer who by his own admission was completely green. Moreover, he was arrested on questionable evidence and under ambiguous circumstances.

"We do not have concrete evidence, but have found hints that some of the Nepalese convicts in Thai jails are innocent of the crimes they have been convicted of," said Nepalese Ambassador to Thailand Janak Bahadur Singh in an interview with the Nepali Times.

Rai, in a letter to the president of the Supreme Court, pleaded innocent and urged that his case be reopened.

"I'm begging Your Excellency not to allow the greed, corruption, and inept attitude of the police to deny me fair justice."

Evidence against Rai is flimsy at best. Brought to Thailand by an agent who promised him work in South Korea, Rai was left stranded without money for two months.

When he contacted the Nepalese Embassy on July 27, 1993, the embassy merely recorded his complaints and refused to buy him an air ticket back home, Rai said. The embassy did not even contact his family for him, he said.

Rai's troubles began when he met a man named Raju who claimed to be Nepalese, he said. With no place to stay, Rai was happy to find a Nepalese friend and excited at the prospect of a job, he said. He talked with Raju until late at night and then went to sleep at his place, he said.

Rai says he had no idea that Raju was actually involved in a conspiracy to transport heroin abroad.

The next morning, Raju and an accomplice were arrested at Don Muang International Airport, caught red-handed with heroin hidden in a bag.

According to Rai's lawyer, Munmine Dutanajarn, an identical bag and more heroin were found hidden in Raju's room, where Rai had spent the night.

"I told them I didn't know what was in the bag," Rai said.

However, the Thai justice system decided that the evidence was enough to convict him. Munmine also agreed that there was sufficient evidence. Because Rai spent the night at Raju's home he had to know him well enough to know that he was a drug trafficker, the court decided.

The pay involved was also found to be unusually large.

"I believe that Rai was a participant in the trafficking process, " Munmine said.

The Narcotics Control Board said they had uncovered evidence that Rai and his alleged partner, Jivan Thapa, were ready to transport the drugs abroad.

During the entire process, from arrest to trial, Rai was underrepresented and much of the time lost in an alien language. At first he was questioned through a translator, but then he was told to sign a statement written in Thai.

Rai said the officer questioning him offered to release him if he paid Bt20,000.

Rai had no money, so after seven days he appeared in court and was charged with heroin possession and trafficking.

"I was so surprised I nearly collapsed in court," Rai said.

Rai said that his lawyer knew no English. Munmine was even absent the day Rai's verdict was handed down, and several letters asking him to begin an appeal were to no avail, Rai said.

Foreigners are often subject to abuse in the Thai justice system, said Colonel Peerapan Premputhi, deputy superintendent of the Police Department' s International Division.

"Language barriers and ignorance of their rights are the main reasons," he said. "Not all people are pure, especially the police, " said Kasem Charvaivit, attorney director-general for narcotics cases.

Nepalese prisoners are often subject to abuse by prison officials, unconfirmed reports say. Thapa, for example, is deaf in one ear from a beating in the Bang Kwang Central Prison. However, Thai officials claim that it is the Nepalese government themselves who do not want the Nepalese prisoners transferred back to their native country. "Maybe it is because our government wants to make an example out of them," an official in the Nepalese embassy conjectured.

Example or not, Rai is spending his eighth year in a foreign prison and still pleading for justice. "It's not good that my life is ruined in this way in something that I have never done in my life or know anything about," concluded Rai is his seven page letter.

 
Posted on 04-22-10 2:10 AM     Reply [Subscribe]
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More here :


COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY BEN PARKS  [edited  August 03, 2005]
WWW.PTET-NEPAL.ORG : PRESS RELEASE:

AMAZING THAILAND : WHY IS A PARDONED GRANDMOTHER ... KEPT IN PRISON ?

Christmas Day 2004 ... Four months after her Queen's Pardon, Vishnu Kumari Vishta
turned 69 ... still in prison. Is bureaucratic laziness the only problem or is her
work at the prison sweat-shop too important and valuable to let her go?

Vishnu grew up in a normal family in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Vishnu was hired by a German family to be a housekeeper/nanny.
These people were associated with the German Embassy in Kathmandu.
When the family moved to Bangkok, Vishnu came along, with the undertanding that
she would be taken to Germany when the assignment in Bangkok was finished.
Unfortunately, she was abandoned in Bangkok where she started a new life.

She was kindly to Nepali people and often found work for those in need.

In Septermber 1993, Viahnu was offered a trip to Jacarta with friends.
Unfortunately they had placed heroin in her bag.

Vishnu was arrested at the Bangkok airport in late September 1993.
One of the men was shot at the airport. 
Her friend, Hla Win, denied any involvement.
His case went to the Thai supreme court, where he was given the death sentence.
He was executed by firing squad ... on January 2, 2000.
See  [ http://www.bangkwang.net/press/bp000106.htm ].

The police also arrested the three other Nepali that was sleeping in her house.
Everyone was forced to sign confessions and received LIFE sentences.

Vishnu has been a "excellent class" prisoner doing forced labor at the 
prison shop for many years.  Women MUST work or be cast out of the sleeping
area .. and forced to do jobs like cleaning toilets.
Even if they pay 3000 bhat per month ...for a bed in the hospital...they must still work.


The UN was in the Bangkok prisons, doing interviews and inspections.
April  18-25,  2005 }}, [do a search on "The 11th United Nations Congress"].
Example : [http://www.un.org/events/11thcongress/ ]

Unfortunately for the reputation of Justice, the directors of the Women's prison ...
... HID ALL THE FOREIGN PRISONERS  ... HID !
Maybe they did not want the UN inspectors to learn that they are all
FORCED to work in the prison factory ....
Or that they only have access to water for five minutes in the morning and night ...
Or that hundreds line up for the weekly medical visit ...
Or that there is NO dental care .. etc.

In spite of this trick ...the UN 11th Congress Report said "TOO MANY WOMEN IN PRISON" !
No wonder they hid the Nepali women !

On April 25, 2005, Vishnu was taken to the prison hospital.
They told her cell mates that she had TB and liver "problems" and will be in the
hospital  3 to 4  MONTHS !!! This is serious business.

The Nepal Embassy in Bangkok knew nothing.
The Nepali still have no ambassador.
With my many calls and mails . they did call the hospital in May.
The staff seems unterested in hunting for her pardon.
Do they have mothers ?

The hospital spokes-person said "we do not have any old Nepali lady in the clinic".
In actual fact ... she was ... and is in the hospital.

As of August 03, 2005 .. she is still alive in the prison hospital !!
Still no visit by Nepal embassy or fellow prisoners.
Her son has come to see her a few times.

Here is what you can do .. !! 


=========================================================================
BACKGROUND ON VISHNU'S STORY

Vishnu was born in Parhardmai, Nepal on December 25, 1935.

Her life was ordinary for many years.
She married and had several children.

Vishnu was hired by a German family to be a housekeeper/nanny.
These people were associated with the German Embassy in Kathmandu.
When the family moved to Bangkok, Vishnu came along, with the undertanding that
she would be taken to Germany when the assignment in Bangkok was finished.
 
HOWEVER .. the family left without her.
Vishnu was on her own.
She met other Nepali people and settled into life in Bangkok.

She took a local man [Hla Win]... as her friend and living partner.
Hla Win  had various friends that did international business.

She had friends in several small manufacturing shops.
She was was able to place Nepali people in various short term jobs.  

Some of her "clients" were found at local Buddhist shrines, begging or seeking 
food and shelter after being abandoned on false work contracts.
The Nepalese Ambassador, Sunadar Mani Bhattarai was totally uncooperative in helping Nepali.

When Jivan asked for help ... Sundar yelled "GET OUT". Jivan was on his own.

********************************************************************************
Here is a story about how one desperate man .. was refused by Ambasador Bhattari.

April 24, 1993: by Jivan Thapa 
 "I went back to the Embassy to beseech their help.
  I found one of the people I met before. 
  When I enquired where the other was he pointed to a tree inside the Embassy
  where the man had hung himself by his belt and committed suicide in desperation. 
  The guard told us that the police had been called."

  [[ It is interesting that the the Employment agent, Krishna Bahadur Karki and 
  Ambassador Bhattari are relatives !!! ]]]
******************************************************************************

Jivan Thapa  came to Thailand in July 1993.  His work contractor was a crook.
Vishnu found Jivan, taking food from the offering plate at the local Gurdwara & 
Kali Mandir temples.

After a few days, Vishnu placed him in an iron factory (cutting iron into different shapes)
Factory owner demanded copy of Jivan’s passport;
Jivan kept lying that his passport was in the Nepali embassy.
A Burmese person gave Jivan a fake passport (of Jivan Thapa)

The owner of the iron ship was bribing a local police officer so he could hire
undocumented workers like Jivan; The local police officer got transferred. 
The new police officer was strict against illegal aliens.
So the owner of the iron shop had to let Jivan go.
Jivan was not paid for the last few weeks.

Jivan returned to Vishnu's house asking for more help.
Here he met Chandra Kumar Rai for the first time [September 23, 1993]
Chandra was another victim of the false work contract scheme.

Vishnu told them that she and her boy-friend {Hla Win} were going to go to Jakarta 
for a few days. They could stay with her daughter {Devi Dawki} until she returned.

When Vishnu went to the airport {September ?} 1993, the customs agents found heroin in 
the luggage of her boyfriend's friend. 
This [Hla Win friend's name is unknown to me] man was shot while trying to escape.

Then they found heroin in her boyfriend's bags.

Then they found heroin in Vishnu's bags.

Vishnu's Burmese boyfriend, 
  Hla Win, received a death sentence after he was found guilty of attempting to
  smuggle 11.2kg of heroin out of Bangkok Airport to Indonesia in 1993.


Then they went to her apartment ... where the police arrested everyone.

( this is Jivan's story of the arrest ):

Early the next morning of September 14, 1993 at around 6.30/7.00am 
I had woken first and dressed to go back to work. 
While I was waiting for Chandra and the daughter to shower and get dressed,
I lay back down on the bed and fell fast asleep again. 

The next thing I knew, to my complete astonishment about 6 police had entered the room.
The daughter was being forced to sit on the floor and Chandra was being bodily searched 
against the wall. I was grabbed by 2 policemen by my wrists and ankles and pulled out of
bed and forced against the wall. 

As I was being searched, I was trying to look behind me to find out what on earth was
going on. I saw one of the policemen with his foot on the suitcase, which they must 
have brought with them, because this suitcase had not been there when I’d showered and 
dressed earlier.

The policeman who was searching me, forced me to remain with my head facing the wall by
pushing my face physically against it. He also had his knee between my legs from behind. 
The police were searching the room and getting more and more hostile. 

He demanded the key for the suitcase. I told him that I did not know of any key or suitcase. 
I continued to be held in the same position for some minutes while a great deal of commotion 
and talking went on between the police and then laughter from them.
When I was turned around I was faced with the sight of the suitcase that had been cut open.

To my horror there was some kind of packages which had been ripped out of the lining 
and placed on top of the clothes (which appeared to be some kind of ladies wear) which
were in the case. The daughter had been placed sitting with the case in front of her. 

I was now being told to hold the suitcase so that they could photograph their momentous 
occasion. I absolutely refused to go anywhere near the suitcase and said packages. 
I repeatedly and categorically denied that I had anything to do with this suitcase,
they themselves had brought into the room with them.

I was then subjected to police brutality and hostility because of my refusal to co-operate
in their charade.

Chandra was also being beaten. In the end a gun was produced and I was told along with 
Chandra to hold the suitcase or face the consequences for resisting to co-operate. 
Both myself and Chandra, under fear and duress touched the case so that they could take
 their beloved picture.

Now, having had our picture taken the police told us to remain sitting on the floor with 
our hands handcuffed behind us while they had some kind of celebration and stood around 
in the room laughing and joking between themselves and drinking Pepsi. 

Hostilities and intimidation now ceased, we were all one big happy family. 
We the accused with our alleged suitcase in front of us and them (the police) supposed
 upholders of justice awaiting their pats on the back and promotion recommendations 
when they got back to the station. 

Oh and let us not forget their reward money from the D.E.A. from supposedly 
catching not 1 ... but 3 people with a suitcase inside a room. 

I was young, but I knew everything was terribly, terribly wrong. 
This was a set-up, a mockery of Justice.
I had to hold on to the belief that this was some kind of joke. 
While this was taking place other rooms were being searched by other police at the scene. 
Monies (amounting 1.7M bath) and some type of broken gun were brought into the room and
placed on the bed. I, to my utter bewilderment was later to be charged with possession 
of some couple of thousand dollars of this money?!

Vishnu  told the  police that Chandra and Jivan were not involved in any way and to be 
released. She said they were her guest for one night only, they were not regular residents
of the apartment;

Her daughter was released; Police were ready to release J & C but requested 50,000 in return;

He then explained to me that he would receive $10,000 from the D.E.A for my arrest. 
Then he asked me if I myself could produce $10,000, so that I could go home and see my
family. We wouldn't have to bother them. When I pleaded my destitution and told him 
I was absolutely penniless. He asked me if I wanted to phone my family members or friends
to ask them if they could help me. I told him this was not possible.
He then told me not to worry, I would go to prison and he would get his money anyway!

Since Jivan and Chandra could not come up with the money, they were formally charged
& sentenced to life imprisonment.


Vishnu's friend was EXECUTED  ...  January 6, 2000  ( story in the Bangkok Post)
  Story of Vishnu's friend
  Hla Win, 60, who was on death row for attempting to smuggle 11.2kg of heroin out of
  Thailand, was shot dead at Bang Khwang maximum security prison, Corrections
  Department officials said yesterday.

  He was the second inmate to receive capital punishment for heroin trafficking in recent
  years, they added.

  Altogether, 16 prisoners were executed in Thailand in 1999, including one woman and
  Thaung Nyunt, 51, an illegal Burmese immigrant accused of killing his Thai wife, her
  nephew and niece with an axe three years ago.

  Hla Win received a death sentence after he was found guilty of attempting to smuggle
  11.2kg of heroin out of Bangkok Airport to Indonesia in 1993.

  Hla Win, who denied his guilt and appealed his case to the Supreme Court, had allegedly
  used a Nepalese woman to act as his courier.-dpa

THE QUEENS AMNESTY   : August 2004
On August 12, 2004, the QUEEN OF THAILAND TURNED 72.
Seventy-two is significant to Buddhists.
A QUEEN'S PARDON was much discussed in the press and the prison system.

About the first of August, a team of correctional officers came to Vishnu's cell.
She was finger-printed and had an "exit interview:".
She was told that she would be released early on August 04, 2005.
She sent out many greeting cards to friends and family.
Plane tickets were arranged.

BUT ..  August   04, 2004  came and went .. nothing happened
        August   12, 2004  came and went .. nothing happened

   "There were rumors that prisoners over 60 years old who had good prison records 
   and had served much of their sentences would be released on 9th August. 
   On that day only about 10 prisoners with minor sentences were released from
   Lard Yao women's prison. Vishnu Kumari, an old Nepali woman who has served many years,
   was not released. .... "

UPDATES:
December 25,2004  ( her 69th birthday came and went.
January  20, 2005 I visited her in the prison ... she is still VERY SAD.
May      06, 2005 STILL NO INFORMATION AND NO RELEASE.

August   03, 2005 
   Vishnu is still in the hospital.
   The Nepal Embassy has not been to visit.
   The Thao MOFA has taken no action in her case.
   Other prisoners including her daughter are not allowed to visit.

   I did speak with  Mr. Natapanu Nopakun  202-298-4789 [[First Secretary (Political)]]
   He had a file on me and her .. but has taken no action.
   Again he promised to do something.

   My recommendations : Call Thai and Nepal officals !
                  USA 
                  Bangkok
                  Nepal

Article about the disappointment

**************************************************

VISHNU'S PRISON LIFE TODAY:

FORCED LABOR: 
  Vishnu [and all the women] continue to do forced labor in the prison factory.
  There is no alternative. They are credited ("paid") 5 bhat per day [week?].
  They must "pay" 20 bhat per month for a sleeping place.
  They must all do work to have a place to sleep out of the rain!
  If they pay 3000 bhat/month, they can sleep in the hospital, but only if they also work.
  Failure to work ... means toilet cleaning and a blanket outside on the concrete.
                  ... outside .. maybe with mosquitos and rain.

FOOD   : Red Rotted Rice and small fish.  Visitors can buy food from the prison store.
         Family can send food to non-drug cases.
 
WATER  : the taps are on for only FIVE minutes each morning and evening.
         The water quality is unknown .  but some think a big source of sickness.
 
MEDICAL: Once a week a doctor comes.  A line forms .. with up to SEVEN HUNDRED!
         If the woman presents her ID book with cash . she moves up front in the line.
         A "good" doctor is possible .. but only with embassy support.
         Prison's Chief Doctor : Dr. John  Lerwitworapong : (662)589-4875/(661)-454-6365.

DENTAL : Vishnu has never seen a dentist.  
         She has only TWO teeth .. others fell out in prison ! 


  Vishnu, as a drug case, can not receive any mail except letters.
       ... murderers can have any incoming packages .....

  Vishnu, as a drug case, can have only ONE visitor a week .. 
       ... no matter if they came from USA or Nepal.
       ... murderers can have visitors every day ....

************************************************************************
NEPAL GOVERNMENT CONTACTS:  in Nepal
Nepal Embassy .. in Thailand

The Nepal Embassy in Bangkok, Mr. Arjun Mainali  : Phone : 011-(662)-391-7240 
   So far, they have refused to press the Thai Department of Corrections for her release.
   Without EMBASSY support ... Vishnu will never go home.
   With the Nepal EMBASSY support it is possible ... 

   Nepal Embassy .. in Thailand

NEPAL EMBASSY IN USA:   First Secretary : Mr. Krishna Aryal  : Phone : (202)-667-4550
   Nepal Government - USA

*****************************************************************
Her mother is 96 photo taken in 1993
    mother smaller photo [taken in 1993]

How long can mom or Vishnu live?

We all hope that someday, somehow the Nepali embassy and the Thai Department of corrections 
can be urged to let her go !!

Ben Parks   e-mail : [baparks38@yahoo.com]

Some of the many PRINTED ARTICLES:
Samaya Magazine  August    01, 2004  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/SAMYA/index.htm]

Himalayan Times  November  01, 2003  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/ht031101.htm]

Rising Nepal     April     27, 2002  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/rn020427.jpg]
Himalayan Times  April     26, 2002  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/ht020426.htm]
The Himalayan    April     26, 2002  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/nt020427.htm]
Gorkapatra       April     25, 2002  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/gp020425.jpg]
Nepali times     April     25, 2002  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/nt020427.htm]

The Bangkok Post January   06, 2000  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/bp000106.htm]
THE NATION       November  30, 2000  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/tn001101.htm]
Bangkok Post     October   13, 2000  [ ]
Nepali Times     September 27, 2000  [http://www.bangkwang.net/press/nt000927.htm]
BBC documentary on Bankgwang         [http://www.bbc.co.uk/home/today] 
back to the home-page

 
Posted on 04-22-10 2:54 AM     Reply [Subscribe]
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what can we do? let's act..
 
Posted on 04-22-10 9:27 AM     Reply [Subscribe]
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such grave injustice. Isn't there anything we can do? Can't we bring this to anyone's attention? Any international organization that might be able to help. At least share it with people who might know the right ppl and places to contact.....


 


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