PRISONERS SEEKING CONTACT

Steve has a lot of friends in Bangkwang, who would like to have some contact outside of that experienced in everyday life in prison. Many are foreigners in Thailand whose families and friends are overseas and therefore they have very little in the way of regular ‘Pen Friends’ or visitors. Limited or no knowledge of the Thai language means that they are restricted to a few companions within their building for company. Some would like to broaden their horizons through regular correspondence by mail with ‘Pen Pals’ and would also be very happy to receive visitors who are interested to come and meet them at the regular twice a weekly visiting session at Bangkwang HOW TO VISIT

You can also write to a prisoner by writing direct to Bangkwang prison and including the prisoners building number.

Below are some brief details of those guys who are seeking contact. Should you have any further enquiries contact this web site by sending an E-mail to steveatbangkwang@yahoo.co.uk

 

Prisoners preparing their food

LATEST NEWS MARCH 2006

Actually this, the first of my monthly letters will start on February 28^th, why! , because February 28^th was such a special day for me.

It was my first meeting with Paul and Ulla, who run this web site for me. They started writing to me as Pen Pals about a year ago now and then started this web site.

Where do I start? How can I put into words, the enormous effect their friendship has had upon me. Impossible! I can’t! , let me just say this, out of all the family and friends out there who I owe so much, nobody as much as Paul and Ulla has given me such support, hope, strength and the will to get through this. Paul and Ulla you are two very exceptionally special people. I love you sincerely!

Walking out to that visit February Tuesday 28^th was even more remarkable as also there to visit me was my wife “Lek” and my life long best mate “George” with his Thai wife “Gee” and their daughter “Georgia” (the 3 ggg’s)

When it rains it pours in Thailand, the most special people in my life all there at once to see me. This 2 hour visit has to be the best 2 hours in almost 3 years in prison here in Thailand. As I walked out of the visit area at the end of the visit my emotions were in turmoil, I felt I could conquer the world, yet tears ran down my cheeks.

March 1^st “George” and “Lek” were back again to visit me, “George” also like Paul and Ulla has been instrumental to me in my time in prison and I couldn’t wish for a more loyal friend (Thank you Brother!)

March 2^nd Paul and Ulla made their second visit before heading to one of Thailand’s southern islands to start their holiday. 3 straight days of visits has left me in such high spirits and a even more determined state of mind than ever to see this through, not to mention all the unobtainable items here they brought with them from England, things you take for granted back home, tinned ham and Corned Beef, cheese, marmite, Branston Pickle, Vitamins and Medicine. They stocked me up with books and so many items that are unobtainable here. “Thanks”. Shit!! I don’t have to eat rice for weeks!!

Okay! What else has been happening in the Bangkok Hilton, a petition is circulating amongst prisoners both Thai nationals and foreigners have signed it, making our objections known on 3 points we (prisoners) are clearly united in (1) To abolish the death penalty, (2) Drug cases should not be discriminated against and given equal amnesties the same as murder and rape cases. (3) A reduction in the high sentences handed out by the courts of Thailand.

The petition with over 4.000 prisoner’s signatures will be sent to various government departments, newspapers, embassies. There’s talk amongst us foreign prisoners here if drug convicted prisoners are not given equal amnesty reductions in sentence in this Junes amnesty to that of murderers and rapists etc. we will go on Hunger Strike.

(In all previous amnesties in Thailand’s history, drug cases have only been given a fraction of the reduction in sentence compared to murderers and rapists)

 I can not see the Thai prisoners joining us in a hunger strike! We are 130 foreign nationals alone in this building; the number of prisoners in this building is down to under 900, the lowest it’s been, as some Thai prisoners have been moved to provincial prisons. A copy of my Kings Pardon application has been sent to the Foreign Common Wealth Office in London as a last ditch attempt to get their support.

“Oak” (my son) at 2 years and 5 months old has mastered his first swear words in the Thai Language, so I can look forward to him telling the guards here where to get off on our next contact visit together.

March 13^th A Doctor at the so called Hospital here in Bangkwang prison confirms the official figure of prisoners with Tuberculosis (TB) at 25% of the total prison population and only a very small number of those infected are isolated from the rest of the prisoner population, the rest mix freely.

If prison authorities here are confirming 25% TB cases, you can bet your life the real figure is at least double that.

March 24^th Again a mixed feeling day as Paul and Ulla were back to visit me (Steve Willcox and Bertie Smalls) before they flew back to England that night. A big thank you my friends!

March 25^th Sat here at this very moment in this cramped oven of a cell racking my depleted brain to what else to include in this first of our monthly news letters.

Don’t you people out there have pens? As in almost a year after this web site opening, I or any of us are yet to receive a letter of any form from someone looking at our site!

DROP US A LINE! DON’T BE SHY!

Feedback, ideas, anything you would like to see on the site. Questions anything at all folks!!

I guess that’s about all for March. Look out for April news by Bertie Smalls