Thailand Prisoner Support

“We, the undersigned fifty ex-political prisoners from Burma, write to you in desperation. We have no further avenues for appeal and are living in an unbearable fear of forced repatriation to Burma following the 2010 elections.

Currently, there are over 140,000 refugees residing within nine main Refugee Camps on the Thai-Burma border. Of these nine camps, only two house ex-political prisoners – Umpiem Camp and Nu Po Camp. There are a total of one hundred and twenty three ex-political prisoners. The undersigned are the ex-political prisoners of Umpiem Camp but we write to you on behalf all ex-political prisoners. We plead for your understanding that, as ex-political prisoners, we have been identified as dissidents by the Junta.

They know who we are, they know our family members. Many of us are published on the Junta’s most wanted list. We have not committed any criminal acts. We were unlawfully incarcerated for speaking out against the regime. Some of us spent almost twenty years in prison. We know that we will face certain death or imprisonment should we be forced to return to Burma. Ex-political prisoners are an especially vulnerable group and, in light of the current political context, we plead for your assistance…”

For more information… www.thebestfriend.org/2010/09/10/open-letter/

Thanks to all who have supported me with kind words or a few dollars here and there…Special thanks to PharmaSave owners Linda and Gary on Salt Spring Island, who, once again this year, sent me off to Thailand with a donated bag of toiletries, vitamins and painkillers for the inmates. Every bit counts and your generosity and kindness is truly appreciated by me and the inmates!

As I write, people are gathered outside Aung San Suu Kyi’s residence in Burma, hoping that this Nobel-winning leader will be released from her unjust detention by the Burmese rulers. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of ethnic minority refugees have been fleeing across the border into Thailand, as the Burmese military escalates its attacks against these villagers in the wake of their ‘victory’ in a sham of an election, condemned by all as a farce. Certain cowardly gov’ts are alone in supporting the Burmese ‘election’ results and are complicit in aiding Burma conduct this genocide of ethnic minority Burmese villagers by sending these people back over their respective borders with false assurances that they will be safe. The world must not remain silent nor complacent in the face of this huge humanitarian crisis. Support real democracy in Burma and justice for ALL of its people!