Enjoy Yourself In Thailand But Please Don’t Break The Law

This is a re-write of a story that was first published by my brother on anotherwebsite.com back in 2004. Just recently, I have been given his permission to bring it up to date and, considering my own relationship with the lady in question over the past 7 years, make some perspective changes before sharing it with you.

This is an account of a friendship made with a girl that is serving a 50-year prison sentence in Thailand.

On the 15 March 2005 as the sun was at it highest, my wife and I left Klong Prem’s Central Women’s Correctional Institution, North Bangkok. We had just visited the prison shop, where it’s possible to make a donation of money and buy food or small items of toiletries for inmates. In doing so we had just, as they say in Thailand, ‘made merit’. Little did I know at the time that this first visit to the ladies prison would be the start of an amazing friendship.

How It all Began

It was during one of my many visits to Thailand, that I became aware it was possible to visit an inmate at Bangkok’s Klong Prem’s Women’s Correctional Institution. My wife and I decided we would like to take such an opportunity to ‘make merit’.

Making merit is an every day part of Thai life that basically means, doing good things. Usually this will come in the form of making a donation of food or money at the local temple, but one can also make merit to literally anyone. Thai’s strongly believe they ought to regularly make and gain merit which would bring them happiness and a peaceful life. Gaining merit will strengthen them to overcome any obstacles or misfortune they are suffering. By visiting the ladies prison we felt we could not only make a significant difference in someone’s life but we would also be giving something back to Thailand in return for all the wonderful things it had given us over the years.

A good friend of ours who had also lived and worked in Thailand for many years had given us a name of an inmate whom he had already visited on a number of occasions. Other than her name, Anna, all we knew about her was that she had been arrested in 1994 while trying to board a plane leaving Bangkok with a suitcase containing illegal drugs.

The Law

There can be no excuses when it comes to mistaking the severity of drug smuggling in Thailand. Make no mistake the Thai government have zero tolerance when it comes to drug trafficking. If you’re caught in possession with drugs trying to board a plane you’re only hope is that you are from a country that has good relations with Thailand. And then, only then, might you evade the death penalty and be sentenced to a life of imprisonment in one of Thailand’s overcrowded eighty-to-a-cell prisons.

But does the punishment fit the crime? This is an issue that has been, and will no doubt continue to be, debated for years to come. In the grand scheme of things, I guess the decision should remain within each country’s own judicial system. But, for what it’s worth, here’s my take on this sensitive issue:

As I see it, the problem is that a verdict is never quite as black and white as pure guilt or pure innocence. Any grey areas should also be considered. I guess we have all done things from time to time we are ashamed of; I know I have. One moment in our lives seem perfect and we are happy, then the next moment we can suddenly find ourselves in a situation that causes us great unhappiness. Maybe it all sounds obvious, but it’s still a lesson everybody needs to learn and understand for themselves. In the life long learning process, there are twists and turns that can never be predicted and sometimes we are just victims of our own circumstances. I guess no one will understand that more than Anna. In her case, she made the grave mistake of giving her heart to the wrong person.

Whilst travelling around I have sought the opinion of fellow Brits and Thais on this matter. Many are sympathetic but others take the view that people that commit serious crimes deserve everything they get. - I’m sure if I had first hand experience of drug abuse or knew anyone who had lost someone through drugs then I would most probably be inclined to agree.  However, it’s my belief that when one person gives their heart to another they will trust them without question. Under such circumstances, they will not doubt do anything the other tells them. Maybe when you hear Anna’s story it will mellow your viewpoint.

Anna

Although we didn’t actually gain permission to see Anna on our first visit, we found the visit to Klong Prem quite an experience. It was a few weeks later when I returned that I first met Anna. It goes without saying that she, for numerous reasons, has had to endure many hardships, but still, it has to be said in all the time I’ve known her, she’s never dwelled too much on them. It is always a heartfelt moment to hear her speak so rationally and composed in total acceptance of her current predicament.

In the relatively short space of time we’ve all gotten to know each other - just under 7 years - it has become obvious that, Anna, despite her moment of madness over seventeen years ago, is a very bright young woman with a wonderful attitude, personality and outlook on life. No doubt that is something that must from time to time wane a little, but it is clear even to this day that she has never given up hope.

During our short time allowances together whilst sat at opposite sides of a Perspex screen and communicating via an intercom, she has talked openly and rationally about her life. Our topics of conversation covered pretty much everything. We discussed modern day living, technology advances, mobile phones with video, the sky train, the Internet, favorite ice creams, the meaning of happiness, finance, Singapore, Malaysia, England, religion, Aids, sorrow, alcohol, her younger years growing up in South Africa and her prison life in Thailand. We talked of the daughter that was taken away from her after giving birth shortly after being arrested seventeen years ago.

At the young age of twenty-two, pregnant and abandoned by her husband, Anna met a man who promised her the world. She travelled to Thailand for what she assumed would get her life back on course. This was a complete and irresponsible mistake she had made. To use her own words, ’Seventeen years ago, I made a huge mistake. Now I pay the price.’

The last time she saw the man who had promised her a great future was on 19 February 1994, two hours before she was apprehended at the airport. ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,’ he had told her.

Anna was subsequently incarcerated for 50 years.

Anna gave birth to her daughter, Vicky, in prison in October 1994. Eight months later her daughter was repatriated to South Africa and since then been moved from one orphanage to another. Mother and daughter have not seen each other more than twice since then, let alone hold and hugged each other.

I was so saddened to learn of the despair of being separated from her daughter. The mother/daughter bond is very strong and so this must be extremely hard to endure. While speaking about her daughter I could see the hurt in her eyes. Very sad indeed.

We also talked about my family life both in Thailand and England. I think that’s what she appreciated the most, maybe for a brief moment it took her away from the confinement of the prison walls.

Anna is clearly a very articulate woman and always very polite, it is always extremely interesting to listen to her; there’s always a thoroughly enjoyable conversation to be had, where neither of us are ever lost for words.

She explained to me that she was always adventurous and very determined. She would pursue with energy anything that she wanted. As it turned out, this was to be her downfall. I thought back to my younger days and the times when I always thought I knew what was for the best and wouldn’t take any advice from no one. Lucky for me that I made my mistakes in England where leniency is very much the norm.

Anna realises that her misdeed has brought untold pain and suffering to many people. Words cannot describe her remorse and regrets for breaking the law. She has had much time to reflect on her actions. She has never been violent or caused any problems while she has been in prison; she has come to understand many issues; she has grown and matured. She is now more responsible and more resilient to temptations in any form.

Over the past 17 years, Anna has developed a profound understanding of people and cultures. She has learned the Thai language, reading and writing. She has now come to realise her purpose in life and what she still has to offer, especially and foremost to her daughter. Her wish one day is to move back to South Africa and take full responsibility for the education of her precious daughter. She also expressed the wish, once released to be involved in education and coaching in drug preventing programs for the South African youth.

The last time I saw Anna was on the 12 July 2011. Although sometimes the twinkle in her eyes showed some tiredness, she, as always, was in great spirits and smiled a lot. It was a time, once again, that I was filled with a compliment of great emotion.

Amnesty?

At certain auspicious occasions the royal family can grant general amnesty to all inmates (This is usually in the form of a reduction of 1/6 or 1/8 of the original sentence). This is generally carried out at royal birthdays etc. Anna’s original sentence of fifty years was commuted to forty following an immediate appeal and has subsequently been reduced to twenty-four as a result of 4 amnesties over the past seventeen years.

Just recently, myself, my wife, my brother and eight other friends of Anna’s have got together from across the globe and we are currently all writing to, His Majesty the King of Thailand, in the slim hope the remainder of her sentence (5 years) will be granted a Royal Pardon. I understand that all Western countries recognise such pardons and thus strive towards getting such a pardon for their nationals, except two; unfortunately South Africa is one of these!

I often wonder at what stage my life is at and in which direction I now hope my future is to take. Anna’s only hope for the future now is that on the 15 December 2011, His Majesty the king of Thailand in all his wisdom can show mercy and give Anna the same line of thought, grant her this amnesty and give her a chance to redeem herself.

Conclusion

A prison visit may not appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy the art of conversation and forming a new friendship with someone less fortunate, then it’s an experience I thoroughly recommend.

If you can’t spare the time to make a visit in person, you can definitely lift the spirit of an inmate by writing a letter. I know how many of you on this site love to write and for the negligible cost of a stamp your mail will make a positive difference. I’m already convinced that all mail received from the outside is welcomed with opened arms, so please try to make the effort to write.

Moreover, if you are of a generous disposition there is a prison shop where the sort of things most people take for granted such as toothpaste, soap, biscuits etc are on sale and are always gratefully received. For those of you with exceptional generosity there is a counter where funds can be deposited in the prisoner’s own account. A receipt is given and the money will reach the inmate in a coupon format that can be spent in the shop.

On that note, I’ll leave everything to your good nature.

Thanks very much for reading this story. I’m interested to hear your views on this matter, favourable or otherwise.

And finally, a big plea to everybody:

Enjoy yourself in Thailand but please don’t break the law.