SHOCK! AND HORROR!

The hearts of Mothers in England and indeed Mothers around the world must have gone out to 19 years old Michael Connell and his family, when the young adolescent and certainly naïve Englishman was arrested in Bangkok Airport, Thailand for drugs.

NO MERCY FOR 19 YEARS OLD BY THE COURT!

As Michael Connell was sentenced to life in Thailand’s infamous Prison “The Bangkok Hilton” (Bangkwang)

Over 2 years ago now since I sat with Michael on his first night in prison, heavily shackled and terrified, who wouldn’t be! At only 19 years of age and in one of the worst prisons in the world.

GOOD NEWS? Is all too rare here in “The Bangkok Hilton” if not, almost non-existent.

Very often what they give you with one hand, they take away with the other, and they, in this case being England’s Government. In a extremely rare show of MERCY by the appeal court in Thailand to the then 19 year old Michael.

His sentence of life (50 years) was reduced by appeal court recently to a sentence of 30 years.

20 YEARS OF HIS ORIGINAL SENTENCE, has to be good news, you would think!

BAD NEWS according to the terms of the bilateral treaty of prisoners between Thailand and England.

If Michael had transferred to a UK prison on his original life sentence he would have been given a tariff by the Lord Chief Justice probably not exceeding 10 – 12 years and possibly less. (A tariff is the minimum period that must be served before a person can be considered for release on license)

But now Michael has to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison and possibly more.

In addition, none of his time served here in Thailand counts towards two thirds automatic release given to all other prisoners held in England.

Instead he must serve two thirds remaining on his sentence on arrival in England, to qualify for automatic release.

Despite requests, the UK authorities have not shown any statute or provision of common law to justify such discrimination.

Young Michael finds himself in the same position as me, having had our sentences reduced; the truth of the matter is we have had our sentences increased by way of a reduction!

Click onto my fact sheet explaining the unfairness of the Thailand – England Prisoner Transfer Treaty!

HAVE YOU NO CONSCIENCE MR. TONY BLAIR?

Is it not enough we suffer for years in these inhumane conditions and you still stand by the present Treaty, even when Thailand has given you the go ahead to draft a new Treaty.