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]
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