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So my friend Jesse says, "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"No plans," I say. "What you got in mind?"
"I am going to the Bangkok Hilton -- you wanna come?"
Well, since I was already staying at the Bangkok Hilton I assumed he meant The Tiger (the infamous Bangkwang Prison). Yep, it turned out he was planning to go and see one of the Canadians serving a Life Sentence.
So off we went, two quick boat rides, a not so easy taxi ride (they are never really easy in BKK) and a short walk later we arrive at the Prison. And then it sinks in what we are about to do. We are about to speak to someone living in conditions so appalling that a person keeping their pet in similar conditions would be prosecuted for. And facing a life sentence.
The process is fairly simple: you fill out some forms, photocopy your passport, buy some goods in the store that you would like to give the prisoner and then wait.
The waiting ends with a long walk into a pleasant flower-lined courtyard -- Jesse comments, "I bet it’s not like that inside." No, I am sure it isn't - as we would hear in short order.
We are shown to some chairs in front of thick glass. There are phones at each chair and through the glass we can see a large gap, more thick glass and then another row of phones for the inmates. This, I think, makes the sign that informs us that giving money to prisoners is not allowed somewhat redundant.
Adrian (Van Ommering) walks into view and picks up a phone. He thanks us for coming to visit -- we are only the third visitors he has had this year.
Adrian is Canadian (Toronto) and came to Bangkok several years ago to set up a travel shop. He rented the room above his shop to a tenant who, it turns out, was manufacturing Ecstasy. The police raided, found the drugs and decided that Adrian MUST also have been involved -- he received a life sentence. To make matters worse, his Thai girlfriend's name was also on the lease of his building and so, naturally, she is serving a thirty-year sentence in a prison for women. They can write, but have no other contact.
Now, what struck me most about Adrian was his optimism. I don't mean about getting out -- he is, quite reasonably, somewhat pessimistic about the Thai justice system (that punishes drug offenders FAR more harshly than either murders or rapists). I mean more about life in general.
"You seem much more cheerful than I would have imagined," I said.
"You should have seen me two years ago," he replies. Then, he explained, he had been in for about two years and was depressed and full of despair. His secret? Yoga and meditation. How else can you deal with sleeping shoulder to shoulder on a concrete floor in a tiny room shared by 20 other men? How about only getting fed once a day (and even then, a plate of fishheads)? Or water from the river for drinking and showers? Adrian and the others in this prison are living very hard lives and I am amazed at what a great job he is doing of maintaining his spirits.
There is a light and the end of the tunnel. Adrian has served over four years already and, due to a treaty with Canada, he will only have to serve eight years in Thailand. Then he will be transferred to a Canadian prison and have his sentence reviewed.
"It will be like moving to a five-star hotel," Adrian jokes about the move to a Canadian Prison.
I think I have a better solution: I think Canada should do a prisoner exchange... we trade Clifford Olsen for Adrian. I know Clifford Olsen committed no crimes in Thailand but I think we release him (he IS due for Parole), deport him to Thailand with 2 pounds of hash hidden in his bags.
Please do visit Adrian or some of the other inmates if you are ever in Bangkok. They really appreciate it and can use your support. Some things to consider for your visit, should you make one:
1) They get VERY little food (one meal a day) from the prison authorities and have to buy everything else they eat on the internal "black market" in the prison. If you visit, there is a small store where you can buy food for the inmate.
2) Other than the plate of fish heads, they get almost NOTHING else from the prison. This means that everyday items -- razors, toothbrushes etc. -- are really appreciated.
3) Please bring books -- the inmates share them around the entire prison and they are deeply grateful for them. (There is no library in the prison.)
The best thing to do is to contact you country's embassy and ask for the details of any prisons in Bangkwang. They will give you the names and send you directions and instructions to make your visit as easy as possible.
One comment:
Why does Thailand treat drug offenders SO MUCH MORE harshly than murderers and rapists?
Okay, two comments:
Why are their so many horror stories about people being convicted of drug offences "by association" in Thailand. For example, a taxi driver serving thirty years because HIS PASSENGER was carrying drugs...
Okay, three comments. If you would like to write to Adrian, please do so here:
Adrian Van Ommering
Bangwang C.P. Nonthaburi Road,
Nontaburi, Bangkok Thailand 11000
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KP1958
Krasin Pongtornpipat
Stupid Thai legal system
An interesting story! Bangkwang’s website urges people to visit inmates there. The place is always open to the public, by appointment of course. They have nothing to hide there. The courtyard was lined with flowers, but the farang visitors believed it was not like that inside. That was sure enough. The Canadian inmate appeared to be cheerful. The farang visitors believed that was because of his meditation rather than reasonable living condition or good treatment from jail officials. The Canadian guy was given a meager meal of fish head daily. However, I have heard that food there tastes awful but is aplenty. You eat as much as you like. In another blog, a farang tourist visiting the same jail found the situation there much better than what he had expected. Anyway, he believed that improvements were made after the book “Damage Done” had been published. The Canadian guy’s case must have gone through all levels of court before the final jail term was handed down. There must have been complicated legal procedures and humanitarian considerations observed and followed by the police and the courts of justice before this Canadian was put in jail. There is perhaps a 300-page report filed by the police revealing all the evidences, witnesses and even scientific proofs, which convinced the judges that this Canadian man is guilty. Unfortunately, these are all irrelevant to the farang visitors who regard fellow farang prisoner’ words as the only and absolute truth. Have you ever though that the Thai police might have helped make Canada a little bit safer from drugs by smashing this gang and successfully sending every person involved to prison? Have you ever though that your government would also have dealt harshly with big drugs offenders if Canada has a looong jungle border with a neighboring country which produces and pours 300 millions metha-amphetamine pills and tons of herion into the country annually. It is nothing but the sense of superiority that makes farangs presume that Thai people and their legal system are irrational without knowing a bit about complicated Thai laws and procedures except words of a few prisoners. Anyway, we must accept that errors do occur everywhere and there undeniably are thousands of innocent people locked up in jail in the West.