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CASE INFORMATION
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NAME:
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My name is Myo Tun Burma and I am from Myanmar [Burma].
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AGE:
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24 (2002)
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ORIGIN:
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Myanmar [Burma]
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ARRESTED:
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2002
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PRISON LOCATION:
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Bangkwang Central Prison
117 Nonthanburi Road
Nonthanburi 11000, Thailand
More on Bangkwang Prison - Click Here
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SENTENCE:
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Sentenced to Life. Reduced 30 years for pleading guilty. Remaining sentence: 51 years. [To be released from Thai Prison - 2053.] Possession of 10,000 amphetamines tablets.
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CONTACT ME:
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Myo Tun Burma
Bangkwang Central Prison
Building # 4
117 Nonthanburi Road
Nonthanburi 11000,
Thailand |
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ABOUT ME:
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At the time of writing this letter [04 June 2009] to Kay Danes at the Foreign Prisoner Support Service,
I am detained in a Thai Prison.
In 2002 I was living with my Thai girlfriend. Life was good but I got myself into a situation where I wanted some
money for getting married because my girlfriend was pregnant.
I did not have any means to support her and I felt that at that time my only option was to do what was asked of me.
I would be paid 50,000 thai baht for carry 10, 000 amphetamine pills and give to another.
I was 24 years old and old enough to know better but I managed to convince myself that by doing this 'one easy job'
all of my problems would be solved.
As I gave the pills to a man, I was arrested. He was a policeman. In the court
I pleaded guilty and I was handed a life sentence but because I pleaded guilty, it was cut to 30 years.
I took the wrong path in life and here I am serving a 51 year sentence. Take it from me, there is not such a thing as a 'easy job'.
I was in prison after six months, my girlfriend gave birth to our child and after one month she visited me with my lovely daughter
That was the worst moment of my life. I could not help them anything. My dreams were dead and my life hopeless.
When she heard my sentence, she was very depressed and sent the baby to her mother's home in a village.
My girlfriend also married with another man and I cannot see my daughter since that time.
I am unlocked from my cell at 6:30am and do exercise. I don't have financial support and get by, this way and that.
For example; I carry fresh water for the foreigners to drink and shower with and they pay me 150 Thai baht a month (US$4).
I am very sorry for everything. Sometimes my life seems to have already formed depression, that I feel I don't want to do anything.
I am very unhappy.
I want to hear a few positive things for my future, now my life is totally in dark and suffering. It seem myself is a loser and doomed to frustration, humiliation and failure. As I try to imagine the future I see only emptiness or unending problems and anguish. Please someone help me!
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VISITING DAYS:
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If you are coming to Thailand and want to visit me please write to me in advance so I can arrange it.
Or you can come to the prison and ask the guards to help you visit me.
Visiting days are only on Tuesday and Thursday between 9:30am and 11:30am and in the afternoon between 1:30pm and 2:30pm.
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CARE PACKAGES:
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I would be grateful for anything that people send. Care packages, food and clothes can be sent to the prison by mail.
Please make sure anything you send is sealed otherwise I will not be given it.
If you write to me then I can let you know how best to help me because sometimes things change here.
Shirts L Shorts 34 · Shoe Size 41Socks L Magazines [educational/sports] Soap, toothpaste Cigarettes Writing material Drawing material Pencils
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LETTER WRITING:
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I really would love to get letters and I will do my very best to reply. The cost of stamps is a luxury to people like me but sometimes I am able to get help from the other foreigners if I work hard. So please if you have time, please write to me.
Please write to me if you have free time.
Make sure you include my name and building number: Example: Bangkwang Prison Dan 4 - Mr. Myo Tun Burma. The Thai prison guards will print out and deliver to me. Only write 15 lines at a time because this is the rule. Be respectful to the authorities at all times.
Please let Myo Tun know that you were made aware of his plight through this campaign page.
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
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Most foreign prisoners maintain a small bank account to purchase food, cooking supplies, writing materials, clothes etc. from the prison store
While the prison does supply a minimal diet, many prisoners prefer to supplement their diet with store purchases and gifts from friends and visitors [those who have them]. Without support for food and money, the prisoner is in a really difficult position.
A minimum equivalent of USD$30 per month is needed to sustain a prisoner in Bangkwang. Most do not have anywhere near this amount. Lew Yoon Sin is one of these prisoners.
Never send money or cash in the mail. All mail must first be checked by the guards and THEN given to the prisoner. It is against the law to send money through the mail and if found, it will be confiscated by police and/or prison authorities. It is best to send your letters by registered mail.
THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT ME FINANCIALLY
You can send money to me via Father Olivier Morin. The 70-year-old French missionary, Jesuit Father Olivier Morin, heads a six-member team that regularly visits more than 1,600 foreign prisoners in eight prisons in and outside Bangkok, including a women's prison.
Make sure when you send funds via Father Olivier that you state that your funds are for Mr. Myo Tun Burma, Bangkwang Bldg #4. Father Olivier has his own reference number for each prisoner he visits. My register number in Fr. Oliver's list is "0524" and my prisoner number is 639/46. You need to include my register number "0524" when you are writing to Fr. Oliver to send me money otherwise he won't know who the funds are for. You can also use this to send me items of clothing through him etc…
Father Olivier
Xavier Hall
Victory Monument
43 Phaholyothin Road
10400 Bangkok - Thailand
OTHER WAYS OF SUPPORTING
Money may be added to the prisoner's bank account through a variety of methods :
DIRECT DEPOSIT with an INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER. You should prepare an International Money Order carefully. Making sure the details are clearly written and correct. Include the prisoner's name, prison address and building number. Make sure you write down the number of the building on your money order otherwise your prisoner won't get the funds. Bangkwang Prison is a very big place. A prison agent will make the deposit for you into the prisoner's prison account. Mail your money order directly to Lew Yoon Sin.
Money paid by Visitors:
Visitors may make direct deposits at the prison's main office. Upon arrival to the prison, tell the guards you want to deposit money. You will be directed to the Bank. You can make your deposit(s) while waiting to visit your friend.
Missionaries will receive your travelers checks and make deposits to the correct account. But check with the prisoner first because not all people posing as missionaries are truly good Samaritans.
FPSS often have long term members visiting the prison on a regular basis. These are contacts we have established over the years and are highly trustworthy. They are willing to accept money transfer and will go to the prison and deposit into the prisoner's account.
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EMBASSY CONTACT:
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Myanmar Embassy [Burma]
132 Sathorn Nua Rd.
Silom Bangrak
Bangkok 10500 Thailand
Tel: 0 - 2233-7250
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