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HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EACH PERSON REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, RELIGION OR POLITICS
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JOHN ALBERT WATSON [UK]
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JOHN ALBERT WATSON
[West Yorkshire, UK]
"I know it sounds like an old cliché but honestly, being in here,
I do truly believe now that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone" John Watson [UK].
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INMATE DETAILS & RELIVENT INFORMATION
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NAME:
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John Albert Watson
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BIRTH:
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17 November 1961
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NATIONALITY:
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British Citizen
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BORN:
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Bradford, West Yorkshire UK
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ARRESTED:
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16 December 2003
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CHARGE:
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Drug Trafficking [555 grams of methamphetamines]
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SENTENCED:
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2 March 2006 - Life imprisonment.
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CURRENT CASE STATUS:
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John's appeal to the Supreme Court was unsuccessful.
He is however in the process of appealing to the Lao PDR government for an outcome that might see him reunited with his family.
John's health is deteriorating and he suffers from depression.
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PRISON:
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Phonthong Prison is the only foreigner's prison in Vientiane, Lao PDR
Click here for more information
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COUNTRY INFORMATION:
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Information on Laos Visit: Wikipedia Click Here
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JOHN'S PERSONAL APPEAL:
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PRISONER APPEAL
JOHN ALBERT WATSON OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
[Detained in Phonthong Prison, Vientiane, Lao PDR.]
15 April 2007
His Excellency Choummaly Xayasone
President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
Your Excellency,
My name is John Albert Watson and I was born on the 17th of November 1961 in Bradford,
West Yorkshire United Kingdom. I am currently detained in Phonthong Prison, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic
Republic [Lao PDR]. I am writing to you personally to express my deep regret for my
actions and to seek repatriation to my homeland.
I was arrested by Lao PDR authorities on 16 December 2003 for drug trafficking 555 grams of methamphetamines.
Following three years of detainment, I was taken to the Lao PDR People's court where I was found guilty. I was
sentenced on the 2nd of March 2006 to life imprisonment. I fully accept the decision of the court and I am
sincerely remorseful that I have brought shame on my country, my family and upon myself.
I ask, most respectfully that you accept this personal expression of profound remorse,
and allow me to be repatriated back to the United Kingdom so that I can be closer to my family
and two small children whom I miss dearly.
Respectfully, John Albert Watson [UK] Prisoner Phonthong Prison
Vientiane, Lao PDR
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THE FAMILY'S DILEMMA.
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Before John's arrest and detainment in Phonthong Prison, he was engaged to be married to the mother of his two young children who live in the UK. Unfortunately, the relationship with his former fiancé has broken down. John's elderly mother and other family members are now trying to find a way to have John repatriated to the UK.
For the family of a detainee, the punishment is equally hard. They deal with the shock of their loved ones arrest and separation, then often they plunge headlong into a financial and emotional black hole as they struggle to provide the basic needs, legal expenses and ongoing support to their loved one.
John readily admits,
"I know it sounds like an old cliché but honestly, being in here, I do truly believe now that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone".
Prisoners' families often blame themselves for not preventing a situation. They silently suffer tremendous humiliation, feel frightened and very lonely. Their needs are largely ignored because they often feel that they cannot confide in anyone. Research shows that prisoners that maintain contact with their family are up to six times less likely to re-offend. They are also more likely to have both employment and accommodation on release. Since it is not practical for John's family to visit him from the UK, they rely on the compassion of others. The only thing the family truly wants is for John to be reunited with them but the circumstances are beyond their control.
FPSS respectfully appeal to the Laos Government to repatriate John Watson to the United Kingdom where he can access appropriate rehabilitative support.
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MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
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Please direct all media enquiries to the Australian Embassy in Laos. Telephone: +856 21 413 600.
FPSS encourage the media to contact Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe, Under-Secretary for criminal justice and offender management.
Further details below.
Contact FPSS advocates working on this case: Click Here
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VISITING JOHN:
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John meets with Australian Embassy Consular Officers once a month for 20 minutes outside the prison.
There is no British Embassy in Laos. John has no contact with the outside world other than the Consul visits.
There are no newspapers or radio broadcasts at the prison.
Visitors are NOT permitted inside the prison. According to advice from the Embassy, visitors can arrive at
the prison and request a visit but there is no guarantee these requests will be granted.
Due to the distance between
the UK and Laos, and the high costs of travel, it is not possible for John's family to visit him.
This is creating a heavy emotional burden for John, who misses his family a great deal, particularly his two young children.
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
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To find out how you can donate funds directly to John Watson, please contact the following:
Foreign Prisoner Support Service
Click here
With the funds donated, John Watson is able to purchase basic food supplies from the prison store and clean drinking water. He has also established a vegetable garden which now supplements the entire prison populations' diet. John also uses any money he receives to help support a number of other foreigners who do not have Embassy support.
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?:
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Letters of support and care packages to John
As the only Commonwealth Embassy in Laos, the
Australian Embassy provides a limited range of consular services to British, Canadian & New Zealand citizens.
You may write letters and send care packages to John via the Australian Embassy in Laos. All letters are subject
to strict Government censorship. Care package items must be sealed and tamperproof. Do not write anything offensive
about the Lao PDR Government or its authorities.
Australian Embassy
Consular Department
For John Watson [Phonthong Prison]
Rue J Nehru Quartier Phonexay
Saysetha District Vientiane Lao PDR
If you are traveling through Thailand then you can leave a small donation, letter or care package with the UK Embassy Consular Staff.
British Embassy
Consular Section
1031 Wireless Road,
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 23058333 ext: 2334, 2318
Fax: +66 (0) 2 255 6051
Email: Consular.Bangkok@fco.gov.uk
Clothing Sizes
John's waist 34 inch
Shirt size XL
Shoe size 10 UK
Interests
Men's health and fitness, gym, football, gardening for survival.
Feel free to send magazines on any of these topics.
Lobby UK Government
David Miliband has a blog site on the FCO website and encourages people to write to him with their concerns. David was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in June 2007. Please be encouraged to write to Mr. Miliband and express your concerns for the welfare of the two UK Citizens [John Watson and Michael Newman] detained in Laos; and call for their repatriation to a UK Correctional Facility where they might gain access to better conditions, family and proper medical care.
bloglink
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OTHER UK PRISONERS IN LAOS
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Michael Newman [UK]
Click Here for Michael Newmans Page
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FREEDOM IS A RIGHT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS IN A WORLD WHERE LIFE IS VALUED AND PEACE MAY FINALLY BE A POSSABILITY
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Just in case you forgot - read the Universal declaration of Human Rights
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