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CASE INFORMATION
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NAME:
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My name is Than Oo and I am from Myanmar [Burma].
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AGE:
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I was born on 20th March 1975 in Yangoon.
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ORIGIN:
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Myanmar [Burma]
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ARRESTED:
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14 February 2003 |
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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 43 years. [To be released from Thai Prison - 2046 at the age
of 73 years old.] for possession of 24000 amphetamines tablets.
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CONTACT ME:
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Than Oo
Bangkwang Central Prison
Building # 4
117 Nonthanburi Road
Nonthanburi 11000, Thailand
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ABOUT ME:
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My name is Than Oo. At the time of writing this letter [01 March 2008] to Kay Danes at the Foreign Prisoner Support Service, I am 33 years old.
I have education to the 12th standard and studied Physics. I write and speak English. My parents are teachers and I was once a sailor. I have no family in Thailand and no one to visit me.
Nowadays I am just trying the best for my future and to support my countrymen's futures too because in this place we have no support. The only way I can survive is to cook and clean for the foreigners in my cell. There are 17 foreigners in my room; one English, Russian, two Germans, one Malaysian and one from Africa. Even they do not have much but they try to help me because I am a hard worker. I am also working in the toy factory in the prison and this helps me to keep my mind focused on becoming a better person.
I have a visit on occasion from Father Oliver [every month] and this helps me. He is a wonderful man and always wants the best for others. He offers unconditional love and support without wanting anything in return. I am learning a lot from him. I try to keep my heart open now for anybody and anything as I wish to be the same as him. I don't know how much I will succeed in doing that but I am learning.
I sincerely hope that you might find some time to write to me please. I am doing my best to be respectful and good. I am in genuine need of people to help me a little in whatever way they can.
I am hoping to submit an application for a King's Pardon this year but
at the moment I do not have the money for a lawyer.
Please... I need your support!
I am very sorry that my life has turned out this way and I am working hard to make life better.
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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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IMPORTANT NOTICE
REGARDING CARE PACKAGES
Drug trade in Thailand prisons leads to ban on prison gifts
Read More Here
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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 M Shorts 32 Shoe Size 42 Socks M 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.
Than Oo
Bangkwang Central Prison
Building # 4
117 Nonthanburi Road
Nonthanburi 11000, Thailand
You can email me: bangkwang_bkprison@hotmail.com
Make sure you include my name and building number:
Example: Bangkwang Prison Dan 4 - Mr. Than Oo.
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 Than Oo 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. Than Oo is one of those 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.
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.
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.
THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT ME
You can send money to me via Father Olivier Morin. The 69-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. Than Oo, Bangkwang Bldg #4. Father Olivier
has his own reference number for each prisoner he visits. My reference
number is '560'. You need to include this in your letter otherwise he
won't know who the funds are for. You can also use this to send me
items of clothing etc…
Father Olivier
Xavier Hall
Victory Monument
43 Phaholyothin Road
10400 Bangkok - Thailand
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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APPEAL FROM FPSS ADVOCATE KAY DANES:
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Dear Friends,
I received a lovely letter from Than Oo and he wrote beautifully.
I would like to encourage others to write to him and offer their support.
Life is very difficult for the Myanmar People. They are not wealthy by any means.
They have very little support and they often don't have relatives or friends visiting
because they can never afford to make the long journey to Thailand.
Than Oo genuinely needs your support, more so than the foreigners in Bangkwang
because unlike them, Than Oo doesn't have an Embassy helping him with daily living expenses.
He hopes one day that the King of Thailand may pardon him and allow him to return home to his family.
I truly hope our members and visitors to this campaign page will show him some compassion.
Kay Danes
International Human Rights Advocate
Foreign Prisoner Support Service
www.kaydanes.com
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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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