In 1995 Pedro Ruyzing, 45, of The Hague, was sentenced in Thailand court for heroin smuggling.
After 9 long years within the Thai prison system Pedro is now a free man. Following is an interview
with Pedro which we were able to secure in late april 2004.
Q. How Long did you spend in Bangkwang?
A. Yes i stay'd 9 years and two months in that shithole, and i had a life sentence.
Q. What was your crime, and what did you plead?
A. I was arrested on the airport with two kilo heroin and they told me that's
not allowed.............
I pleaded guilty on the airport because i had a thai girlfriend with me and
she did not know what i was doing, so they let her go.
When the Embassy came to the policestation they ask me if i pleaded
guilty....because then they will "only" give me life sentence, and not
death sentence.....well that was nice to hear...pfffffffff
Q. What is your most horrific memory whilst in Bangkwang
A. The most horrific thing there was the drugabuse and it was so easy to get
(it's a bit different now) I never used drugs myself, I don't even smoke.
Q. Were you (or anyone you know) tortured whilst in BK. (i guess simply being there was torture enough right?)
A. Appart from drugs there were 3 people killed infrond of me, inmate gangs.
And one thai man was beaten to death by 4 prison guards.
I never seen any foreigners been tortured, they where to scared of the
Embassy's
Q. Who were the people that helped you whilst you were inside ie: guards, inmates, people on outside (note: I would be happy to not print this one incase it may have a negitive effect on those still inside BK - however I would love to know for my own info - let me know your thoughts on this one Pedro)
A. The people who helped me were my famely, and over the years i wrote with a
lot of people in my country becouse a visiter publist my name in a magazine
and i received 3000 letters, so i got a lot of parcels and later on people
start sending me money....and as you know THAT"S the MOST important thing in
BK...then a lot is possible...
Q. How many of the inmates in BK would still be addicts?
A. Like i said right now there are not so many addicts in BK most of them went
home on a treaty and the people who where selling it (nig.) also left (328
in 2003)
Q. What would be the first thing you would change about BK.
A. If i could change something...clean the fu.....place it is so dirty there,
and the overcrowding to many people in one cel, and so many people are sick,
i feel very lucky to still be healthy.
Q. What is the best advice you can give to someone who has just been arrested in Thailand.
A. The best advice for others....just plea guilty if you are...your NOT going
to win your case, and the money you spend on these useless lawers...you NEED
that money badly while youre inside.
Q. What is the best way (in your opinion) for people on the outside to help inmates in BK?
A. For people outside.....send money to these guys, and/or foodparcels.
Since i'am a free man i been to schools to warn these kids....and it was
very succesful.
Q. What do you intend to do now you are a Free Man?
A. I did not really had a change to think about the future, still a lot of
publicity around me.
The F.P.S.S would like to thank Pedro for this interview and we wish him all the very best in his freedom.
