Myanmar asks govt to release prisoners
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Myanmar's ambassador to Thailand has requested that the government release tens of thousands of Myanmar citizens currently jailed in the Kingdom.
U Tin Win sent the formal request to Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul on December 6.
Most Myanmar nationals serving time in Thai prisons were convicted of illegal migration. Many were trafficked into Thailand.
About 1,500 Myanmar nationals are imprisoned in Thailand for murder and drug offences. Serious drug-dealing offences carry the death penalty.
The Kingdom transfers inmates serving long sentences to their country of origin after eight years in prison, provided they exhibit good behaviour. However, previous governments in Myanmar failed to lobby for their citizens’ release.
Families of the inmates are hoping that the Thai government will grant the ambassador’s request and order the release.
Families wait in vain
Family members told of the plight of some inmates doing time for drug-related offences.
Than Than Aye, sister of prisoner Ko Asan, said her brother has been imprisoned in Thailand for 11 years for possessing drugs.
“His death penalty was reduced to life imprisonment. Our family is poor. After he went to Thailand to seek a job, my brother met someone who enticed him with good earnings from selling narcotics. He was arrested in the first month and never got paid,” she said.
Khin Win, a sister of another Myanmar inmate, said her brother was sentenced to 13 years in prison on a drug conviction.
“As far as I know, my brother did not use or sell drugs. When his friend was arrested for selling drugs, he helped his friend by translating for Thai authorities. But his friend implicated him and they arrested him on conspiracy charges.”
