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gjbkk

Today two Australian newspapers, The Australian & The Age have articles about Harry’s predicament and The Chronicle of Higher Education has an article.

Nothing about arrogant indians though.

panama hat

^ No, no, no. That was in relation to becoming an Oz Immigration guy . . . being Indian helps, being arrogant is a must. Not denigrating Indians at all, just Australian Immigration.

gjbkk

^

555, don't worry I know, we have them in the UK too

Mid

nidhogg

Considering this follows taxin and esp Mrs taxin (whom, if memory serves me correctly had actually already been convicted and sentenced to time in pokey) it is a fucking joke.

Sometimes, just sometimes I really wish I could give all of Thailand a right solid slap up the side of the head.

watterinja

^ Nah, you deserve each other...

Troubled

It would do no good. They wouldn't feel it

Nawty

I was thinking to take this guy in some books to read.

I have the 'elvis never smiles book' wonder if he would enjoy that read.

bor

This is a letter from Harry recently published in the Greek-Australian newspaper, Neos Kosmos. 4 months he's been in there now with no end in sight. The next trial hearing is in late January.

Dear Mum,

I have been thinking of you and dad a lot these past few days as we head to Christmas. My only hope of getting through this depends on you and dad remaining healthy. If anything happens to any of you, I will not make it.
I am very weak. My heart is poisoned with sorrow and despair. My only respite is in thinking about the present. The moment I stop to dwell on the past or cling to the future I fall into depression. I lose the will to take care of my health and my presence of mind. The present is a relentless assault against my senses and sanity. I think about resuming my life again after all this is over. Will I be haunted by the memories? Will the stench of rotting garbage ever leave my nose? Will I always walk with my head bowed, looking to avoid stubbing my toes? Will the grime that has stained my skin ever wash away? It's been so long since I've had a cold drink or a hot shower, or food at the right temperature. I have not used a spoon, or fork or plate for three months. I eat out of plastic bags. I am sick of sitting, standing and kneeling on concrete. I shave and wash without a mirror. I long to inhale fresh air into my lungs without fear of infection. I yearn for a good night's sleep, not the semi-consciousness I endure most nights on the concrete floor. I wish to be able to use a toilet privately, not in the presence of 50 other men. However terrible the present is for me, it is more palatable than memories of Melbourne or the future that could have been. These thoughts remind me of all that I have lost. I try not to think about life outside but this does not last long. I see a photograph in an old magazine, hear a voice call my name and suddenly I am grasping at memories - only to fall hard when I realise where I am. I think about the journey our lives have taken. You and dad departed Cyprus for Australia in 1955. You raised a family. You helped to build a community. You witnessed half a century of Australian history. You reared me, educated me and loved me. I have ended up here where my extended detention in Thailand disrupts this great story. This is our story, our family history and our lineage. We must not allow it to be destroyed and scattered. I will remain strong and focused if you will. I will never let go of your hand mother and I implore you never to let go of mine.

Your ever-loving son
Harry

Repubblicano

The nation has no right whatsoever in this country. Expecially the right to speak.

Repubblicano

So we are all under the law and live in constant fear that a few words can lead us to jail, torture and death.
Indeed, something we can celebrate upon.

nidhogg

Celebrate upon? Of course not. Be realistic about, maybe.

As far as I am aware, I was not kidnapped and forced to live and work in Thailand. Your case must be differernt.

TizMe

I never really liked Melbourne much, but why would memories of there be so much less palatable than his present situation?

Bexar County Stud

Interesting article. Nobody seems to be willing to make a stand or stick their necks out for this guy. I wonder why.

bor

Interesting article. Nobody seems to be willing to make a stand or stick their necks out for this guy. I wonder why.


I guess because

a) He is not linked to any organisation e.g. multinational corporation, media organisation, NGO, government, aristocracy, footy club, etc. i.e. For all intents and purposes, he is a nobody.

b) Australia's links, relationship, treaties, etc. with the Thai government are not worth jeopardising over this issue.

c) Nobody has linked his incarceration with a cause or struggle e.g. mistreatment of Moslem prisoners by the west, anti-communism, etc.

d) He seems to have few friends.

There have been a few articles particularly in the Age. I mean I very much feel for the guy. He must be having a very hard time but if, and it's a big if, he tried this on for self-publicity, he picked the wrong issue at the wrong time. He should have waited till we entered the reign of Rama 10 for a start.

goostewart

"But it's another illustration of the fact that when you go to another country, if you fall foul of their judicial legal processes there are limits to what Australia can do on your behalf."

Therein lies the issue, he isn't being supported with all guns blazing by the Oz Gvt because he knew about the laws, knew what he was doing and chose to ignore the consequences. I disagree with his treatment, because I come from a liberal western democracy, but I know, if I fall foul of the lese majeste laws in Thailand, what to expect. I disagree with the strict interpretations of these laws, as they are often being used for purposes other than what they were intended, however I do respect the laws.

I hope he is freed in the not-too-distant future, then gets kicked out, never to return. He will have many years ahead to rue his foolishness. None of us can alter the law, we should all respect it.

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JoGeAr

An immigration officer told a woman she had to have sex with him if he was to approve a visa for her boyfriend, a court has heard.

Afshin Abolfotouh, 41, was jailed for 18 months in Brisbane District Court on Monday over indecent proposals he made to 27-year-old Chinese national Qiao Liyuan in late 2007.


This Afshin arsehole was the one who rejected my wife's permanent residency visa. His decision was eventually overturned by the case review officer. When I say eventually, I mean 10 fucking months.

Repubblicano

Yeah, let's all crawl under the law, no matter how repugnant it is.
And let's not forget to mock at all the fools who fall into its mincer.

mancon

Well said, I could not agree more. We have to remember that we are all guests in Thailand even if we bring in a lot of money to the country!

0bsidian

whiner.