Five years ago this thread would have been a lot different to this. There would have been more focus on the inhumanity of prisons, regardless of crime committed, and far more compassion and empathy. There would have been discussion of how hard it is for pregnant women locked up in this country with medical access and support let alone for women abroad and estranged from family. Sure, there might have been heated discussion about drugs and whether the time fits the crime, but I bet the overriding opinion would be that nobody deserves time spent in this type of prison - even silly cows who traffick drugs in Laos. As a country we dabble in foreign affairs all the time - why not on issues of human rights for prisoners? The focus would not have been about treating this woman differently because she is a british citizen, it would have been about treating her humanely and about global prison reform. (Of course, that is only my opinion on what the thread would have been about but I have been here for years and read a lot of threads so it is a reasonable guess lol)
Kay Danes, an Australian who survived ten months in the co-ed prison with her husband, on the same cell block that Ms Orobator is being held, told the The Times the prison is a "'terrible, terrifying' place where inmates survived on meagre, often deeply unhygienic rations of pig fat soup or occasionally a paste made from catfish that had perished from disease in one of the foetid prison ponds."
Danes said she and her husband "endured mock executions, waterboarding and torture" while imprisoned.
"I watched my husband sit on a concrete floor with his legs in wooden blocks and they beat him with a steel tie brace," she told Sky News, who published photos from inside the facility.
When I read all of that I am appalled and genuinely feel sickened that anyone (and I mean anyone) should be treated like that. It has nothing to do with sneering or thinking we do it better. It is about basic human rights and the ability to care enough about others to accept that this is wrong - regardless of their crimes committed or allegedly committed. I wish I could live the fingers in the ears "laa, laa, laa, not looking, not listening, all convicted prisoners drugs trafficking should rot to hell and none of it bothers me" attitude. But it does bother me. My question is why the hell does it not bother so many of you? You must have read similar and worse reports and yet you still think she should have been kept there? I ask again, why the hell does that description of a prison, and the idea of some young woman spending the rest of her life there after making the stupid decision to traffic drugs, not bother you??
(It is rhetorical though so pls don?t bother answering that as I am leaving mumnset for a while and no intention of checking back. Not flouncing and not just because of this thread. Lost heart a bit. Used to be a supportive and caring place where you could argue, have a laugh but always feel connected. Feeling rather afloat and disconnected recently when I read the threads. Mentioned being dismayed at the way mumsnet is heading a couple of times in the past and perhaps I should have bailed out sooner rather than leave on a sour note. Also got rather a lot of RL family stuff on my plate needing more attention.)
Sorry for the long post. I really tried to shorten it and don?t expect you to read it that carefully. If you disagree, fine. However, it is meant very sincerely and genuinely.