An open letter to members of Parliament from South African citizens incarcerated in Thailand.
Dear honourable members of Parliament and representatives of the South African people.
I am writing this letter on behalf of 11 South African citizens incarcerated in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Recently, the Thai government extended an invitation to all foreign embassies who have citizens incarcerated in Thailand to enter into a prisoner transfer agreement (PTA). The 11 South Africans incarcerated in Thailand are not sure if the embassy has informed you of this opportunity.
If not, we have undertaken to petition you to request the South African government to enter into these negotiations with the Thai government to achieve such an agreement.
To date, 37 countries have accepted this invitation to sign a PTA that would enable their citizens to be repatriated so that they can serve the remainder of their sentences close to their families.
This humanitarian gesture on the part of the South African government is in keeping with South Africa’s constitution and its correctional services policies, which underscore the rehabilitative potential for all offenders, including South African inmates incarcerated abroad.
A PTA would allow their families access to them and would assist their reintegration into society on their release.
They do not relinquish responsibility for their crimes, but simply beg for a second chance and the opportunity to complete their sentences close to their loved ones.
On a personal note, I would like to draw to the attention of the Honourable Assembly the following two issues:
* First the fact that 30 percent of the South African inmates incarcerated here in Thailand have been wrongly convicted. They were coerced and threatened with their lives and those of their families. In accordance with the criteria listed by the International Organisation on Migration, namely coercion, transportation and exploitation, they should be reclassified as victims of human trafficking.
* Second, a PTA would also constitute a substantial cost saving for correctional institutions and a substantial reduction in South Africa’s prison population.
According to the Department of Correctional Services, there are approximately 10 000 foreign inmates in South African prisons, whose upkeep costs South African taxpayers more than R1 billion a year.
Conversely, according to the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, there are fewer than 700 South Africans incarcerated abroad, 11 of which – as mentioned above – are incarcerated in Thailand.
A PTA between Thailand and South Africa would therefore constitute not only a humanitarian gesture, but a financially pragmatic decision
.On behalf of the South African inmates and their families, who are doubly punished by not being able to visit their loved ones due to financial constraints, I entreat you to alleviate their suffering by requesting SA to enter into a PTA with the Kingdom of Thailand.
Dr Henk Vanstaen
On behalf of the 11 South African inmates currently in prison in Thailand
Samutprakarn, Thailand
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Cape Times