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This News from Himalayan Times,

Nepali Prisoners in Thailand seeks King's help

Himalayan News Service

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Kathmandu,August 11, 2003

Nepali prisoners in Thailand have written several letters to the king, Pleading 
his help in order to return to their country.

One of the inmates has also drawn portraits of the King and Queen, Which he 
wants to present to the Royal members.

The Prisoners Transfer Exchange Committee,an organisation trying to bring the 
Nepali prisoners home, is trying to reach the letters and portraits to the 
palace.

"We are trying to hand over the letters and portraits to the palace as soon as 
possible",  said the Committee representatifve, Raju Gurung.

According to him, members of the committee had visited the Thai jails and have 
found them in pathetic conditions with approximately, 55 Prisoners languishing 
in four different jails.

"Their dire conditions can improve only if the Royal Nepalese Embassy in 
Bangkok takes an initiative", the committee said.

The members had also met the Royal Nepalese ambassador (Janak Bahadur Singh) to 
Thialand, in reference to the problems of the prisoners.
"The ambassdor then mentioned, that the embassy has already written to the 
concerned ministeries back home and if the home Ministry initiated further 
steps, the prisoners could be brought back home", added the committee.

As per the members visiting Thailand,new prison in Bangkok.
It should be noted that the Thai government is ready to repatriate the Nepali 
prisoners back home but the problem lies in the lack of legal provisions.

Earlier there were only 37 prisoners in Thai jails. Majority of the prisoners 
Nepali, have been arrested in Bangkok under the charge of drug trafficking.

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