Original Story


The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand : [National Section]
          
Inmates freed in honour of Queen's  birthday

Published on Aug 12, 2003 

More than 2,180 prisoners were yesterday released in honour of Her Majesty the Queen,
who turns 71 years  old today.

"We are giving them a chance to be good children for their parents. We hope to see
them show their gratitude to their mums," Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said. 
HM the Queen's birthday, which falls today, is also regarded as the country's
 Mother's Day.

The amnesty was granted to 309 inmates jailed because they could not afford to
pay fines, and to  1,878 drug convicts who had served at least a third of  their term.

Inmates included in the amnesty all had less than  three-and-a-half years remaining 
of their original  sentences.

Thaksin told the released inmates to reform themselves and be good to their families
and society. He warned them not to return to their old ways, otherwise they would
once again face incarceration.

The premier chaired the ceremony at which the inmates were released, at the 
Thai-Japanese  Stadium in Bangkok.

Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana said the mass amnesty not only gave the 
inmates a second chance, but also tackled the problem of overcrowding in jails. 
There are currently 230,000 people jailed across the country in facilities designed 
to hold 105,000.Aroon Yu-kham, a 48-year-old inmate released yesterday, said she had
missed her children very much and was very happy at the prospect of  being reunited
with them. She was jailed for possessing 12 methamphetamine tablets with intent
to sell.

"Now, my life is full of hope again and I am determined to be a good mother for 
my kids," she said. 

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