UK Judges Reduce Samantha Orobator’s Life Sentence

Well… Well.. Well..  I’m not totally shock by this ruling at all.  I can’t believe the UK Judges will let her off so easily.  What kind of messages are they trying to send???  If you’re UK citizens, it is okay to go smuggling drugs out of Laos and if you get caught, we will bail you out?  Didn’t the UK singed an agreement with Laos that she will be serving the rest of her life back in UK?  Now she will only be serving 18 months, what a joke!!!

I been a firmed backer of Laos laws against drug trafficking.  If you get caught, you will be face with the firing squad.  If you’re willing to take the risk, you should be handle the punishment.  There are two reasons that save this chick life, she got herself pregnant and Laos is about to host the SEA Games.  So, all eyes are on Laos and they took the safest route out.  I still believe that if the international media didn’t get a hold of this story, she would already been dead by now.  What a waste of UK tax payers money…  I get so angry talking about this crack head…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/20/samantha-orobator-laos-drugs-conviction

Briton returned to UK after Laos drug sentence loses battle to be freed

UK judges reduce Samantha Orobator’s life sentence to minimum of 18 months

Samantha Orobator claims she was coerced into carrying heroin to Australia. Photograph: PA/PA

A British woman serving a jail sentence in the UK for drug smuggling after narrowly escaping a death sentence in Laos today lost her battle to be freed but had her original life sentence reduced.

Judges rejected Samantha Orobator’s claim she was being detained unjustly after being flown home to London last August, although they were in no doubt she had been treated unjustly in Laos.

But they reduced the life sentence she was given in Laos because it “bears more harshly” than one she would “almost certainly” have been given in the UK.

Lord Justice Dyson, sitting with Mr Justice Tugendhat, said Orobator should serve at least 18 months in prison.

She was returned to British custody under a treaty that agreed to enforce her life sentence for smuggling heroin.

However, there were mitigating factors, some “exceptional”, he said. These included threats and coercion which led her to carry the drug, her psychiatric condition and the “appalling” conditions during her custody in Laos.

An appropriate sentence would have been three years, and if she had received that in the UK, she would be freed under licence after 18 months. Orobator, who was then 19, was arrested in August 2008 as she tried to board a flight at Wattay airport, in Vientiane, and convicted of smuggling 680g (24oz) of the drug last June. She denied the drugs were hers.

Her lawyers applied to the high court for a judicial review of the decision by the Ministry of Justice not to release her from custody after her return to the UK under the 1984 Repatriation of Prisoners Act.

The court heard Orobator had originally faced the death penalty, but became pregnant in jail by “clandestine artificial insemination”. After her return to Britain, she gave birth to a baby girl. She is currently in Holloway prison, London.

Her QC, Edward Fitzgerald, said two Nigerian men had coerced her into carrying the drug by taking her passport and threatening to kill her if she refused to carry the heroin to Australia. “They further intimidated her by assaulting and raping her,” he said.

He added that her trial in Laos was a “flagrant denial of justice” and could be described as a show trial. Her lawyers argue she was never given any opportunity to raise duress in defence or mitigation.

The judges, dismissing the application, said: “We are in no doubt that, by the standards of our justice system, the claimant was treated unjustly in Laos.

“If she had been tried and convicted in that way in our courts, a complaint that her rights [to a fair trial] under article six of the European convention on human rights had been violated would surely have succeeded.”

But she could not satisfy the test that she had suffered “a flagrant denial” of justice in Laos, the judge said. “The test is rightly set very high. That is because it is important not to jeopardise or undermine the treaties for the repatriation of prisoners which the UK now has with many countries, so that those who are convicted abroad can serve their sentences here.”

If convicted persons “were easily able to obtain their liberty by challenging their convictions, there would be a grave danger that these important treaties would be set at nought,” he said. “That would be highly regrettable”.

Lost In Translation

I was so bored this past weekend, I went through all my photo albums and few pictures caught my attention.  Most of you guys probably can relate to this, especially traveling back to Laos.  You’ll run into signs that doesn’t make sense or badly mistranslated.  If you’re laotian like myself, you’ll probably enjoy some of these translation more.  My intention for this blog is to bring out the humor side of the signs and hopefully I did not offended anyone. 🙂

hahhahah

lao words are perfectly said.. for the english part.... it is little tough hahhaha

keep cleaning... hahhahah it should be... please help us keep this area clean

For Rant!!!! hahhahaha

way downnnnnn... hahahh

spicy crap meat anyone?? hahhahahha

pick and choose... hahhahha ears dig anyone??

Update On Those 4,000+ Lao Hmong

As anyone would expected it, once those 4,000+ Hmong are back in Laos you will not hear much about them.  Due to the fact that the Laos Government will not allow any international press or agencies access to those 4,000+ Hmong.  The funny thing was, Laos Government claimed that those folks were the victims of Human Trafficking.  LOL  I can’t help but laughing out loud…  Most human trafficking cases are mostly involved women and young childrens.

Another story I’ve been hearing that Hmong Leader Vang Pao is planning to return to Laos.  He just recently been acquitted from Federal Court cases from trying to overthrown the current Laos Government.  Are you kidding me?  The Laos Government will not easily forget his actions during the Vietnam War.  Now, he is not going back to Laos after all.

This Hmong issue is very complex situation..  I don’t see it to be solve anytime soon.  Unless both sides are willing to put all the past aside and move on.  One probably think I am this political blogger, which I am not.  I just like to blog about Laos, whether is good or bad:-).

Oh, this is off subject…. But, I just like to say….   How on earth you manage to have 18 sons???? Holy cow!!!  You would think after 5 or 6, he would be like… this is enough?  hahahhahaha  Obviously he had too much time on his hands.

Press statement on returning Lao Hmong

The Lao-Thai and Thai-Lao Joint Security Border Commission held a handover ceremony on December 29, 2009, in Borikhamxay province for 4,518 Lao Hmong who had previously been detained in Thailand after entering the country illegally.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this group was the last of a total of 7,691 detainees. All of them have now returned to Laos after being tricked into entering Thailand without any legal immigration documents.

The ceremony was attended by General Voraphong Sanganetra, Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters on behalf of Thailand , and Brigadier General Bouasieng Champaphanh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Department of the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Lao PDR.

The return of the Lao Hmong from Thailand was conducted on the basis of a Lao-Thai bilateral agreement.

In recent years, 21 groups of Lao Hmong held in Thai detention camps have returned to Laos including this latest group.

The assistance provided to the returnees reflects not only the humanitarian policies of the Lao and Thai governments, but also the sincerity of both countries in working together to achieve the appropriate solution, which has resulted in a successful outcome.

The Lao government and people express their appreciation to the government, the Royal Army and the people of Thailand for their good cooperation as well as for the humanitarian response rendered to Lao citizens.

The welcoming of this group of Lao Hmong on their return to Laos is a reflection of the continued humanitarian and human rights policy of the Lao PDR.

Throughout the years, the Lao government has exerted great effort to protect and help Lao citizens who fall victim to all forms of exploitation and transnational organised crime such as deception and human trafficking.

This is clearly reflected in the current policy and various concrete measures undertaken by the Lao government, such as the adoption of a national strategy on anti-trafficking, signing of the Convention on Transnational Organised Crimes and the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights and others, just to name a few.

The 7,691 Lao Hmong who have now returned home for good are the victims of human trafficking rings and deception. Being unaware of this fact, they found themselves illegally in Thailand and violating the Immigration Law of the Kingdom of Thailand .

Due to their naivety and being deceived by misleading information, many of them sold their houses and property in Laos to pay their way to Thailand without suspecting they would be detained as violators of the Thai Immigration Law.

It is the Lao government’s responsibility to protect the legitimate rights of the Lao multi-ethnic people both at home and abroad. The Lao government attaches great importance to addressing this problem and thus has made every effort to assist its citizens who have fallen into danger and encountered serious difficulties.

The returning Lao Hmong are Lao citizens and enjoy equal rights and obligations like all other Lao citizens. Therefore, the Lao government always stands ready to provide assistance and support to help them stand on their own and take up the normal forms of mainstream livelihood they once enjoyed the same as other Lao people.

With regard to their permanent settlement, the Lao government will proceed on the basis of their wishes. Those who want to resettle in their former neighbourhood or reunite with their relatives will be helped by the Lao government, which will facilitate their resettlement. The government will also help those who have no property in their hometown by arranging for them to settle in development villages created by the government, and will continue to help the returnees until they can be self-sufficient.

The Lao government reiterates its unswerving humanitarian policy, particularly towards its citizens and the Lao multi-ethnic people.

The rights and interests of the Lao people are protected under the Constitution and laws of the Lao PDR. This is the duty and obligation that the Lao government has always undertaken.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 5 , 2010)

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Press.htm

Laos’ ex-gen Vang Pao cancels his trip home

By The Nation

Exiled Hmong leader Vang Pao has cancelled his plan to visit Laos this week after Laos government said he would face death penalty if he returns home, a California-based newspaper reported Tuesday.

His son Cha Vang and his confidant Charles A Waters failed several attempts to negotiate with Lao authorities to pave the way for the return of the ex-general, according to the newspaper The Sacramento Bee.

Chai Vang, one of Vang’s 18 sons, said the general’s representatives apparently spoke with “the wrong people – it wasn’t the proper channel.”

The exiled Hmong ex-general announced last month in Fresno, California, in front of some 1,000 American Hmong that he planned to return to his home country Laos on January 10 to end the three decade long conflict with the regime in Vientiane.

Vang Pao who turned 80 on Christmas Day was the guerrilla leader of ethnic minorities who helped the United States fought against the communist movement since early 196s until the fall of Vientiane in 1975.

Vang’s plan was announced as Thailand was repatriating more than 4,500 Hmong refugees from Phetchabun and Nong Khai to Laos. The massive deportation was completed within one day last week.

Vang said it’s time to forget the past and to live with the government in Laos peacefully.

However the reconciliation process has not yet begun in Laos and the authorities were not ready to welcome him home.

Lao Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing told The Nation that Vang Pao has to face legal implication upon his return.

He was sentenced to death in absentia for Vietnamera war crimes by the Lao People’s Court after the communist take over in 1975, Khentong said.

The Hmong general remained his dream to return home someday. “We’re hoping for reconciliation in the future, but at this time we’re more concerned about the Hmong who were repatriated,” Chai Vang said of his father’s efforts as reported by the newspaper.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/01/05/national/national_30119719.php

Pud Prik Khing Gai(Chicken)

Hope everyone had a great time ringing the new year.  Usually, I would be out of town partying with lots of friends.  This year I decide to stay in town and counting down new year with few friends.  We all decided that everyone should bring their favorite dish.  When I told them I’ll cook up two dishes and bring it over.  Their reactions was like…  hhmmm you cook?  LOL  They all thought I would go out and buy those dishes.  Most of them knows that I am okay with BBQ but not sure if I know how to cook anything else.

So, I decided to cook up two dishes and both are chicken.  I took the safe route by cooking up Chicken Yellow Curry and Pud Prik Khing Gai.  It is pretty similar to the curry I blog about a week or so ago.  Except this time, I didn’t use any bamboo shoots at all.  Also I was in the rush, I didn’t get to take much pictures.

Some of you probably know that Pud Prik Khing is pretty simple dish to cook up.  This time I used chicken thighs I bought from Costco.  I spend about an hour prepare the chicken, removed all the fats, skin, and bones of it.  After that I marinate those chicken with some chopped garlic, little salt, black pepper, oyster sauce and some seasoning sauce.  I like to marinate all my chicken over night, minimum of 12 hours before I cook it.  When you bite on the chicken, you will notices the flavor and the tenderness.  Okay, enough said…

the chicken been marinate over night... ready to cook

cooking the chicken...

after the chicken is about 75% cook, i throw in the string beans.

here is the finish product..