Islander’s Bangkok nightmare
Wednesday 27th January 2010, 2:59PM GMT.
A PENNILESS Islander is facing the grim prospect of being locked up indefinitely in a notorious Bangkok detention centre unless he can raise £800.
For two months, Peter Burr, a painter and decorator who is believed to be in his 40s, has been incarcerated in a 60 ft by 12 ft concrete cell with up to 100 other detainees.
He was arrested in November for trying to get into Thailand without a passport and has been locked up ever since.
According to Christ Church, a Christian group which visits inmates in the centre, living conditions are very basic in the Immigration Detention Centre, which is in the grounds of the Royal Thai Immigration Bureau, Suan Phlu Road.
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that Mr Burr was being visited weekly by consular officials in Thailand, but would not be released until he could pay for a ticket home.
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Ok, How did he get on a plane to Thailand with out a passport? And if he was coming from another country that shares a land border with Thailand how did he get to that country without a Passport? I was under the assumption that all international flights needed a passport to be able to board the plane?
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Own silly fault I’m afraid. The Thais, quite rightly, won’t let people in without a passport, and won’t fork out for your ticket home.
Would we?
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caught trying to enter the country illegally… and abusing his visa…. now he cannot afford his ticket home….. and your point is ????
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I’ll put up £100 – any one else?
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I spent a year locked up in that jail for a crime I didn’t commit ( yeh sure everyone in jail is innocent ) I wasn’t the only one either, the Thai’s are so anxious to keep down the appearance of crime and immediately arrest someone when a crime is commited ( English girl rape on beach, Thai fisherman found guilty next day anyone ) that they coerce people into signing confessions by witholding food and water.My alleged crime was drug smuggling, I was in fact involved in a fight and locked in the cells for the night, whatever the merit or otherwise you may think of being dumb enough to get into a fight in Thailand I didn’t deserve a 20 year sentance that cost me £10,000 to get out of. This happens all the time although usually with Thai’s or Nigerians being imprisoned.
Tourism is everything to them and they must make Thailand seem to be a safe crime free destination. I eventually got out when my sister paid £10,000 to a guard for my release, all Thai guards are corrupt, their wages are poor and are topped up with bribes to allow prisoners food and other items such as toothpaste and letter writing kit.
This guy may have lost his passport or had it taken, you would not beleive what goes on over there. Lets assume the worst that he somehow doesn’t have a passport and tried to enter the country, does he deserve indefinite detention in one of the worst jails on earth eating fish soup ( I still can’t eat fish ) for the rest of his life.
Harsh people you lot, I hope your dream holiday doesn’t go wrong and if it does I hope you have someone more sympathetic and worldly wise than those who have commented so far.
Too many niave ignorant judgemental people posting without knowing what they are talking about.
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….don’t think so Paul… He’s lucky to be given the opportunity to leave …..
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#1 jub – thats the first thing that sprung to my mind. I have been to Thailand (amongst other places that aren’t the UK) and you can’t even check in without a passport, let alone get through security or the gate to get on the plane.
Also, a ticket home does not cost £800.
Poor bugger, the prisons are that bad out there that it’s a tourist attraction. Maybe how it should be?!
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He’s in his 40s, he should have had more sense.
Paul, very kind but doesn’t he have a family to help, or even some savings, or a credit card ?
He’s getting none of my money.
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We’ve all been foolish,I would not want to spend one night in there,well said Paul,reckon a quick trip round local boozers used by him would raise the rest and secure release or at least a ticket…
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Well said John 5#
we don’t know if this man has lost his passport..anyhow hes a fellow human being in need ..we all need help at some point
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Wow it’s incredible how u guys have each others backs. I know this guy from years ago and he is a good guy and would always help people out. So just help him out as he is one of yours. Gosh!
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If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.
I’m sick and tired of people who don’t take responsibility for themselves and expect everyone else to bail them out when they get into trouble.
And yes, we have all done foolish things when we were younger, but this chap is in his 40′s and if anyone believes that this chap was jailed without trial for ‘losing’ his passport, then they are as naive and gullible as the idiots who think they can get away with this sort of thing in the first place.
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To say some of these comments are ‘unkind’ is an understatement!
I hope those who are inclined to be judgemental never ‘fall overboard’…and if they do, I hope that someone will be generous enough to pull them back on board without first assessing their behaviour.
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The overland travellers first rule (and I have done as much if not more than most)Always have a return ticket or enough money for one stashed away somewhere secure.
Bangkok John #5
Your heart appears to be bleeding more than most, you give him some of your hard earnt cash to extend his holiday.
He’s getting none of mine
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We don’t know if Peter was being stupid or it was misfortune that got him where he was but from what I have read about the prison’s over there nobody should be subjected to….
I would not leave anyone lying in a street let alone lying in a prison in bangkok if i could do anything about it…
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What else do you expect from the Thai’s? Their human rights and justice system is appalling – they’re harsh people, why do you think they’ve never been invaded???
Their capial punhishment is death by machine gun. I am not saying what the man did was right, but just stick him on Thai Airways plane back. the thing is it’s no skin of their backs because they’re not worried about over full their jails – there are no human rights practiced there.
Let’s hope he has some friends who’ll club together and get him out of there. And what about the British Embassy?? silly question I suppose.
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I feel for this guy…..BUT i still wouldnt donate money to him. nobody knows the full story all we are being told is he lost his passport and overstayed his visa…..well if he overstayed his visa then what does he expect??? us to pay for his flight home???? i wouldnt wish a thai prison on anyone but this guy must know how strict they are and no doubt he is a nice guy but he is not a kid and should be a mature adult and know better.
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Firstly, apologies to all of you for the delay in writing this-I’ve never done this before. I am the person who contacted the jep as a last resort, more than anything else to raise awareness,particularly amongst young adults who are travelling, taking a year out, etc ,of how easily a person can get into a bad situation which can be extremely difficult to get out of.
I was contacted by a member of staff from the foreign office in London, during the last week of 2009, as he had been given my name by peter when all other avenues had apparently been exhausted, as someone who may be able to help him. I employed him for a very short while some years ago. He is desperate and grasping at straws. I am unfortunately not able to raise the amount required to get him home but told the foreign office representitive that I would do all I could to help.I have contacted some of his small circle of friends and am hopeful that we may soon achieve our target.
Just to correct some of your concerns peter lost his passport and presented himself to a police station. He had overstayed his visa but with the max fine for this apparently being about £400.00 was’nt aware of what else could happen to him. He went to court for this offence and was jailed for 2 weeks as he could not pay the fine he was given immediately. His sentence served, he was transferred to the detention centre where he is locked in a concrete floored cell with 12 or 13 others-INDEFINITELY ! They have no bedding, 1 hole in the floor which is their toilet, little access to outside or exercise areas, no medical care, half a cup of insect infected red rice per day, no fruit or veg, corrupt guards who seldom pass on vitamins,veg, etc as they should purchase with the little sum of money given to them by the inmates who receive the funds from the charity “prisoners abroad”, and so on. I could go on but am sure that those uncaring ones of you will probably have stopped reading by now anyway. To bangkok john i can only sympathise with you and am sure that you are grateful you had loved ones to help you out in your hour of need. Unfortunately peter does’nt have . Incidentally, before going to the press, I had already visited citizens advice, states offices, immigration, home affairs, etc seeking help for him, naievely thinking that the authorities would always come to the assistance of an islander in trouble-How wrong I was! Incidentally, again, the foreign office also slap a charge of £74 onto the bill for handling the funds and purchasing the tickets home. Anyhow, enough for now other than to say to paul, as well as anyone else who feel they would like to contribute to the cause, or if you would like further details please email peterburrsfund@hotmail.co.uk
I will collect the emails from here and reply. Those who indicate they would be prepared to donate i will reply with details of how to donate. Many thanks to all of you who have shown concern or pity or a willingness to help. Those of you unfeeling people who obviously dont have any pity for a fellow human in need I sincerely hope that none of you ever find yourself in a similar situation.
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We still have a government, what are they doing about it? They could pay the cost to repatriat him as long as he pays it back or does community service. Problem solved, move on.
Sorry, forgot for a moment there that this is Jersey. Does he have a Jersey issued passport or a British passport?
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Been many places, never been there. Prefer to avoid looking at 12 year old being sold for old men’s pleasure.
The Embassy do not pay for people’s air tickets home, they help people get in touch with relations to pay for them.
What happened to his travel insurance / credit card?
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What are Jersey’s “Foreign Office” doing about this to ensure he is being treated fairly and within his “Human Rights”???
(Presumably the “consular officials” stated in this news item are those of the UK?)
God help us all if Jersey becomes independent!
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….and in comparison, if a foreigner “overstayed” their visa or simply sneaked into UK they would be given housing plus a full range of benefits……certainly not an indefinite stay in prison!!
Furthermore, I bet the Thai prison does not cost the taxpayer £52k (or whatever ridiculous figure was recently quoted) per inmate judging by Pete @18′a description.
I believe the States should show a bit more interest and compassion for one of it’s employer’s/taxpayers in need!!
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@BS Deluxe. “I believe the States should show a bit more interest and compassion for one of it’s employer’s/taxpayers in need!!”
The guy is skint, which means he probably doesn’t have a job, which means he certainly aint paying tax.
Why should I, as a tax payer, have to bail out every tom, dick and harry whenever they get themselves into trouble.
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Big Bean 23.
Re your comment: “Why should I, as a tax payer, have to bail out every tom, dick and harry whenever they get themselves into trouble.”
Simply because you are part of a civilized community…and ‘helping others’ is what sets civilized communities apart from other communities.
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To Overpopulated, I have just got back from thailand and not once did i see an old man walking down the street with a 12 year old. Your blinkered vision is what made me feel embarassed to say i was going there, even though i have been before many years ago. There is much more to the place than girly bars and what you seem to believe is the norm.
The Thais in general are a very friendly people, unfortunately there is a lot of corruption but what do you expect when you live on a dollar or 2 a day. I think it is so sad that people like you pigeon hole people who go there into one category of a sex tourist when unless you have been there yourself, and i doubt it judging from your disgraceful comment, you will see that it is a great place with very welcoming people. People who no matter how little they earn are willing to share their food with you as an outsider. Perhaps people like you could take heed of such hospitality when confronting holidaymakers into jersey.
Frankly, your opinion disgusts me.
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I posted the comments in the following paragraphs below when this story first came out but wanted to ask are his family not prepared to pay for him to get back?
Below previously added on 29 January 2009:
They say “a fool and their money are soon parted”….sounds to me like there are a few fools herep.
This guy was charged with not having a passport and for visa irregularities – more fool him and more fool the people parting with their hard earned cash.
This guy obviously knew what he was doing yet still went ahead and did it….he must have known the consequences he would face.
There are far more deserving charities who could do with the money people are putting up for this man.
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I have been to thailand and it is a nice place (with a few scams). Why did he have no money? Once he had reached the limit of his funds he surely must of realised that he’d done something wrong. How severly short sighted is that man. if you lose your passport you dont go to the police station you call the helpline (cant remember what its called or the number)which my friend called when he was in thailand and thought he lost his passport. (false alarm)
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OMG what a sad, sad and mean world we live in!
I hope if ever I should fall overboard someone would care enough to throw me the life belt – but judging by the comments on here, I’d probably drown! As I said what a sad, sad and mean world, no wonder its in the mess that it is – and this island in particular!
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Born Warrior.
I am more than happy to offer support and help to those less fortunate than myself, (and I often do) but I draw the line at bailing people out of trouble who are there through their own stupidity and negligence. Perhaps if people realized that they have to be accountable for their actions, then perhaps they may start taking responsibility for themselves.
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wow … i’m so glad i share this beautiful island with such caring sharing people. thanks so much for cheering my day and restoring my faith in the brotherhood of man.
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Why travel if you are not prepared for the risks involved? If you want to travel on the cheap there are going to be more risks than if you travel with money, so don’t do it if you cannot take the consequences. In the same way, why should people who go out to sea in a small boat with not enough fuel and no knowledge of the currents and rocks, be rescued? Why should people who climb mountains be rescued? Seems to me that people want the romance of adventure without the downsides which are likely if not inevitable.
Not so many years ago there was no internet, no e-mail, no cell phones, no credit cards and no internet banking – so if you got stuck you had to sort it out yourself.
I travelled in the 70′s – none of those modern aids existed. Yes, we got into scrapes which we had to get out of by our own wit and stamina – like staying in a filthy doss-house in Gallipoli because we only had small change in Turkish lira, getting stuck in a showdrift on the Antalya plain, getting held for a whole day by Syrian customs who would not let us go without being bribed, being held up by gangsters and having all tyres punctured by their bayonets.
Grow up people, or stay at home in your armchairs.
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I really do feel for him, but why would you run the risk of overstaying your Visa? It seems that travellers appear to think that they’re exempt from the rules and the dangers that exists around the World, but they aren’t. I bet he’s one traveller who’s not going to use the obligatory and cliched “no worries” saying when he gets back.
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Who are we to tell Thailand what to do. This man clearly knew what the law was and thought he could get away with it.
He’s looking for a hand out from us, where was his hand out to us when he was in jersey planning his trip? He certainly never came knocking on my door offering me money so why should I do that for him now?
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I knew of Pete from my days in Jersey.
Reading the e-mails of reply they consist of mostly “why should we help him” type.
Sad, what comes around, goes around and one day you will need help.
I have travelled to many countries including Thailand and it’s full of dodgy geezers – a place not to go if you are short of cash…
good luck Pete – maybe there is a lesson for any would be travelers in this sad story….plan your journey well and expect the unexpected …leave an emergency fund somewhere – with someone in total trust…
keep yer chin up Pete
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I agree with 20. Overpopulated and would not do anything to support the Thai economy. We all know the main reason why most men go there and it is not for the scenery!. The Thai sex trade is notorious and their women and children are exploited and brain washed to think this is acceptable.
However I do not feel this man has been fairly treated and would willingly give to a collection to help fund his release.
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NO one knows for sure if he had his passport stolen or he just lost it.. If his visa ran out.. Every one is just assuming what has happened. I think the REAL question is
IF YOU WERE IN THAT SITUATION WOULD YOU NOT WANT HELP!!! Does the guy have family that could help, if so surely he’s be out already right?
Bangkok John… Totally agree with you.. We are to quick to judge and dismiss things. When people shouldn’t get involved they do and when it’s really needed the above happens…
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Sorry I hadn’t read all comments and have only seen Pete’s No 18′s comment now…. Ok so the guy outstayed his visa.. Like he’s the 1st person to ever have done that before. does that really mean that he should be jailed indefinantley??
I’ll be dontating some thing £2 I not much but every little helps…
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35, just one more bigotted view from someone who has probably not even been there. Just so you know they have great beaches and mountains and other scenery. Great food, great hospitality, granted perhaps not from the police.
I think you’ll find the sex tourists are in the minority. But then again if i am wrong then we all know why most women go to Gambia nowadays then dont we! thats if we follow your assumptions.
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@37 Has he been jailed indefinitely? or is that he was jailed for two weeks because of the passport problem and visa, and then told to leave the country at his own expense. But because he has no money and therefore not afford it, what would the authorities do? Let him go, to carry on his journey in Thailand with no passport and no visa? Pay for his flight back? Or put him in a detention centre until the money turns up to fly him back?
So he is in a detention centre, waiting for someone to pay his airfare back to UK and then Jersey? Well, I guess that could be classified as “jailed indefinitely” if he has no means of getting money.
No passport, no back up plan, no visa, no money, no credit cards or any means of getting money (Why?). Well, the guy is just plain stupid.
I have certainly done some stupid things in my life and in foreign countries too, we all live and learn, so give the guy a helping hand and get him home. It’s the right thing to do.
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Your on your own in this world today..no one gives a hoot for their neighbours anymore let alone a guy stuck in a jail miles away.
But i,m happy to chuck in a quid.
Always look after number one though and that,s yourself. Stay safe choose Lanzarote next time.
Lots of fun,pretty safe and only nightmare coming back with an over weight drunk english bird instead of a thai bride looking for the route into the west or being used for a slave to a wealthy old man.
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