Author of: Deliver Us From Evil
Laos Lockdown [Pending]

Having endured the nightmare of unlawful detained and torture in a communist prison, Kay now assists thousands of families of prisoners around the world, as an advocate for Foreign Prisoner Support Service, to cope with the loss of a loved one.

“Too many people in the world are unaware of the way humans are treated in prisons in developing countries; and are quick to pass judgment. I am so glad to be a part of Foreign Prisoner Support Service which I believe plays an important role in humanising the suffering of people detained both lawfully and unlawfully in countries where rule of law is often not upheld; and where human rights are practically non-existent.

People make mistakes and sometimes they do things out of desperation. Sometimes they risk their lives in order to make their life better and think that a one time deal will erase all their problems. Those who are guilty already know they have done wrong. Their perception is that they are worthless and when a person feels like that, it is difficult for them to turn their life around? On the other end of the spectrum, there are prisoners detained for no reasonable explanation, like the many I met in the Laos prison. They live everyday wondering if they’ll see their loved ones again. Imagine if you or your loved one was taken to an undisclosed location, tortured and detained for an indefinite period. How would you cope?

Why do I care what happens to others who find themselves in these dungeons of doom? Quite simply because I know exactly how it feels to have your innocence cast aside for political reasons; and I was forced to listen to the agony of other humans being tortured and ill-treated for no particular reason at all. But guilty or not, for every person detained in these appalling places, there is always a family or loved one quietly agonizing for their return. What happened to my family could easily happen to yours. Bad things do happen to good people!”

Kay Danes
FPSS
Advocate

May 6, 2004

New evidence which has come to light through legal investigation and freedom of information has revealed the true plight of the Australian couple Kerry & Kay Danes who were held hostage by the Laotian Government, tortured and imprisoned for over a year (2000-2001).

Details of the Lao PDR authorities, the archaic Laotian legal system and high level Australian Foreign Affairs negotiations are revealed in a new report released Wednesday, May 5, 2004.

The report outlines gross human rights breaches in Laos, a country which seems to literally 'get away with murder'.

Several years on, the Danes are still seeking justice over their ill-treatment. 'Treatment such as we suffered cannot just be forgotten in favor of bilateral relations' says Kay. " My husband and I may never find justice against the Communist State of Laos for the torture and ill-treatment they inflicted upon us, and those we witnessed in "Phonthong Prison' [foreigners jail] but we hope that in raising awareness, others may be spared this type of treatment that is inhumane and that is currently fueled by western diplomacy."

Kay Danes, who is now an international speaker for Human Rights and an advocate for prisoners rights through 'Save-A-Life' http://www.foreignprisoners.com , was herself tortured in mock executions and interogated by Laos authorities in a bid to secure false statements.

The full report can be read at THE DANES CASE