PHONTHONG PRISONERS WITH A COURT SENTENCE (as at 2003)
Serial	Name	Nationality	Gender	Classification	Arrested	Court Sentence	Consular
1	Chansaly Bounmy	Thai	Male	Political	26-Mar-97	6 Years	No
2	Peter Chan	Thai/Taiwanese	Male	Economic	28-Nov-99	5 Years	No
3	Malivan Laeyouang	Thai	Female	Political	29-Mar-00	5 Years	Yes
4	Bounsouy	Thai	Female	Drug Case	2000	4 Years	No
5	Praseut (Prasert)	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1998	8 Years	Yes
6	Thirasai (Dherasai)	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1998	8 Years	Yes
7	Thonglow	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1999	5 years	No
8	Pong	Thai	Male	Drug Case	2000	3 Years	No
9	Vichai	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1999	6 years	No
10	Phou	Thai	Male	Black Money	Unknown	6 years	No
11	Von Aton (Won Aae)	USA	Male	Drug Case	1999	5 Years	No
12	Pang Yang	USA	Female	Drug Case	1999	5 Years	Yes
13	Sue Yang	USA	Female	Drug Case	1999	5 Years	Yes
14	Onchan Lee (Jai Hue Lee)	Lao-Hmong	Male	Drug Case	3-Jul-95	10 Years	No
15	Phouanphit	Lao	Female	Drug Case	1999	5 Years	No
16	Silisa Houmphanh	Lao	Male	Drug Case	1997	10 years	No
17	Bounxai	Lao	Male	Political	1998	17 Years	No
18	Lieng	Vietnamese	Male	Drugs	Unknown	18 years	No
19	Dang Ansouh	Vietnamese	Male	Drug Case	1998	18 Years	No
20	Vandong	Vietnamese	Male	Drug Case	1998	18 Years	No
21	Abou Donzo	Guinea (Africa)	Male	Economic	1-Jun-01	2 Years	No
	UPDATE:	Released 25 July 2003
22	Sam Neawon Jr	Liberia (Africa)	Male	Economic	22-May-01	4 Years	No
	UPDATE:	Sam's older brother 'Papee' lives in Thailand and is in regular contact with Foreign Prisoner Support Services. He sends food and supplies to Sam every few months. Papee's email is: s_bvivour@yahoo.com If you would like to support Papee you can send donations to the following address: Prabhasiri Apartment, 935/2 Rachadapisek Soi 3 Dindaeng Bangkok Thailand Financial support can be direct to: Account name: Samuel B Vivour Account: 095 2098 234 Bank: Bank of Asia Location: Bangkok Thailand See photo of Sam attached: Born July 29, 1977
23	Michael Taylor	Liberia (Africa)	Male	Economic	1-Jun-01	2 Years	No
	UPDATE:	Released 25 July 2003
24	Mamseh Owsu	Ghana (Africa)	Male	Economic	1-Jun-01	2 Years	No
	UPDATE:	Released 25 July 2003. Confirmed release by telephone call to Foreign Prisoner Support Service.
25	Kerry Danes (Securicor Managing Director)	Australian	Male	Political	23 Dec 00	7 years	Yes
26	Kay Danes (Securicor Security Manager)	Australian	Female	Political	23 Dec 00	7 years	Yes
NOTE: The Australian Government secured the Danes release via a Presidential Pardon as granted by the Laos President Khamtay Siphandone on November 6, 2001.
27	Rev. Naw Karl Mua (Lutheran Minister)	USA	Male	Criminal	4 June 03	15 years	Limited
	UPDATE:	Released July 2003
28	Thierry Falise (Photojournalist)	Belgian	Male	Criminal	4 June 03	15 years	Limited
	UPDATE:	Released July 2003
29	Vincent Reynaud (Cameraman)	French	Male	Criminal	4 June 03	15 years	Limited
	UPDATE:	Released July 2003
NOTE: The three were arrested on June 4, 2003 in northeastern Xieng Khuang province. They had been researching a story on the ethnic cleansing of the Hmong people in Laos. All three were charged with possession of a gun and explosive device, and obstructing police work and each fined US$1000 as payment to the families of a militia man who the Laos regime claims to have been killed during a clash between the Laos Army and the Hmong people.
30	Thao Moua (Guide)	Hmong	Male	Criminal	4 June 03	20 years	No
31	Char Yang (Guide)	Hmong	Male	Criminal	4 June 03	20 years	No
32	Pa Fue Khang (Driver)	Hmong	Male	Criminal	4 June 03	20 years	No

HMONG REFUGEE'S SENTENCED IN NAME OF DEMOCRACY
Five Hmong men were amongst the many thousands of Lao people who fled the country during the communist takeover of 1975. They sought refuge in a refugee camp in Thailand, living peacefully with their respective families. In December 1998, they decided to return to Laos for a five day family reunion. They hadn't seen their families for over 23 years. Young Krachang who liked to play soccer, accompanied his friend Vithaya, who dream was to become a famous singer. Chao was a Doctor and respected man in his village. Khamchai was a justice of the peace and Pichaiyonht was a quietly spoken man who longed to return to his beloved homeland. The Laos government announced that all People of Laos could return as part of the new repatriation program backed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees [UNHCR]. The five Hmong were told by Thai officials it was okay to travel and so they set off without any cause for concern. On the fourth day, they were leaving when arrested. Authorities accused them of spreading anti-government propaganda 'speaking about democracy'. The men were held in the Vientiane Municipality prison for two years in confinement. 15 other Hmong shared their tiny cell where they were each shackled together by the ankles. In 2000, they were transferred to better conditions at Phonthong Prison [Vientiane]. Police authorities have allowed their families to send food and supplies but it is difficult due to the poverty that their families now endure. It is hoped that they will each endure their sentences and return to their families.
Serial	Name	Nationality	Gender	Classification	Arrested	Court Sentence	Consular
1	Khamchai Sae Her	Thai	Male	Political	2-Jan-99	20 Years	No
2	Chao Sae Kue	Thai	Male	Political	2-Jan-99	15 Years	No
3	Vithaya Sae Yang	Thai	Male	Political	2-Jan-99	15 Years	No
4	Pichaiyonht Visootheckoon Chai	Thai	Male	Political	2-Jan-99	18 Years	No
5	Krachang Sakbaiuenchaikoon	Thai	Male	Political	2-Jan-99	15 Years	No

CASES AWAITING COURT
Serial	Name	Nationality	Gender	Classification	Arrested	Court Sentence	Consular
1	Muhammed Osmon Ghani	Pakistani	Male	Immigration	Feb-01	Awaiting Investigation	No
Osmon is Muslim and cannot eat pork which is the basis of the water soup diet provided by police to prisoners. He suffers from paralysis in both legs from vitamin deficiency and prolonged confinement to the cell. His country is not represented by any Embassy in Laos therefore, his situation is desperate. He may already be dead. International Red Cross must be allowed to verify.
2	Shiechan	Chinese	Female	Drug Case	2001	Awaiting court	No
3	Saie	Chinese	Male	Drug Case	2001	Awaiting court	No
4	Aton	Chinese	Male	Drug Case	2001	Awaiting court	No
5	Akhom	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1997	Awaiting court	Yes
6	Joongkhon	Thai	Female	Drug Case	2000	Awaiting court	Yes
7	Kiraleth	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1997	Awaiting court	No
8	Prathounang	Thai	Male	Drug Case	1998	Awaiting court	No
9	Anek	Thai	Male	Drug Case	2000	Awaiting court	Yes

POLITICAL CASES
Serial	Name	Nationality	Gender	Classification	Arrested	Court Sentence	Consular
1	Vanchop	Thai	Male	Political	1996	No sentence	No
Vanchop (Chucky) spent two years in the 'dark room' in the Savannakhet jail of Southern Laos. From 1999 to 2001 he was released from his cell for a hair cut, only once every three months.
2	Joe Hay	French	Male	Immigration	5-May-97	No sentence	Limited
French Embassy has identified 'Didier Roux' (his real name) and located family in France. Awaiting Laos authorities to decide the terms of his release.
3	Van Trung Ho	Vietnamese	Male	Political	3-Jul-99	No sentence	No
Sought refugee status at UNHCR office in Laos. Contacted UNHCR Ms Elizabeth Kirton seeking refugee status/political asylum. Ms. Elizabeth was leaving for Bangkok for the weekend and told Mr. Van Trung Ho to contact her upon her return. He was arrested over the weekend and sent to Phonthong Prison. Nil action by UNHCR despite an appeal to them from Australian Embassy on October 2001.
4	Thanaphan Na Nong Khai	Thai	Male	Political	23-Mar-84	No sentence	No
Despite repeated appeals from family, the Thai Embassy have yet to establish consular access. Maximum sentence for Political cases is 20 years. Due for release in 2004. If the Thai embassy do not establish consular access and legal support, then Thanaphan will have no chance to return to Thailand.