By author. Visiting Zhang Xinyan at Suan Phlu I went to visit Zhang Xinyan at Suan Phlu Immigration Centre on Tuesday. (I’ve been away from AN for a couple of days.) Most of you already know the story. Xinyan had overstayed her tourist visa but was approved as a political refugee by Canada. She was arrested at the airport May 7 about to board a flight to Vancouver on May 7. Shamefully, no Canadian consular representative has seen her at Suan Phlu since May 27! Canada has a reputation for fairness & acceptance. The Canadian Embassy in Bangkok is not proving that true. Unless there are private negotiations, Canadian Ambassador Ping Kitnikone has not appeared to intervene with Thai govt to prevent her extradition to China. In China, the Draconian Security Law would be applied to Xinyan as a leader in the Hong Kong Umbrella protests. The Security Law carries a minimum of three years up to life imprisonment. Do Canadians not want to protect their refugee? Following my visit to Xinyan, I immediately went to the Canadian Embassy. As a Canadian, I own that Embassy! I had to raise quite a fuss in the lobby to get to see anyone in their own aerie refuge. I finally got to see the Consul, not the Ambassador or the Charge d’Affaires as I had hoped. Of course, due to Canada’s Privacy Act, the Consul kept telling me he couldn’t tell me anything about Xinyan. However, it was telling that he didn’t even know Xinyan had Canadian refugee status. However, I related everything as Xinyan told me in person. I really hope this guy will actually get Ambassador Ping to do something to FREE XINYAN! So, if you want to help someone less fortunate than you, here how to visit Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre. 0) MUST arrive between 9:00 and 9:30 for a 10:45 to 11:30 visit. There is always a massive scrum of people wanting to visit their loved ones. Expect a lot of tears and a few disabled people. Make sure the disabled get in first. Guards don’t do this. Then women. You’ll get a locker for stuff you don’t want to leave for Xinyan. You have to shout across a grate with a two foot space between. Remember 50 prisoners and 50 relatives are also shouting. Suggestions for things to leave. a) Canned tuna for protein, instant noodles. A box of each can be shared with other prisoners. b) Good toothpaste and toothbrush. c) Women’s items: face cream. Girls, help me out here! d) Good feminine hygiene products. d) Chapstick and Thai crystal deodorant. These will be put in a basket and searched. Prisoners depend on sharing and giving. Be assured your contributions, however modest, will be used. d) MONEY! You can hand this directly to Xinyan. Both Xinyan and guards assured me there is no theft. I left B1,000 and the guards called me a cheapskate! No gratuities are necessary for guards but I bet if you brought in some nice coffees from outside, they’d like you.
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