INITIATIVE HEARTENS FORGOTTEN PRISONERS

Justice Jam fundraiser set for Oct. 3

When Heather Luna-Rose stepped nervously into Bangkok's Bangkwang
Central Prison five years ago, she had no idea she'd end up with a
lasting friendship, let alone a string of avid pen pals.

In a letter Luna-Rose received earlier this month, Soepaing, a
38-year-old Burmese inmate, talks about prison life, his dreams, and
his health.

He adds that the medicine Luna-Rose sent in March still hasn't arrived.

Luna-Rose shrugs as she reads the passage. She figures prison guards
have made off with the $250 worth of ulcer medication before it got
anywhere near its intended recipient.

While in jail, she said, Soepaing has learned to read and write in
both Thai and English. His immaculately written letters look as if
they were typed up and printed off on a laser printer.

But there are no computers in Bangkwang Central. From the sound of
things, there's not much of anything except hard times and desperation.

"They are living in medieval-like conditions, suffering with
illnesses nobody here would even blink an eye at," she said.

That's precisely why Luna-Rose's letters have come to mean so much to
the handful of inmates she corresponds with on a regular basis.

Most of the prison's foreign inmates have been convicted, under
questionable legal proceedings, of drug trafficking offences.

Soepaing's Thai employer, for example, demanded he transport meth
amphetamine into northern Thailand from Burma, where the drug is
legal, cheap and readily available.

Soepaing was relatively lucky; he was convicted and sentenced to 40
years in prison. Soepaing's friend wasn't so fortunate and was gunned
down on site by Thai border guards.

Luna-Rose's stories stand in striking contrast to the idyllic
Thailand many of us imagine. Even for most Thais, she added, what
happens behind Bangkwang's walls is out of sight and well out of mind.

The Salt Springer's work over the past few years has done a lot to
shed light on the prisoners' plight. Based on the progress she's
already made, she's just getting started.

"I'm determined this is just going to get bigger and bigger," she
said in a recent interview.

Luna-Rose started a website (www.luna-rose.ca) to spread the word and
is two months away from obtaining registered non-profit status for
her prisoner support group.

She's even got a few other Salt Springers writing letters to
Soepaing's fellow inmates.

"People have come up to me asking how they can help," she said. "The
response has been really encouraging."

To raise funds for urgently needed antibiotics and other basic
necessities, Luna-Rose is organizing the Justice Jam, a fun-filled
event at the Harbour House Hotel featuring local bands and performers
like the Barley Brothers, Sue Newman, and Simone Lamers.

A silent auction and emcee antics from island funny man Arvid
Chalmers will round out the entertainment.

All proceeds from the Sat., Oct. 3 event go towards supplies
Luna-Rose will deliver in person in January.

Tickets for the Justice Jam, $20, are available at the Harbour House
Hotel and Salt Spring Books.

For more information, contact Luna-Rose at 250-537-5571 or 250-526-0265.