Press Release from FPSS:

14 May 2008

UK Citizen Michael Newman was found dead in his prison cell this morning where he was detained in the squalid conditions of Phonthong Prison, Laos. He had been desperately ill for over a week and was refused medical treatment.

FPSS have been requesting for some for the UK Government to urgently negotiate a prisoner transfer agreement that would allow its citizens detained in Laos, Vietnam and other Asian countries, to be repatriated to correctional facilities in the UK. FPSS has issued numerous warnings to the UK Government about the fatal conditions inside Phonthong Prison Laos where foreigners and political prisoners are systematically tortured and ill-treated.

Michael Newman died needlessly.

Fellow UK prisoner, John Watson, remains in Phonthong prison on a life sentence for drug related offences. John met with his Embassy today after the removal of Newman's body from the prison. He was clearly distraught and begged the Embassy to assist him in his plea to be repatriated to the UK. There is no medical facility in the prison should anyone fall ill. Prisoners who complain of sickness are often ignored due to a lack of medical resources and lack of skilled medical staff.

FPSS urge the UK Government to seek the repatriation of John Watson immediately before his life too expires. John has been reporting illness for several months now and is extremely depressed.

Link to FPSS info about Phonthong Prison (http://www.usp.com.au/fpss/prison-phonthong.html)
Link to details about Michael's case (http://www.usp.com.au/fpss/case-michael-newman.html)