Bangkok/Frankfurt (May 22, 2003): Pirjo Svensson, a 44-year-old Swedish national, is currently imprisoned in a police facility in Bangkok, Thailand. The holding cell in which she is being detained measures 90 square metres and is occupied by between 50-90 other prisoners. So relates a spokesperson for the Frankfurt-based IGFM. IGFM personnel have voiced their concern that the Thai immigration authorities are attempting to criminalise her, because no formal charges have yet been filed.
IGFM further stated, “Mrs. Svensson was arrested in her home in Bangkok during the morning of the 29th of April, 2003. She was shown a search warrant in Thai, which she could not understand and her home was searched at the same time. During the search, the authorities discovered informational materials relating to the Falun Gong mediation movement. Among the materials was a letter of appeal to the Chinese Prime Minister, which had been written in Sweden, but had not yet been sent. Also discovered were VCDs disclosing the facts of the staged self-immolation incident in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, which occurred some time ago. All of these materials were confiscated. The explanation given to her was that, ‘it is not proper to be in possession of any materials regarding human rights abuses in the PRC.’ The authorities annulled her visa on the same afternoon.”
When Mrs. Svensson enquired as to the reason for her arrest, she was told that she had tainted the relationship between Thailand and China. Later on she was accused of having used a Swedish return address [in Thailand] on a letter to the Chinese Prime Minister.
Mrs. Svensson has been detained in the same cell as up to 90 other inmates, who have avoided contact with her. Upon enquiry, employees of the Swedish diplomatic mission have discovered that the inmates have shunned her because the Thai authorities had put up a photo of her on the door with the caption “dangerous person” written on it.
The arrest of Mrs. Svensson coincided with a visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Thailand, who was to attend a special conference on SARS. The IGFM surmises that the Thai authorities acted under outside pressure and in haste over Mrs. Svensson’s arrest, apparently wanted to prevent her from handing over her letter to the Chinese Premier.
Mr. Karl Hafen, chairman of the IGFM, declared, “We are quite worried that so far, Mrs. Svensson is being held without having been formally charged. No charge has been brought against this Swedish citizen. She did, however, receive a covert signal that an unobtrusive leave from Thailand could be arranged. Mrs. Svensson has visited Thailand regularly for the past 3 years and had spent much time there, but never in those 3 years, during her previous Thai visits nor during her visit in April of this year has she ever been in conflict with the law. Now, she wants public acknowledgement of her innocence.”
Mr. Hafen has appealed to the Thai government to publicly declare that Mrs. Svensson has acted correctly at all times and to release her immediately.
(original text in German)
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