Deportation problem of Thai guy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/nor ... 097284.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5097284.stm)

Shetland, shit! My nightmare is being deported from Thailand TO a place like Shetland.

How did he get there when he was 10?

Treat him the same way that he would be treated as a farang in Thailand....too many foreigners committing serious crimes in the UK.

[RonanTheBarbarian]

There was quite a bit about it in the British media.

He went there when his mother married a Scotsman. They went to Glasgow first i think, and then went to live in Shetland when the mother split from the Scot as she wanted to live in a more rural area.

He has lived there as part of the community ever since. The only reason he is being deported is because Home Secretary John Reid has been pressurised to clamp down on non-nationals who commit crimes as a result of a tabloid fuss recently. Labour are desperate to seem "tough" on crime at the moment, and therefore all non-nationals who commit crimes are now being all deported willy-nilly after their sentence, even ones who have lived in Britain since infancy. Genuine "justice" is something Reid is not very interested in, needless to say.

Even in a case such as this where the individual in question was clearly part of the British community and had been living there since childhood. Although he is still a Thai citizen, his "home" is clearly now in the Shetlands.

Considering that the crime he committed (arson) was out of character for the young man, perhaps some of the posters on here who are British citizens could "earn some merit" by lobbying their MP about him?

After all, he is caught in the nightmare immigration web that so many on this board are familiar with themselves, in various ways.

Considering that the crime he committed (arson) was out of character for the young man, perhaps some of the posters on here who are British citizens could "earn some merit" by lobbying their MP about him?I appreciate your compassion, Ronan, but on the other hand, is it a good precedent to exempt someone from the legal consequences of their actions because they (the actions) were "out of character" for that individual? He destroyed a mobile building and a car via arson. But he normally doesn't do that. So, let's grant him an exception = it's okay to not apply the laws to him?

Living as an ex-pat farang in Thailand, I am ever aware that the consequences of my actions could result in deportation in addition to any regular criminal penalty. However, he should be forgiven? Why?

DELETED

[Brad the Impala]

There is no place for liberal views here.

Is that here as in Thailand(I thought that most people were in Thailand because of the liberal views, and the liberal application of the law relating to prostitution) or here as in on this message board(in which case that's a rather unfortunate, and inaccurate assertion).

From the reality perspective, as opposed to the soapbox view, it is not true to say that a farang committing a crime ia automatically deported, nor is it true to say that if you are deported you will automatically be blacklisted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5097284.stm
Who really cares? This is a personal thing for this man. That's it.

DELETED

[Brad the Impala]

a farang committing arson in Thailand would be jailed, deported and blacklisted.

In the case of arson, you may well be right. However what you said before was:


What would happen to a farang in Thailand who had been here 10 or 20 years, commits an offence and does his time? He is deported and blacklisted.

There are offences and offences.

[PeterUK]

a farang committing arson in Thailand would be jailed, deported and blacklisted.

Oh, bugger it, and me an arsonist too! That's what an arsonist is, isn't it - someone who gets all fired up at the sight of arses?

[Aunty]

It just goes to show you that when you are a long-term permanent resident of another country, take out citizenship. That way you can't be thrown out if something goes wrong, you are after all now a citizen of the country.

Oh, bugger it, and me an arsonist too! That's what an arsonist is, isn't it - someone who gets all fired up at the sight of arses?

I'm a little dickens.

[cuteboy]

It seems to me that what Thailand does to foreigners who commit an offence is neither here nor there. In the UK people are not automatically deported and if a decision is made to deport there can be an appeal.
That is what is happening here. The lad has already been in court where he has been released on bail until the appeal hearing. He was supported by a petition signed be over 7000 Shetlanders, over 30% of the entire population. His present boss, describes him as an excellent young man. and has helped to raise funds for the appeal. The circumstances of the fireraising have not been fully explained but there can be no doubt that it was out of character.
I do not think that Britain, or the people of Shetland, come out of this looking bad at all. I cannot see many petitions for you or me if we are to get thrown out.
The betting must be that he will be allowed to stay.

[RonanTheBarbarian]

An update in the story from the "Observer"


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... 86,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1810886,00.html)

and if he does get deported he is going to seem somewhat out of place. He's got a broader Scots accent than even I have.

There have been similar cases recently in the US, in regard to Vietnamese and Khmer gang members who had been in the US since they were little kids. They were deported "back" to their countries of origin, even though they couldn't speak a word of the language. Them's the breaks, I guess, when you fuck up in a country where you're a "guest".

Cann't this Thai lad be deported to Australia ?.

[cottmann]

Cann't this Thai lad be deported to Australia ?.

Swapped for boygeorge, you mean?

[wowpow]

JOHN ROSS AND NEIL RIDDELL - The Scotsman 17th June

AFTER the outcry over immigrants with criminal records remaining in Britain, it might have been expected that the arrest of a 23-year-old Thai-born man in Shetland who had served time in prison following a conviction for fire-raising would barely raise an eyebrow.

Yet this week an extraordinary campaign has been waged to prevent the deportation of Sakchai Makao by fellow islanders, his employers and politicians against faceless civil servants who, some say, have chosen an easy target. If that's what they thought, they were badly mistaken. Shetland is now a community in revolt over the forced removal of a man who has been accepted locally.

Earlier this week, more than 800 islanders attended a rally in support of Mr Makao, who works as a lifeguard and has lived in Shetland since he was a boy (he can no longer speak his native tongue). A petition calling for his release has attracted more than 7,000 signatures, one-third of Shetland's population. Friends and work colleagues are bewildered and angered by the seizure of Mr Makao. Now he awaits a decision on his future in a cell at Durham Prison.

The strength of feeling is exemplified by Andrew Bennett, who is considering cancelling his wedding to fiancee Kirsty Reid if his friend can't be there. Mr Bennett met Mr Makao as a teenager when he joined his school, Brae High, in Shetland. "We have been friends ever since," he said. Mr Makao left in fifth year to work as a trainee lifeguard at the local swimming pool. Mr Bennett stayed on, later leaving to go to university, but the pair kept in touch. When he made his wedding plans, Mr Bennett asked his old friend to be best man. But earlier this month, Mr Makao called to say he may not make the 1 September wedding in St Andrews. "Sakchai rang me just before he got on the plane as he was being taken from Shetland. He said 'I don't think I'll be able to make your wedding' - that's how conscientious he is. He said he had been arrested and was going to be deported. I couldn't believe it; I was absolutely devastated. "The wedding will not be the same if he's not standing next to me. I don't know if I want to go through with it if he's not there. Hopefully, something will happen and we won't have to cancel the wedding."

James Johnston, manager of Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) which employs Mr Makao as a lifeguard, is also hoping an appeal will be successful and Mr Makao will be released on bail.

Last weekend, he met Mr Makao for almost two hours in Durham Prison. He said: "I was pleasantly surprised how he was handling it. His face lit up when he saw me. "He was a lot more upbeat than I expected, though I don't think it had quite sunk in. "Remarkably, and I suppose it's typical Sakchai, he wasn't complaining a great deal, other than the fact that he couldn't understand why he was in prison."

Mr Johnston was able to tell Mr Makao about the sheer scale of the Shetland community's support for his cause, which lifted his spirits. He explained: "I told him about what was going on at home. At that time, there were about 4,000 signatures on the petition, and when I was saying that to him you could see his face lighting up. He did ask the prison officers if he could access the internet to see what was going on but he was denied that. "He was at pains to stress that he wanted me to pass on his thanks to friends, family, work colleagues and everybody else for their support. He said when he got out of prison he would be replying to each one individually. I said maybe he didn't realise the scale - it could take him quite a bit of time."

Yesterday, there was another amazing show of support for Shetland's adopted son when the GMTV cameras arrived to report on the case and 200 people turned up at 6am to back him. "The support he has in Shetland is amazing, but it is not surprising as he is such a nice bloke. Everyone likes him", said Mr Bennett.

Mr Makao and his family - his sister, mother and step-father - arrived in Shetland in 1993. His sister, Uthia, said: "We chose Shetland as a friend from the same village in Thailand was there and offered to put us up. We fell in love with the place. Sakchai loved it, he had a lot of friends and a job he loved. Everyone treated him like their own."
At 16, he got a job with the SRT as pool attendant in the Clickimin leisure complex in Lerwick and also got involved in athletics, becoming a highly capable long jumper and triple jumper. He represented Shetland at county level and at the Island Games in 2001 and 2005 and was capped for Scotland schools. He still holds the Shetland record for triple jump at 14 metres 15cm, set in 2001, and planned to take part in the next Island Games in Rhodes next year.

Martin Leyland, a fellow athlete and now coach at Shetland Amateur Athletics Club, said: "He is a very good athlete. But it was not just about him, he was prepared to help the youngsters as well. A couple of weeks ago, he said he would love to coach the under-18s in their annual competition against Orkney in July. "It would be a big loss if he was forced to go. If you see him around, he is always happy, he always smiles."

The reason Mr Makao is now in jail dates back to 2 February, 2002 when, aged 20, he set fire to a car and a portable building belonging to a local fishmongers, causing damage estimated at more than ┬г40,000. He later pleaded guilty to two charges of culpable and reckless fireraising. The court heard that at the time he was drunk and acting with another person. His solicitor said it was "two moments of madness" and the procurator-fiscal admitted his behaviour was out of character. In January, 2004 Mr Makao was jailed for 15 months for his first offence, ultimately serving eight months, although no threat of deportation was raised.

Friends attribute Mr Makao's lapse to "serious personal difficulties" at the time. His step- father had died suddenly of lung cancer and, shortly before the fireraising incident, a baby he had with a long-time girlfriend died only hours after being born.

Mr Makao had also been notably absent from athletics practice and meets, and missed the Island Games in 2003.

In October, 2004 after serving his time, Mr Makao returned to Shetland to restart his life. He was given his job back at the swimming pool, a sign of his standing with his employers and an acceptance that he was unlikely to re-offend. He also returned to athletics and competed in last year's Island Games in Shetland.

Davie Gardner, a long-time friend who leads the Shetland For Sakchai campaign, said: "Given that no-one in the community condoned his actions that led to his conviction, and given we also tried to understand the personal problems he was undergoing at the time and relate those to his crime, most were more than willing to offer him a second chance. "Since then, Sakchai has proved to everyone that this faith was more than justified. He is highly valued by his employers and loved and appreciated by all who know him within the community."

The scale of the battle to win Mr Makao's freedom reflects this. Supporters claim that when immigration officials, supported by members of Strathclyde Police, removed him from his home under a deportation order issued by the Home Office, it was done with haste, secrecy and ferocity. They point out that although Mr Makao holds a Thai passport, he has a visa which allows him residence in the UK indefinitely.

Mr Makao was flown to Aberdeen, then taken to spend the night in Glasgow's Govan Police Station. It is claimed family and friends were not aware of where he was initially and he was not granted access to a lawyer. It is also alleged he had no food for 12 hours and was denied a telephone until the following evening. On 7 June he was taken to maximum security Durham Prison and put in a cell with a drug addict. When his sister visited three days later, she found him "still in shock, upset and scared". Yet the family is holding on to the hope that justice will prevail - and winning more supporters by the day.

Last Tuesday, MSPs joined a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament, a few hours before the 800-strong rally was held in the Clickimin Centre. Among the letters of support were those from the Church of Scotland and rock star Elvis Costello. Alistair Carmichael, the Orkney and Shetland MP, has tabled a cross-party motion urging the Home Office to rescind the deportation order. Rob Gibson, an SNP MSP, has also lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament in support of Mr Makao and urged Jack McConnell to intervene.

Messages are also being sent via a website. Typical is one from a friend: "I've known Sakchai for a long while now and I've never considered him to be any different to any other Shetlander or Brit I've ever met and I don't see that where he's from or what he's been accused of in the past should change that". Another reads: "Sakchai is such a great guy he definitely does not deserve this. "I have known him for as long as I can remember and he is a true Shetlander. He has lived here for over half his life and should be allowed to live the rest of it here." His sister Uthia, overcome with the strength of support for her brother, broke down in tears as she tried to address Tuesday's rally, which she attended with their mother, Kesorn. She said: "It's just been amazing. We expected a few people to turn out, but not 800, it was very emotional. It's very encouraging and comforting such support is there in the community."
Sakchai's letter sent to his work colleagues from prison

HEY, you guys, great picture by the way in the Shetland Times. Just writing to the lot of you to tell you guys I am doing good. Like I said, the food in here [is] not my cup of tea and jail's a jail. I just need to get on with it and hope for the best, but the support back home, it's wordless to me.

I am so happy you guys are always there for me. When I'd read the paper, it's brought tears to my eyes and it's made me so happy that you guys are given me so much hope. You guys are not just friends, you are my families.

I've met my lawyer and she said she can't wait to see you guys because she never had a case like this before. She is trying to get me out on bail so I might see you guys soon. I've missed everyone. Been watching the World Cup and my teams are doing super - better watch out you guys.

Mickey and Lachie, your dad's a star. This could never have happened if your dad didn't sorted everything. So I want to say thank you to you guys and Davie [Gardner] from the bottom of my heart.

Like my dad always said, when you find a true friend that friend will show you how much he loves you and he was right. I've found you guys and I can't be any more happier, no matter what happens.

I want to say thank you to everybody for your love and support. I can't ask for more. I can't imagine life without you guys and there is nowhere I'd rather be is this moment right now. So thank you, you guys. Everyone in Shetland have bring tears and joy to my heart. So don't worry about me. I can handle anything they throw at me. My hope and faith will be with you guys. Hope to see you soon.

The Scotsman 22nd June

Tears and cheers as Thai man facing deportation returns to Shetland
FRANK URQUHART

"THE young Thai national at the centre of a bitter deportation battle made an emotional and triumphant return to his adopted home in Shetland last night. Sakchai Makao, 23, who has lived on the islands since he was ten, flew into Sumburgh airport shortly before 5pm to be greeted by scores of Shetlanders who had fought for his release from prison. It was 15 days since he left Shetland for what he feared was the last time - flown to the mainland in the company of immigration officials.

Last night a tearful Mr Makao summed up his homecoming in one word: "Brilliant." As he was greeted by members of his relieved family, friends and colleagues, he said: "It just brings tears to my eyes. It is so good to be back to see everybody. "I cannot imagine being anywhere else than in Shetland. This is my home. This is where my friends are. The community has been brilliant. It touches me so much - I can't explain it."

Mr Makao, who has been advised by his lawyers against commenting on his threatened deportation, added: "It has been the best and the worst two weeks of my life. Being away from everybody has been stressful but knowing that the whole community is behind me has been the best. To be in that situation, just to find out that everybody at home has tried to get me out and supported me, lifts my heart."................"

Brings a tears to my eye also. What amazing popularity.

[wowpow]

More on Sakchai Makao
Spies in the European Parliament tell me that Alyn Smith, MEP for the Highlands and Islands, raised the issue of Sakchai Makao (see my earlier post) in the European Parliament plenary session this afternoon,

The blondbloke blog

[wowpow]

http://www.shetlink.com/modules.php?nam ... titionId=2 (http://www.shetlink.com/modules.php?name=ePetitions&op=more_info&ePetitionId=2)


Bring Back Sakchai
Published by : troutadmin, Nb of signers :2301
When signing the ePetition you must provide a valid email address. A link is sent to your email address as confirmation. You click on this link to complete your ePetition entry. These measures prevent false/multiple entries and means that the ePetition carries a bit of "weight" (Your email address will not be displayed on the webpage). Note also to add an address for yourselves so as to validate your signing when the ePetition is sent to the relevant authorities.


A YOUNG Shetland man of Thai origin was arrested in Lerwick in an early morning raid yesterday (Tuesday) and is presently being held in a police station in Glasgow.

Sakchai Makao, of 51 Haldane Burgess Crescent, has been living in Shetland for the last 13 years.

It is believed that the 23 year old's arrest may be linked to the Home Office's efforts to trace around 1,000 foreigners with a criminal record who have not been considered for deportation.

Mr Makao was sentenced to 15 months in prison for fire raising, in January 2004. He is presently employed at the Lerwick Clickimin Leisure Complex and is one of the isles' top athletes.

A local campaign (comments to nodeportationfromshetland@yahoo.co.uk) to get Mr Makao back to Shetland has already been started and has also the support of isles MP Alistair Carmichael.

The local police force was not involved when Mr Makao's flat was raided by eight officers at around 7am.

Lerwick police sergeant Mark Czerniakiewicz was unable to confirm yesterday afternoon that such an operation had taken place in the town. However, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate confirmed that indeed the arrest had taken place.

Mr Makao was taken on the 2pm flight to Aberdeen. His mobile phone has been taken off him and his parents who live in London have unsuccessfully tried to get in touch with him all afternoon.

Davie Gardner, the father of a close friend of Mr Makao, said the treatment he had received was "absolutely inhumane".

He said Mr Makao had paid for "a moment of stupidity", but he was exonerated when the Shetland Recreational Trust decided to give him back his job at the local leisure centre.

Mr Gardner said: "He has most certainly never stepped out of the line since. He got his job back, is terrific with kids and is very friendly with us. He is the best guy that comes around the house.

"It is an absolute crime to send him back to a country he has never really lived in.

"I always believed that Tony Blair and John Reid were slightly above George Bush, but that belief has ended today. I am so anti that I would welcome a Tory government coming in, because at least they are honest right wing bastards.

"If this is what a Labour government is doing then my last vote has gone their way, that is for sure."

Northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael was busy last night establishing what had happened to Mr Makao.

He said he was disturbed and concerned about the treatment Mr Makao had reportedly received.

"I will first of all try to get proper representation for Mr Makao so that he can get a fair hearing.

"I would want to know whether they had ever served any deportation papers on him, or is this the way they do it now: you just get your door kicked in at seven o'clock in the morning.

"If they haven't served a deportation notice on him, then why not? If it wasn't local police they have used, then why have they not used local police? What was it that was considered so dangerous in this operation that it took eight people to do it? It is concerning."
Originally published on Shetland-News.co.uk

When signing the ePetition you must provide a valid email address. A link is sent to your email address as confirmation. You click on this link to complete your ePetition entry. These measures prevent false/multiple entries and means that the ePetition carries a bit of "weight" (Your email address will not be displayed on the webpage). Note also to add an address for yourselves so as to validate your signing when the ePetition is sent to the relevant authorities.

Dont mean to sound flippant - but they could make a movie out of this.

I agree he should be allowed to stay after such a long time - but still cant get my head around why he is so popular after having a jail term for arson? Every time theres an unexplained fire i wouldn`t want to be him!

How many people re-offend????????? Lots, most.
First offence, mmm maybe. Been lucky has he?
Excellent in the Highland Games...well thats a bonus...
Man cancelled his wedding... that should help too...
Nope send him back... by Phuket Air..

Gerefan

Sakchai Makao's appeal against deportation was granted today (7 July) and he will be allowed to stay in the UK.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/stor ... 29,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5937029,00.html)

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Displa ... 844815.xml (http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=United+Kingdom+%26+Europe&month=July2006&file=World_News2006070844815.xml)