Taken From: http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-thailand/2004-April/000003.html

"Howdy friends and family, Matthew Mcdaniel, the man I worked with in Chiang Mai has been arrested. The full account of what has happened is here. I am posting this to various websites, but I implore you to write to the US embassy and express your concern. Matthew is one of a very few activists in Thailand, and

his arrest is a serious blow to human rights. Togeather we started an indymedia Thailand website to spread this information, but with Matthew sitting behind bars, it leaves that project at a standstill. There is no way for Thais or anyone interested in activism or human rights to hear whats really happening in Thailand. If you work for a paper, or know someone who does, please pick this

up and write about it. The Thai government and the US hope that this goes unnoticed and that they squash all his work. I spent 10 days working with

Matthew and the Akha hilltribes in northern thailand. His devotion and selflessness are the only hope that thousands of hilltribe people have to save their land, heritage, and culture. PLEASE HELP!

I am writing on behalf of Matthew McDaniel, an American human rights activist currently detained at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok. He asked that I contact you to ask you to urge the press to write articles about his arrest and possible deportation. He also would like you to get this information on all of the indymedia sites. As of Monday April 19th, he has had no access to a lawyer or telephone. HIs family is unprotected and he claims

that the U.S. Embassy has full knowledge of his deportaiton, but failed to act.

However, he has yet to be visited by the Embassy or confirm the validity of the claims. You can visit him and speak with him directly during vising hours at

the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Center. To do so, you must arrive between 10:00-11:00 to receive a form. The doors open for visiting at 11:00, but it is

good to be there early. Bring your passport, which you will have to check at the door. You can visit his room (2) from 11:00-12:00 and speak openly with him. "

See also:

http://www.petitiononline.com/AkhaZauh/petition.html

http://www.akha.org./

http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-thailand/2004-April/000003.html