Pattaya Daily News

Thailand, the 8^th of September 2010: Conor Purcell arrived in Sydney on Wednesday morning after spending more than three months in a Thai prison over his involvement in the recent anti-government Red Shirt protests in Bangkok.

Despite complaining that he was brutally beaten in an ‘ordered assault’ while in prison and constantly fearing for his life and safety, Purcell stated that he intended to return to Thailand. He also voiced his criticism of the Australian government at their lack of support, stating, “I’m going to go through the FOI Act to find out what exactly was happening.”

Upon his return, welcomed by approximately 15 supporters of the Thai Red Australia group, Purcell expressed his ill-treatment in Thai prison to the Australian press. “On the second day, they had seven criminals beat the living shit out of me. It was the most cowardly assault you could imagine. They went crazy on my spine, my back, my ribs, my kidneys. They [the Thai government] could plant whatever they wanted on me.”

He stated that he was unable to walk for several days after the attack and had blood in his urine, while he was kept in a cell of up to 40 prisoners, some believed to be convicted murderers awaiting appeal.

Speaking in regards to his involvement in Thailand’s political protests, in which he appeared on stage at the main Red Shirt encampment in Ratchaprasong, Purcell noted, “I had to speak out against what I’d seen … what I saw on April 10 was absolutely horrendous. Compared to the Bloody Sunday massacre [in Northern Ireland] this was way worse, this was incredible.”

His release was negotiated in the court after he agreed to plead guilty to breaching Bangkok’s state of emergency in his efforts to motivate Red Shirt protesters in their struggle from the Ratchaprasong rally stage. A Bangkok surgeon who encouraged him to speak at the rally paid his full fare back to Australia.

Related items

• Aussie & Brit Red Shirts Jailed in Bangkok Crackdown
• Unrepentant Foreign Red Shirts Shout Claims of Grave Injustice
• Revenge Attacks Feared as ‘Seh Daeng’ Pronounced Dead
• Bangkok Protests Ignite 16 Dead & Over 160 Injured
• Nationwide Emergency Declared Amidst Bangkok Shootings

Extensive Gallery [ 3 photos ]