<p>This is Thanthawut’s account of his day of release, originally published&nbsp;<a href="http://blogazine.in.th/blogs/littlevoicefromprisons/post/4240">in Thai</a>&nbsp;on Prachatai on 12 July 2013. He describes the process he went through on the day of his release and his experience of the pardon. This is a story of Thanthawut’s walk through the series of barred, iron doors that led him from inside the walls of the prison to the world of freedom outside.</p> <p></p>

<p>Thantawut Thaweewarodomkul, former webmaster of Red Shirt USA, who was sentenced to 13 years for lèse majesté, was granted a royal pardon and released from Bangkok Remand Prison on Friday, after serving 3 years. He was arrested in April 2010 for violating the lèse majesté law, or Article 112 of Criminal Code, and the Computer Crime Act.</p> <p></p>

<p style="">&nbsp;</p> <p style=""><strong>Prison visit to Somyot on 27 June 2013</strong></p> <p>Thursday mornings at 08.30 am are when Somyot and I have a regular weekly visit. Iron bars and secure windows keep us apart but can’t separate our souls. I was given Room No. 1, which is the last interview room in the row in Bangkok Remand Prison. Without hesitation, Somyot walked fast and looked straight at me and smiled; his smile made the world so bright and full of hope and peace. I was so relieved to meet him that morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Truth panel seeks separate custody centre for political detainees</em></p> <p>Human rights and political activists welcomed the government's decision to set up a separate jail to detain political prisoners, though one person voiced doubts as to whether those detained over lese-majeste charges should be included or not. This idea comes as part of recommendations from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT).</p>

<p>Amnesty International welcomes the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, but calls on the government of Myanmar to immediately release all of the prisoners of conscience in the country.</p>

<p>(Mae Sot - Thailand) -&nbsp;The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) can confirm that so far 43 political prisoners have been released from various prisons in Burma.</p>