Laotian Government Says Samantha Orobator Is Safe (For Now)
Samantha Orobator, the pregnant Briton being held in prison in
Laos on charges of drug smuggling, may reportedly escape the
death penalty - but only because she's pregnant.  As mentioned
yesterday, Orobator was arrested in August, 2008 at the Wattay
Airport. It is believed that she was trying to leave Laos for
the UK, and officials say that Orobator was carrying 680g of
heroin (Laotian law requires the execution of anyone caught with
over 500g of heroin). Like everything else in this case,
Orobator's guilt is unclear. It has been reported that Orobator
claims she was forced into carrying the drugs, while the
Telegraph said yesterday that Orobator denies the drugs were
hers.  Orobator has still not met with a lawyer, and the legal
charity Reprieve says that they have been refused access to
Orobator. Anna Morris arrived in Laos on Sunday, yet was barred
from speaking with her and told that Orobator will be appointed
a local lawyer. Morris said: "She h