The parents of the Wellington man jailed in Myanmar for insulting the Buddhist faith say they need more help from the New Zealand Government.
Philip Blackwood leaving court in Yangon. Photo: AFP
Brian and Angela Blackwood, of Wellington, say their 32-year-old son Philip has two and a half years ahead of him in terrible conditions after using an image of Buddha to promote a cheap drinks night at a local bar.
Brian Blackwood told the ABC they would fight to have their son freed.
"He sleeps on a wooden pallet. No bedding is allowed, no mattress, no pillow. We did manage after about 50 days to get a blanket to him so that he could actually have something to lay on, and then later on we managed to get him another blanket so he could fold it up and use it as a pillow.
"He has a hole in the ground for a toilet and he has a bucket of water that he washes and keeps himself tidy with."
Mr Blackwood said his son was being given rice and broth to eat, and his fiance, who lives in Rangoon with their seven-month-old baby girl, can visit once a fortnight and take extra food, but it would be rationed.
"Obviously his health is the first issue that we are concerned about. He does have a chest condition, he has asthma, which I don't think the heat over there will help."
New Zealander Philip Blackwood being led into a court in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: SUPPLIED
His mother, Angela Blackwood, said it had been a nightmare for the family.
"You know, every time I go to bed and I'm sleeping on the nice, comfortable bed, I can see him sleeping on a wooden pallet. We worry about the hygiene conditions, him getting infections, malaria.
"You know, the more you think about it, it just sort of goes on and on. There's always something else to worry about."
The Blackwoods have set up an online petition to argue their son be freed and said they needed more help from the New Zealand Government.
- ABC