Minister backs DNA database
Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri said yesterday that he agreed with the Institute for Forensic Medicine's recommendation that the government collect and store DNA samples of all migrant workers and inmates.
He explained that this should not be viewed as a violation of human rights, as the workers would benefit from protection in case they are injured, go missing or become victims of crime while in Thailand.
He said the DNA samples would be collected, but not tested as yet because that would cost as much as Bt4,000 per person. He added that other than collecting DNA samples, the authorities could opt for collecting fingerprints and recording workers’ history instead.
Chaikasem, who visited the institute after it collected DNA samples from some 100,000 inmates on a voluntary basis, said he wanted the institute to study the possibility of getting all prisoners to submit their DNA samples, especially since some inmates in important cases were still refusing to give samples.
