Rule of law finally emerging - but too slowly
Heartiest congratulations to Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha and our judges for sending Chonsawat Asavahame, son of fugitive and influential ex-politician Vatana Asavanhame, to 18 months in jail for dereliction of duty during the fraud-tainted Samut Prakan muni
Denying bail to and jailing a member of such a powerful and wealthy clan, along with the arrest earlier of a serving general in connection with human trafficking, is a most welcome signal that the rule of law is finally arriving in Thailand.
But “justice delayed is justice denied”, and the Chonsawat case took 16 long years to creep through our court system. Such delays are the norm, especially where defendants have money and power.
Prayut can help ensure that the rule of law is finally put in place here by a) making legal reform, including speeding things up and preventing political interference in the judicial system, a national priority, far ahead of such things as clamping down on illegal street racing, and b) prosecuting the Red Bull heir who allegedly ran down and killed a cop with his Ferrari.
Burin Kantabutra
