THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Why Thailand shouldn’t follow Malaysia and abolish death penalty

Why Thailand shouldn’t follow Malaysia and abolish death penalty

The ongoing debate about the death penalty will probably remain just that – ongoing. The Bangkok Post editorial on October 14 (“Still dragging feet on death penalty”) was one-sided in being totally against the death penalty.

The Nation, on the other hand, gave a more balanced view in their June editorial opining that premeditated murder deserves death (“Why Thailand needs the death penalty”). You also referenced an online survey in which 96 per cent of 78,000 respondents supported executions. Why organisations such as Amnesty International refuse to listen to the people’s wishes is beyond me. They claim the death penalty does nothing to prevent violent crime. This is patently ridiculous, as a murderer put to death cannot commit another murder. Let’s not forget that someone found guilty of murder in Thailand is sentenced to just 15 to 20 years in prison and often less if they plead guilty. There are plenty of recidivists amongst those released since the word “rehabilitation” doesn’t exist in the Thai prison system.
Thailand is still in good company, with no less than 52 advanced countries still having the death penalty. These include Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, along with 31 states in the US. In the US it costs US$90,000 each year to keep a prisoner on death row. This is over and above the costs for a regular prisoner. With approximately 3,000 on death row in that country it is costing the taxpayer a fortune. Here in Thailand the extra expense is presumably minimal, but still a waste of resources.
I agree that the number of crimes punishable with death, now increased to 63, is absurd. These crimes should be limited to the most brutal where proof is beyond doubt. Of the 102 females on death row, 93 per cent committed drug offences. Many were probably duped into smuggling drugs for some unscrupulous drug lord who remains at large. These women should not be on death row. On the other hand, if I had a teenage daughter who had been brutally raped and murdered I would wish for the culprit to be brutally raped with a broom handle and then executed in a very slow, painful manner. And I think most Thais think the same way. If criminals have committed horrific crimes and are of no use to society, just get rid of the bums!
Eye for an eye man
Ratchadamri

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