Perhaps public opinion should not be ignored
Re: “A blood-thirsty call for Thailand to retain the death penalty”, Have Your Say, October 25
After reading Dr Frank’s letter, I gather he is against the death penalty under any circumstances. Many facts in the letter from “Eye for an Eye Man” appeared to have been gleaned from opinion pieces in both of Bangkok’s English-language newspapers. But Dr Frank simply ignored these facts. How about the survey with 96 per cent of Thais supporting the death penalty?
Does Dr Frank consider these people to be just ignorant peasants whose opinions don’t matter? Also the tendency to hand out short prison sentences and the problem of repeat offenders. And the wastage in money and resources keeping 500 men and women on death row.
Aren’t Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, which retain the death penalty, advanced countries, or did Dr Frank miss that?
Perhaps, for readers’ edification, Dr Frank could explain in simple, concise English the “concept and practice of deterrence” – a concept which doesn't seem to be working particularly well right now.
John L Sheppard
Bangkok
