Thailand’s Union for Civil Liberty is calling for the abolition of capital punishment in the kingdom following a rise in the number of death sentences in the deep south.
As much of the world is moving away from the death penalty, the union held a seminar yesterday at the Islamic Center where experts discussed legal cases in the restive region where the emergency decree and the Internal Security Act have long been enforced. Unlike most parts of Thailand, where traditional criminal law is in effect, the invocation of the special marshal laws in the south deeply affects the judicial process, including the absence of a right to legal representation during interrogation and arrests without warrants.
Danthong Breen, a human rights activist and union member, said conferring a death sentence requires most rigorous legal standards, but due to the legal framework in the south, cases can be compromised.
In addition, experts said during the last World Congress on Abolition of Death Penalty in Madrid, Spain, that capital punishment in a region rife with insurgent activities may be counter-productive, as making “martyrs” out of insurgents can help draw many others to the cause.
The Department of Corrections’ death penalty statistics indicate that at least 112 people are awaiting death row in Thailand as of late last year. However, no execution has been carried out in Thailand in recent years as inmates are appealing for royal pardons from the king, which is considered the last step of their appeal process.
Strong political leadership would be needed end capital punishment in Thailand. Research shows that capital punishment is unnecessary and not deter crime. Having capital punishment in a flawed legal system means any miscarriage of justice can result in an innocent being put to death, Danthong said.
Although two-thirds of the world have abolished capital punishment, the practice remains strong in China, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand, NNT reported.
Graphic: SSolbergj
