Polls point to strong backing among Thais for death penalty

By The Nation

 

 

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, despite growing opposition among international organisations and other countries, is strongly supported by the majority of Thai people, according to surveys.

 

At least four online polls were conducted immediately after Thailand’s first execution in nine years took place on Monday. In every one, the majority of respondents agreed with the death penalty. 

 

 

The findings came after a convicted murderer, identified only as Thirasak by the Corrections Department, was killed by lethal injection at Bangkwang Central Prison, bringing an end to a nine-year hiatus for executions in Thailand. He was convicted of fatally stabbing his 17-year-old victim 24 times in 2012 and making away with his cellphone and a small amount of cash. 

 

 

About 2,300 people voted on Kom Chad Luek’s website in response to the question, “Do you agree with execution?” An overwhelming 92 per cent said “Yes” while just eight per cent said “No”. 

 

 

Nation TV conducted a similar survey at www.nationtv.tv, garnering more than 20,000 votes. Of them, 95 per cent said the death penalty should continue to apply on Thai soil. 

 

 

A popular Facebook page, Drama-addict, asked whether Thailand should put to death those convicted of extremely grave crimes. More than 124,900 people have responded so far, with 96 per cent or 119,900 of them in no doubt that capital punishment should be meted out to the worst criminals. The poll is open to voters for five more days.

 

 

Thirasak’s mother yesterday said her son may have been wrongfully convicted, as he had always maintained that he had not committed the murder. 

 

“That’s why he always refused to plead guilty in court, even though [he knew] doing so would provide grounds for leniency,” she said.

 

Among those protesting Thailand’s resumption of executions was Germany’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Barbel Kofler. “It is impossible to entirely rule out the possibility of wrongful convictions – with irreparable consequences if the defendant has been executed,” she pointed out, adding that the death penalty was an inhumane form of punishment. 

 

The European Union, meanwhile, said it was opposed to capital punishment under all circumstances.

 

“The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity,” the EU said. 

 

That sentiment apparently has little support in Thailand, where threat of execution is often held up as an effective deterrent against committing serious crimes.

 

 

More than 86,000 people responding to a poll at Kapook’s Facebook page said they believed the death penalty reduced crimes. Only 1,451 respondents thought otherwise.

 

Maynart Nantakwang, whose popular author-mother was stabbed to death in a robbery, responded to the aftermath of Monday’s execution by lamenting that so many people were so keen to defend the rights of cold-blooded murderers. 

 

“If laws were more lenient, there would be more innocent victims,” she commented.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30348235

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-21

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

That sentiment apparently has little support in Thailand, where threat of execution is often held up as an effective deterrent against committing serious crimes.

Considering some of the heinous crimes frequently reported on here, I can't agree with it being an effective deterrent.

Fair enough their tent their circus!

SO

Will someone then kindly explain why they wont put the unwanted unhealthy dogs down.

 

Something doesnt add up in this bankrupt Buddhist paradise

2 hours ago, webfact said:

More than 86,000 people responding to a poll at Kapook’s Facebook page said they believed the death penalty reduced crimes. Only 1,451 respondents thought otherwise.

we don't need numbers from the non-criminals, we need numbers from the criminals

Polls can be engineered to get the desired outcome, but if this truly reflects the Thai societies belief, then all I can say is.

 

Primitives.

3 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Polls can be engineered to get the desired outcome, but if this truly reflects the Thai societies belief, then all I can say is.

 

Primitives.

Think Spiteful is more like it.

2 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Considering some of the heinous crimes frequently reported on here, I can't agree with it being an effective deterrent.

Perhaps because they used it only once in a decade.

Just now, poohy said:

Fair enough their tent their circus!

SO

Will someone then kindly explain why they wont put the unwanted unhealthy dogs down.

 

Something doesnt add up in this bankrupt Buddhist paradise

They won't put the dog down because it hasn't committed a serious crime such as murder. Most are only guilty of sleeping in front of 7-11.

Thailand is known for bent judges (who live in nice houses in chiang mai), criminal lawyers (enough examples from phuket alone), and a corrupt police force (no need to give examples here i suppose). In the past year we have seen examples of scape goats being used (koh tao murders) and people taking the blame for crimes they didnt commit in exchange for money (i believe it was the teacher who killed a motordriver with her pickup truck).

 

And now we see someone who has never confessed being put to death for 1 murder. And that while there are so many murders committed here with murderes confessing and showing no remorse (kids of police officers chopping up homeless people with a sword, rich kid killing a handful of people with a car while being under age and speeding, etc).

 

While i have my doubts about capital punishment, i have even stronger doubts of a country like Thailand having it. And with this case.... even stronger doubts.

40 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Polls can be engineered to get the desired outcome, but if this truly reflects the Thai societies belief, then all I can say is.

 

Primitives.

It is not a Thai thing, more people in the UK believe in capital punishment. 

In my opinion, laws are in place to protect the innocent and not to punish. 

 

"The dozen states that have chosen not to enact the death penalty since the Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that it was constitutionally permissible have not had higher homicide rates than states with the death penalty, government statistics and a new survey by The New York Times show."  https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/22/us/absence-executions-special-report-states-with-no-death-penalty-share-lower.html

 

The questions that are puzzling are why now, why this prisoner and what are the benefits?   There is no evidence that a death penalty deters crime.  A final solution enacted by this government is alarming.

Quote

Polls point to strong backing among Thais for death penalty

As the ultimate deterrent, that should now put an end to murder in Thailand. We can all sleep safer. After all other countries that employ this barbaric method have the lowest murder rates... Don't they?

 

Such polls should be regarded as a test to how backward a nation is, while actually employing the death penalty is all the evidence needed to show the country is retarded almost beyond hope

 

If only they spent as much on looking into the minds of murderers to identify them before the act, as they do on the ability to blow entire populations into oblivion. Them we could start to make progress

 

Just as an idea: a more recent hypothesis suggests criminal behavior in general is considered a result of certain genetic and environmental pressures. and  that a murderer has  no more choice regarding killing as a crocodile.

 

An idea as far removed from that of the knuckle scraping revengelicals, suggesting that, ethically speaking,  we are evolving in two distinct directions

 

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“Do you agree with execution?” An overwhelming 92 per cent said “Yes”

I have trouble following the results of this poll, seeing as the majority of the population claim to be Buddhists. One of the five Precepts is to refrain from killing.

Or is it acceptable as long as someone else is doing it to support your opinion, as long as it's not you personally doing the killing?

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

More than 86,000 people responding to a poll at Kapook’s Facebook page said they believed the death penalty reduced crimes.

And how many believe in ghosts and amulets?

I have never seen any evidence that, in countries where the death penalty is applied, it serves as a valid deterrent.

 

Anyway, their country, their choice.

When you have a dangerously corrupt police and justice system, who cares if people think it’s a good idea or not. 

 

Fix the foundations before you order the roof. 

A lot of people believe in the death penalty. Me included. I do not see why a person who has committed a henious crime should be sent to jail at taxpayers expense to live out the rest of his life while the people that have endured his criminal activity try to live a normal life.!!!

And if they asked the same people - 'Do you want all taxes removed?', the answer would be an overwhelming yes. So, the government should remove all taxes - will of the people and all that......

I believe the poll was asking if people agreed with this particular execution...... And considering the crime.... Hell yes

13 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

And how many believe in ghosts and amulets?

I have never seen any evidence that, in countries where the death penalty is applied, it serves as a valid deterrent.

 

Anyway, their country, their choice.

Ah, I see it now, regarding the Buddhist majority supporting the death penalty: Nothing to do with Buddhism.

It's to do with superstition. There's nothing final about the death penalty, you can come back as a better class of of criminal in the next life - perhaps a politician.

 

A big leap backwards ;

 
Before this, I thought Thailand really wanted to change its image, and become more civilized and human, although we are still light years away from the Norwegian judicial system on this country, I think Thailand will soon become like the Philippines, with extrajudicial executions or very harsh laws like in Malaysia / Singapore / Indonesia, .. 

 

In Singapore, you can go to death penalty, if the key you have, can coincidentally open a lock, that have drugs inside.

 

Death sentences are also mandatory under the Act:

"any person who is proved to have had in his possession or custody or under his control —

(a) anything containing a controlled drug;

(b) the keys of anything containing a controlled drug;

(c) the keys of any place or premises or any part thereof in which a controlled drug is found; or

(d) a document of title relating to a controlled drug or any other document intended for the delivery of a controlled drug,

shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have had that drug in his possession."

In Indonesia, you can go to dealth penalty, if you check-in a room of hotel, and that may a drug or dealer forget 15 grammes of drugs under the bed, if some Police knock your door just after that, you can say good bye to the freedom forever !

3 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Considering some of the heinous crimes frequently reported on here, I can't agree with it being an effective deterrent.

Exactly, should be at least one execution a week so as the criminals get the message!!

Predictable. Wouldn't expect it any other result from such spiteful juvanile creed. 

 

I fully support the death penalty for some crimes - however, in a country rife with backhanders, one has to question if corruption would not play a part in murder as opposed to to justice. 

1 hour ago, canuckamuck said:

Perhaps because they used it only once in a decade.

Countries with murder rate per capita (figure 1st to the right of the countries name) 

The US has a higher murder rate than nearly all of the nations in Europe, and even higher than a lot of Middle Eastern and African nations. Yet the overall data, if you look at it, shows countries with the death penalty have a higher crime and murder rate, than those that don't - can't argue with the statistics. And actually the US has a higher murder rate per capita than Thailand. 

 

41 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I have trouble following the results of this poll, seeing as the majority of the population claim to be Buddhists. One of the five Precepts is to refrain from killing.

Or is it acceptable as long as someone else is doing it to support your opinion, as long as it's not you personally doing the killing?

 

Working on the concept of  buddhism does this follow through to other religions and their concepts, If so you cannot condemn Islamists who declare 'Jihad' as their book teaches it is ok to have holy war on non believers the consept being "There is but one God and Mohammed was his only Prophet". Using the opiate of the masses, religion,(Karl Marks), as an excuse to kill or not is about as neolithic as one can get

4 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Considering some of the heinous crimes frequently reported on here, I can't agree with it being an effective deterrent.

It's a very effective deterrent!!! If you have committed murder and you're executed you're not going to do it again! It also makes others think before hand!

1 minute ago, dave moir said:

It's a very effective deterrent!!! If you have committed murder and you're executed you're not going to do it again! It also makes others think before hand!

True - murder or be executed - you won't do either again!

 

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Ah, I see it now, regarding the Buddhist majority supporting the death penalty: Nothing to do with Buddhism.

It's to do with superstition. There's nothing final about the death penalty, you can come back as a better class of of criminal in the next life - perhaps a politician.

 

I don't know what you are trying to say, but since you quoted me: my comment was that "people believe" doesn't mean much.

It is difficult to comment or suggest any appropriate system in this country because the whole system is too corrupted at every level!

There have been cases where 'there is no doubt of guilt' only later to be found innocent. A wrong that can never be put right. Therefore the the levels of appeal and review must be allowed. I think that's the reason why it's been said that a death penalty can cost much more than a life sentence.

I read recently that since the '70s 161 people have been exonerated from 'death row' in the states. Wrongful executions have happened everywhere. One of the more well known ones in the UK was Timothy Evans of the 'Christie murders'. It took years before he was found to be innocent but the guy had already been hanged. With the level of corruption in the justice system of Thailand, there is more of a chance of it happening here.

The death penalty is too fraught with error and can never be reversed. There is no evidence that it is a deterrent. In fact the states in the US without a death penalty showed a bigger decrease in violent crime than those with the death penalty.