Majority of Thais still back death penalty

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai chapter of Amnesty International (AI) wrapped up its three-day campaign by marking the International Day for the Abolition of the Death Penalty yesterday with a sober reminder that up to 80 per cent of Thais still support capital punishment according to surveys.

A panel speaker explained that the widespread support for the death penalty might have something to do with the Thai beliefs in revenge and retribution - which are both barbaric and undemocratic.

Political scientist Sirote Klampaiboon said Thai people were trapped in the revenge mentality despite the fact that there was still no verifiable correlation between the death penalty and a reduction in crime. He added that many people were still clinging to the undemocratic belief that the state had the right to kill in order to maintain law and order.

However, opponents of the law insist that capital punishment is both against the fundamental right to life and does not reduce the crime rate, he said.

"The debate is not going anywhere," said Sirote, who is a human-rights lecturer.

Pol Major Anek Ananthawan, also a human-rights lecturer at the Police Cadet Academy, said the struggle to end the death penalty in Thailand would be a long and difficult one because it depended on changing people's hearts and minds.

According to AI, Thailand is one of 57 nations to still have capital punishment. The director of AI's Thailand chapter, Parinya Boonridrerthaikul, said two-thirds of the world's nation states have already done away with the death penalty as it is deemed cruel and could lead to the accidental execution of an innocent person.

"We cannot solve violence by using violence," Parinya concluded.

According to AI, no state should be given the power to take anybody's life; the death penalty is discriminatory and often used disproportionately against the poor, the mentally ill, racial and ethnic minorities or because of sexual orientation or religion; and it inflicts pain on the families of those on death row.

-- The Nation 2012-10-13

opponents of the law insist that capital punishment is both against the fundamental right to life and does not reduce the crime rate

IMO one loses 'right to life' when they kill and rape another. And why babble on about the crime rate; that is there regardless. I'm with the Thais on this one.

Where are the survey results?

For rapists and murderers, I'd back public torture for a select few public example cases. The death penalty only has to be a deterrent for 'some' people for it to be a 'win' for the public.

:-)

It's not surprising that Thaivisa.com members would agree with the anti-progressive, brain-dead opinions of Thais on this subject...disregard for human life and lack of any sort of compassion are characteristics both of many Thais and the racist right-wing farang cabal which makes up much of the membership here. Yaaaawwwwwn.

The legal system is far too fragile and corrupt to have the death penalty.

When I see a re-inactment of the crime it can be either "I did it guv".......or it could be through the BIBs gentle persuasion.........I'm never sure which.

It's not surprising that Thaivisa.com members would agree with the anti-progressive, brain-dead opinions of Thais on this subject...disregard for human life and lack of any sort of compassion are characteristics both of many Thais and the racist right-wing farang cabal which makes up much of the membership here. Yaaaawwwwwn.

Anyone is entitled to their opinion, and the right to express it. As you don't have any background or access to the characters that make up either Thai Visa members or in fact many Thai's, to assume all to be brain dead and anti progressive, and they (all) have disregard of human life, are racist right wing etc., clearly demonstrates you insult the use of the name you chose to be a member here.

It's not surprising that Thaivisa.com members would agree with the anti-progressive, brain-dead opinions of Thais on this subject...disregard for human life and lack of any sort of compassion are characteristics both of many Thais and the racist right-wing farang cabal which makes up much of the membership here. Yaaaawwwwwn.

Hold It right there,if a rapist attacks a woman his take away her right to go about her business unmolested.If a murder takes the life of a member of my family he takes their right to life.If you take away someones rights you must forfeit your own.

Another white lie probably. Any banana republic would be ashamed with figures "As up to 80%" but Thailand is far worse than a banana republic when it comes to manipulating figures. It is done by people who love to call themselves academics. Being an academic in thailand is not too hard. Even the kindergarten is referred to as "university".

Secondly if polls are held they poll only in and around Bangkok and polling agencies do not even consider polling the rest of the country. On top of that even when polled in bangkok, what is clearly not even the case, we are talking about a few idiots who make unsubstantiated claims only people which can be reached during daytime and can answer telephone or internet questions are taken in consideration plus that most people have to visit the polling agency's website and subscribe. THis procedure means that people in factories, agriculture and low end jobs will not even be taken into consideration. Polling is a good "white lie" instrument in Thailand as it is seldom random, questions seldom published and the margin of error are falsified.

There might be a majority for the death penalty that happens often in backward societies who are uninformed but it is surely not 80%.

The majority of Thais believe in ghosts and magic amulets too, not to mention a whole load of other nonsense they are brainwashed with

I don't put too much store by what Thai people think

You should not have the death penalty, when it is known that many people confess through torture.

As a deterrent, I don't think the death penalty works as at the time of committing a criminal act, consequences are rarely considered, nor is getting caught. As vengeance, killing the person responsible for a crime can work in helping some victims recover.

Edited October 13, 201213 yr by adrock212

As a deterrent, I don't think the death penalty works as at the time of committing a criminal act, consequences are rarely considered, nor is getting caught. As vengeance, killing the person responsible for a crime can work in helping some victims recover.

I'm sure most Thai's abide by the "kill no living thing" teaching.

The death penalty is a step backwards in my opinion. I've asked Thais if they agree with it and they've said for crimes like 'drugs'. They haven't thought about it - just a response.

In a Buddhist society, I find it hard to believe 80% think it's okay. It's as if there are at least 80% of Thais who don't understand the religion.

To paraphrase from another religion "An eye for an eye makes us both blind".

The world would be a much better place if all the scum that walk this earth were executed. If someone brutally raped and murdered your girlfriend or mother, do you think we should all show them some compassion? I don't think people like that deserve any compassion whatsoever. They are scum and should be executed ASAP.

The world would be a much better place if all the scum that walk this earth were executed. If someone brutally raped and murdered your girlfriend or mother, do you think we should all show them some compassion? I don't think people like that deserve any compassion whatsoever. They are scum and should be executed ASAP.

The statement is that the majority of Thai's back the death penalty, therefore relating it to Thailand, I think the death penalty is not sound in a country where people are forced to confess.

I just don't see how the Thai nation, which is supposedly governed by Buddhist principals, can allow a Death Penalty. It is one of the five precepts! But, so much in Thailand is contradictory.

Amnesty International needs to put their thinking cap on. I bet if someone killed one of their relatives they would believe in the death penalty. I a, glad Thais believe in the death penalty, it should be 100% backing not 80%

The British Parliament voted to suspend the death penalty for murder in 1965, as the first step towards total abolition, against the evidence of opinion polls that the majority of the public still supported it. I wonder what percentage of the British public support it today.

I think it has been a common situation around the world that the general public is slow to support abolition but, once they get used to it, they don't want to return to the bad old days.

Edited October 13, 201213 yr by Arkady

Amnesty International needs to put their thinking cap on. I bet if someone killed one of their relatives they would believe in the death penalty. I a, glad Thais believe in the death penalty, it should be 100% backing not 80%

Meanwhile Thais are happy to sit in stunned silence and do nothing when the son of a wealthy politician walks away scot free after murdering someone in front of many witnesses. Where is the justice in in a system that applies the death penalty (or any punishment at all) on a strictly means and influence tested basis?

Now there you have it Amnesty International tree huggers. Pack up and P off.

It's not surprising that Thaivisa.com members would agree with the anti-progressive, brain-dead opinions of Thais on this subject...disregard for human life and lack of any sort of compassion are characteristics both of many Thais and the racist right-wing farang cabal which makes up much of the membership here. Yaaaawwwwwn.

Bahahaha!

The British Parliament voted to suspend the death penalty for murder in 1965, as the first step towards total abolition, against the evidence of opinion polls that the majority of the public still supported it. I wonder what percentage of the British public support it today.

I think it has been a common situation around the world that the general public is slow to support abolition but, once they get used to it, they don't want to return to the bad old days.

The British Parliament voted to suspend the death penalty for murder in 1965, as the first step towards total abolition, against the evidence of opinion polls that the majority of the public still supported it. I wonder what percentage of the British public support it today.

I think it has been a common situation around the world that the general public is slow to support abolition but, once they get used to it, they don't want to return to the bad old days.

Thailand only 47 years behind the UK in having a forward thinking civilised society. I think you are being a tad generous squire

Does the belief in reincarnation influence the Buddhist mindset into seeing the death sentence more as a compassionate and forgiving act, rather than life imprisonment as an alternative? If so, the harsher life sentence would contradict the western train of thought on this topic?

Just a thought as fortunately we all think differently.

I wish my Country had this penalty

An inflammatory post has been removed as well as a baiting post.

Personally I agree with the death sentence for certain offenses, however it should only be given where there is irrefutable evidence, and all proper appeals have been exhausted. With that in mind Thailand has a far too corrupt judicial system in place to safely hand out death sentences, the common statement of, "Because 'he/they' admitted the offense he/they will be spared the death sentence" in it's self stinks of the admissions being unlawfully obtained thus making the whole process unsafe.

That said I am sure hope trust maybe the Thai's who support the death penalty do so with the knowledge of the inherent corruption?

Edited October 13, 201213 yr by lizardtongue

Nothing wrong with the death penalty...why feed, clothe, these bas "turds". Its a tax burden.

And secondly it helps to bring closure to the victums family and their on going suffering for such a horrible loss.

Screw the bleeding heart liberals. If they want to house and clothe these bas "turds" let these murders, rapists, and pedofiles stay with them in their own homes. and when one of their children gets raped, or murdered, etc etc etc...lets see how fast they change their tune.

truth is ,.......if corruption was punishable by death , there would be 80% against the death penalty not for it !

Does the belief in reincarnation influence the Buddhist mindset into seeing the death sentence more as a compassionate and forgiving act,

Don't know about 'the Buddhist mindset' whatever that is, but it's certainly something Buddha would not ascribe to