Thai legal aid fund 'needs a boost'

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Legal aid fund 'needs a boost'
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION



JUSTICE MINISTER PAIBOON SAYS AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH POLICE LAST WEEK TO PROVIDE FREE LAWYERS AND BAIL MONEY AT MORE STATIONS

BANGKOK: -- A STATE Justice Fund needs to be boosted and made easier to access so that poor people who face legal charges get equal access to bail, Justice Minister General Paiboon Khumchaya said yesterday.

"I would be glad if a billionaire and someone with just Bt10 had equal access to justice," the minister said. Paiboon is also a deputy leader of the military junta in charge of justice.

The general gave a wide-ranging outline of his views on the justice system to the public yesterday at the 13th National Symposium on Justice Administration at Queen Sirikit Convention Centre in Bangkok.

He admitted that he's tired because he has no legal background, but since taking office he has recognised that the Justice Ministry's responsibility is huge and important.

"There are many good proposed laws that have never been passed because various state agencies are at odds with one another, or because it affects vested interests groups," he confided. He added that the current military-led administration and the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly would, however, seek to pass 151 bills during its term.

'A chance to defend themselves'

In regard to the Justice Fund, Paiboon said an agreement was signed with the National Police on December 8 to get police to inform people of their rights and to make free lawyers available, plus bail money, at more police stations.

"We just want everyone to have the chance to defend themselves fully in the judicial process. Many were imprisoned simply because they had no access to bail money." He added that no one would want a family member to be in such a situation.

Paiboon acknowledged that many people in rural areas still did not know about the Justice Fund but said the ministry was trying hard to spread the word among the rural poor.

Another problem cited by Paiboon is that in some far-flung areas there may be a court but no other justice-related state offices, which reduced local people's access to justice.

Other justice issues included so-called stateless people born in Thailand who do not readily earn Thai citizenship. Paiboon said these people were often refused access to basic education, rendering them illiterate and a burden on society.

The minister said the issue of citizenship should be separated from access to basic education.

On drugs, Paiboon questioned whether small-time drug takers should be imprisoned and wondered if jailing such people was the right way to deal with the issue.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krua-ngam, who gave an opening speech, outlined three gaps in the justice system: people's access to it, people's distrust of court verdicts, and the gap among various justice-related organisations.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Legal-aid-fund-needs-a-boost-30250447.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-23

[NongKhaiKid]

Equal access to justice and bail for people with no money, no family name or connections !

Now there's a novel idea.

[greenchair]

One of the most horrendous things in thai justice is. ...

If you plead guilty automatic half sentence. If you plead not guilty and lose. Automatic maximum sentence. The court appointed lawyers and even paid lawyers encourage innocent people to plead guilty, in the hope they will get a simple fine. The court lawyers are a danger to the public as they are too lazy to investigate and spend time on a case. Hundreds of innocent people have pled guilty to crimes they never committed because of this law. 2 example come to mind. The mushroom pickers, whose lawyer told them to plead guilty to illegal logging. Even the judge knew they were innocent, but handed down a 15 year sentence. The b2 who must choose. Plead guilty and get jail for many years , and live . Or plead not guilty and risk the death penalty if they lose. I don't know which one I would choose. The guilty or not guilty plea should have absolutely no significance on the sentencing.

[SOTIRIOS]

......that should include foreigners........

[soalbundy]

Equal access to justice and bail for people with no money, no family name or connections !

Now there's a novel idea.

No,....Justice, that's a novel idea.

[soalbundy]

......that should include foreigners........

foreigners aren't poor, and they wouldn't normally get justice no matter who they have as a lawyer,save yourself the money and say guilty as charged.

[timewilltell]

......that should include foreigners........

foreigners aren't poor, and they wouldn't normally get justice no matter who they have as a lawyer,save yourself the money and say guilty as charged.

That is more a case of the dreadful number of crooked lawyers and even higher number of qualified lawyers who have difficulty applying for a summons never mind running a case. Between the two it is a wonder the judges manage to finish any cases. With the ignorance and corruption and fact there is no disciplinary procedures of effect it is no wonder the legal profession is in such disrepute. The funny thing is these lawyers think they have made it as important people in society when in reality they are just as much scammers as the jet ski mob only worse as they are in positions of trust which the wholesale abuse.

[BritTim]

The minister said the issue of citizenship should be separated from access to basic education.

This is hugely important. I am convinced that the issue of stateless persons would be largely solved in a generation if the younger generation was able to acquire an education.