The Thai cabinet has recently rejected a proposal by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to revoke the death penalty in Thailand, in line with an increasing international practice.
Supatra Nakhapiew, a member of the NHRC, said that the commission had proposed to the cabinet that new laws must not include the death penalty and that the laws which specify only the death penalty for specific offences must be amended.
She also said that the commission suggested that the government launches a campaign to inform the people of the reason why the death penalty should be revoked.
She explained that such proposals are in line with the role and duties of the commission in light of Thailand being a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Ratthawit Ariyapatchphol, spokesman for the judicial office, said that the court does not object to the NHRC’s proposal, but would prefer all parties concerned to study the issue thoroughly and take into account the impacts of the revocation of the death penalty on the offenders and victims.
Citing the opinion of criminologist, Associate Professor Pol Lt-Col Krisanaphong Pootrakool, Ratthawit said that the issue can be viewed in two ways.
The first is that offences, such as premediated murder, serial murder and rape/murder, are regarded as serious offences that deeply affect the families of the victims and society as a whole.
The second is that the perpetrators have the right to life, a fundamental right of human beings.
As of August this year, there are 393 convicts on death row in Thailand, some of whom have appealed for a Royal pardon or commutation. The last execution took place in 2018 and the convict, who had been found guilty of robbery and murder, was executed by lethal injection.
