Thailand currently retains a policy of imposing the death penalty for very serious crimes such as murder and drug trafficking. However, the Thai government has told the UN there is a possibility of abolishing capital punishment.
Abolition of the death penalty has been included in Thailand’s National Human Programme of 2009 to 2013. The program was part of the World Conference on Human Rights to promote and protect human rights and find a better action plan for those in the country.
There has already been a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty which has been presented at the UN General Assembly three times already. Thailand voted against the moratorium on the first two occasions and abstained in the third.
In December, a vote on a moratorium will again be submitted to the UN General Assembly. Advocates such as form Prime Minister of East Timor Jose Ramos-Horta, have expressed hope that Thailand will vote in favor of the resolution. Ramos-Horta stated that he wants Thailand to follow up on this commitment by stopping the imposition of death sentences and executions.
East Timor is part of a group of countries of Asia that have already chosen to eliminate the death penalty. The country has a maximum prison sentence of 25 years and does not sentence people to life in prison.
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Ramos-Horta is an amazing man. Not only does he have a strong and decided stance on the death penalty but he knows why it should be thrown out. Lets hope Thailand listens to him.
Informative post. I do however, have to disagree with trying to eliminate the death penalty. If criminals have no fear of the possibiliy of having this sentence then crime will remain the same or increase. There has to be an ultimate punishment to combat violence.