THAILAND. ACADEMICS CALL FOR AN END TO THE DEATH PENALTY

academics and civic groups in Thailand called for the abolition of capital punishment arguing that curing social problems and bringing criminal masterminds to justice would be much more effective.
Speaking at a seminar at Thailand's Journalist Association, Kittisak Pokkati, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, said that capital punishment was a mistake for society.
''Most death row inmates have convictions related to drugs and murder cases. But to simply execute them does not stop the problem recurring,'' he said.
He urged the Corrections Department to investigate the cases fully and bring the ''big fish'' to justice since only small-time drug pushers and criminals were normally arrested. Fewer imprisonments could be expected if the masterminds of such crimes were apprehended, he said.
Director of the Human Rights Commission Protection Office, Sukchai Methavikul, said many studies had shown capital punishment did not help prevent serious crimes.
''If we still want to correct these people's behaviour, then capital punishment should not be used,'' said Mr Sukchai.