However, we still have prisoners sitting on death row and, following a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court in July, those on death row may be held in shackles permanently. About half of those on death row in Thailand and a few other Asean countries are convicted of drug-related crimes. The overwhelming majority of people who end up on death row are poor and not well-educated. Thailand's National Human Rights Plan of Action (2014-2018) which outlines a plan to abolish the death penalty is a promising step. I welcome the recent formation of the Coalition on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Asean (CADPA) among like-minded persons and groups to campaign for the end of the death penalty.

Source: Bangkok Post October 09, 2016 22:18 UTC