BANGKOK
-- Thailand was suddenly engulfed in debate over capital punishment last month
not because of some bloodcurdling crime, but because the legal elite proposed
making crooked politicians pay the ultimate price. The idea came from Meechai
Ruchupan, chairman of the military-appointed committee that drafted the new
constitution. Meechai justified it as a way of keeping corrupt individuals out
of politics.
Politicians involved in buying or selling
key government jobs would have faced a maximum sentence of death. The measure was
seen as an attempt to curb corrupt acts by future ruling party officials, who
would have the authority to make political appointments.
Opponents included Peerasak Porjit, deputy leader of the
National Legislative Assembly. The proposal went against the legal principle of
having the penalty fit the offense, the former prosecutor argued. He also
pointed to countries that have abolished capital punishment.
Meechai did not take such criticism lying down. "If
the NLA thinks the death penalty is too severe, what about a fine of 5 baht [14
cents] or 10 baht?" he told the Bangkok Post. "It depends on how they
view the matter."
Thailand's nearly allergic reaction to corruption
reflects the seriousness of the problem. Transparency International gave the
country a score of 38 out of 100 in its 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. The
global average was about 43. Thailand moved up in the rankings for a second
straight year, to 76th place among 168 countries and territories. But its
actual score has hardly budged since 2012.
The Southeast Asian nation scored and ranked far below
neighbors Singapore and Malaysia and beat out Indonesia and Vietnam by narrow
margins. Thai politicians do not resign even when found to be corrupt and cling
to power as long as possible, a political scientist said. Such behavior has
only made the public wary.
The new constitution, to be signed soon by recently
anointed King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, shows the depth of
distrust. The military will have effective control of the upper house for five
years and could install an unelected prime minister. New election guidelines
for the lower house will make it difficult for any one party to claim a
majority, reducing the ruling party's influence.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also spoke out
against the death penalty. The introduction of such measures should be
considered carefully, he said.
Meechai walked back his proposal Nov. 22, calling instead
for a maximum life sentence for those who buy or sell political posts. But he
still said capital punishment was a better idea, suggesting that he was
unwillingly bowing to criticis.
"There are no shortcuts to a working democracy," wrote
Danthong Breen, who chairs the Union for Civil Liberty, in a letter to the
Bangkok Post. "Corruption must be ended by education and participation of
people in the function of a government."
That legal eagles saw death as an option demonstrates the severity of
the situation. The new king faces the daunting task of bridging gaping
political rifts and ushering in a new era for a country reeling from the loss
of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, long a pillar of Thai politics and society.
HIROSHI KOTANI, Nikkei staff writer
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