Thai’s have no faith in their own justice system
Nearly two-thirds (64.2 per cent) of Thai people recently surveyed believe the case in which construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and three others are accused of poaching and possessing wildlife at the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi would ultimately see no wrongdoers punished, because the suspects are from an “influential group”.
The survey was recently conducted by the Bangkok University Research Centre among 1,202 Thai respondents nationwide, who were asked for their opinions on justice procedures in Thailand. The poll also found that 53.3 per cent of respondents thought the case against Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya – who is wanted over a 2012 hit-and-run incident that left a Bangkok traffic policeman dead – wouldn’t see Vorayuth punished. Fifty per cent of the respondents also believed the case against Dhammakaya Temple ex-abbot and founder Phra Dhammachayo would also be unable to bring the controversial monk to justice.
Asked which group of people would likely get away with a crime, 69.2 per cent of the respondents ranked “the group of influential figures”. Also named were politicians (63.6 per cent), “high society” wealthy people (61.5 per cent), civil servants, police and military people (45.2 per cent) and monks (21.1 per cent). Over a third of respondents (37.6 per cent) believed the justice system contained loopholes that allowed wrongdoers to evade justice.
Another 28.6 per cent thought the practice of “double standards” or discrimination was in play, while 23.6 per cent said they thought available punishments were too lenient compared to the crimes. Just 5.7 per cent believed that legal procedures were carried out justly and transparently, while 4.5 per cent said scapegoats had been used to take the blame for crimes.
Asked if they still felt confident in justice procedures, 71.7 per cent said their confidence was rather low while the rest said their confidence remained high.
Source: Nation
