Brutality inexcusable

re: "Inmate 'choked to death'" (BP, April 21)

Dear editor,

The facts already known and admitted by the responsible Thai officials as reported in "Inmate 'choked to death'"(Bangkok Post, April 21) reveal deep moral failures in traditional Thai morals, at least in the morals of civil servants and the Thai military, but perhaps more widely shared by the Thai society excessively influenced by such institutions.

First, there is the seeming acceptance that it might indeed be acceptable for officials to engage in sadistic acts of abuse against those under their care. This is apparent in the admission that "10 prison officials ordered a military-like disciplinary session," a brutal period of abuse lasting a full morning, and involving the sadists beating the dead man with batons, forcing him to roll bare-skinned on concrete, forcing him to sit in the sun, all the while with his hands tied. These are the actions of psychopaths. But if asked, one suspects that they would describe themselves as Buddhists. They probably also think themselves decent citizens. Possibly their family and work colleagues share the same mistaken beliefs about what constitutes morally acceptable behaviour towards those over whom you in a position of power.

Second, the very fact that this brutal assault is described as "a military-like disciplinary session," tells us much about the moral state of the Thai military, where it is implied that such abuse is standard practice. But perhaps the Thai military will rebut this sullying of its reputation.

Finally, there is, as expected, the lame excuses of those apparently responsible for the death, albeit probably not intended since it has caused much inconvenient publicity, seeking to avoid the justice that they deserve. Even if official Thai regulations do not have in place strict procedures to screen out psychopathic sadists from employment, there can be no excuse for such brutal physical abuse as has already been admitted: those responsible, from the person or persons in charge who allowed or ordered it to those who carried it out, are guilty of heinous criminal offences and should be under arrest while the evidence is gathered for their trial. The crimes leading to a man's death after torture demand a stiff prison sentence, though perhaps not the sick abuse they inflicted on a petty criminal under their own care.

 Felix Qui

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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.

The text as edited was published in PostBag on April 23, 2018, under the title "Brutality inexcusable" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/1450671/brutality-inexcusable