re: "We must end torture in all its forms" (BP, September 21, 2021)
Dear editor,
In his opinion piece rightly emphasizing the need for reform of traditional systems and mindsets in the Royal Thai Police and like institutions, Kavi Chongkittavorn missed an opportunity to make a constructive suggestion to improve Thailand's ugly culture of impunity for those who commit violence against Thai citizens.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha could, as a good person would, promptly end the culture of violence that imprisons people merely for the articulate, peaceful expression of views that some find offensive. The prime minister could and should also move to have those undemocratic laws amended in line not only with democratic principle but with good morals. There is no justification whatsoever for the legalized injustice according to which people are thrown into prison merely for statements or expressions of opinion that are deemed to mock or criticize or otherwise offend some public figure or allegedly sacred institution. Imprisoning people for decades for the peaceful expression of opinion is morally indefensible violence against those persons. It also flatly contradicts basic democratic principle. It is morally wrong.
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 September 23, 2021, under the title "It's just an opinion" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2186343/phuket-plan-disaster
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