"9 Volunteer Networks" submitted a letter to Parliament to push for the death penalty in severe murder and repeat offenses. The Economic Party is actively seeking 25 MPs to reinstate capital punishment.
At 11:00 a.m. on 3 Aug 2026 GMT+7 at the Parliament, Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai, advisor to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, along with MP Chris Potranan and MP Angsana Niamwanichkul from the Economic Party, received a letter from nine volunteer groups, including Mr. Tankun Jitisara, president of the Peaceful Democracy Club, as well as foundations such as Pen Nueng, Sai Mai Must Survive, Doing Good Foundation, People for People group, and Ja King's New Bridge group. They called on the government to enforce the death penalty law for severe murder cases, especially for repeat offenders.
Mr. Tankun Jitisara, president of the Peaceful Democracy Club, said the death penalty must be enforced against murderers who harm life and sexual integrity. Thailand's laws are mere paper tigers; no one fears them. Killers serve a few years in prison and are released, then reoffend repeatedly. No criminal feels remorse or fears the law. The allied civil society networks believe the justice system should be reformed comprehensively, making crime safety a national agenda seriously. Strict measures should be enforced against heinous crimes that shock society and pose serious threats—such as robbery murder, rape, and assault causing death—to impose the death penalty without exception and eliminate sentence reductions in all these cases.
MP Chris Potranan of the Economic Party said Thailand's justice system has completely failed. The party will propose amendments to the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. Although the death penalty law exists, it is not enforced; courts sentence death, but executions do not occur due to pressure from foreign countries and adherence to unreasonable conventions. Thailand has its own sovereignty and must manage its country boldly. Any criminal who dares to offend must face severe punishment without sentence reductions. This applies not only to crimes but also to corruption cases. The Economic Party will propose to remove sentence reductions for offenders who confess when evidence is sufficient, reducing death penalty sentences to life imprisonment, then possibly reduced further for good behavior to only seven years. The Ministry of Justice is ineffective and fails to do its duty. Therefore, the proposal is that serious offenders must face actual execution. This amendment can be included in the parliamentary agenda for the next session by late August. It is urgent, and the law is expected to be enforceable within one year.
"Thong and Pong served seven years in prison, then upon release killed three Thai family members and two Russian siblings. This cannot be allowed to continue or be ignored. The Economic Party has only three MPs, which is insufficient to amend the law." MP Chris added he appeals to MPs from other parties to join in signing the amendment in Parliament. They need only 25 signatures. If no MPs propose it, citizens can gather 10,000 signatures to amend the law themselves. However, he appeals to the 250 MPs representing the people, saying this is not a political issue. If both government and opposition agree, they can jointly pass this law, declaring their intent to reject criminals and illegal acts in Thailand.