Drug dealers put to death

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Drug dealers put to death

  • Published: 25/08/2009 at 12:00 AM
  • Newspaper section: News

Two convicted drug traffickers at Bang Khwang prison have been executed by lethal injection.

Bundit Jaroenwanit, 45, and Jirawat Poompreuk, 52, yesterday became the country's fifth and sixth people to be executed by lethal injection, which replaced death by shooting in 2003.

The atmosphere at Bang Khwang prison in Nonthaburi was subdued yesterday when the two learned they were about to die.

They were given 60 minutes to call or write to their loved ones. They were then offered a last meal and a chance to listen to a sermon from a monk invited from Wat Bang Praek Tai.

They were blindfolded and given flowers, candles and incense sticks before being taken to the execution chamber.

The two, their legs manacled, turned their faces towards the temple as they were laid out on beds.

They received three injections. The first was a sedative, the second a muscle relaxant and the third a drug that stops the heart beating.

About the author

Writer: KING-OUA LAOHONG

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  • WILL SMITH

    Discussion 31 : 25/08/2009 at 09:20 PM31

    BY BIBLE STANDERDS, IT'S A EYE FOR A EYE AND THESE TWO DID NOT KILL SO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIFE IN PRISON ( WHICH IS WORST ) AT HARD LABOR TO PAY THEIR OWN WAY . NO FREE RIDES OR COZY CELLS WITH TV OR MATES ALLOWED TO VISIT, BUT A 8 HOUR DAY EARNING THEIR FOOD . SEX CRIMES SHOULD HAVE THEIR ORGANS REMOVE AT A HOSPITAL AND A WIDE, DARK TATTOO ON THEIR FOREHEAD THAT TELLS THE WORLD TO BEWARE . WE CUDDLE THE BAD GUY TO MUCH AND SHOULD USE MORE COMMEN SENCE AND MAKE THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME . OHHH, I MEAN WORLDWIDE !

  • Village Idiot

    Discussion 30 : 25/08/2009 at 07:24 PM30

    Will anybody ever know just who actually ordered the execution in 1 hour ?

  • Sompat

    Discussion 29 : 25/08/2009 at 03:49 PM29

    heh heh - so they were about to turn in the police/politicians/business people they were connected with - hence the 60 minute setup

    so the lesson here is - drug dealing is dangerous - because your partners will have you killed if you get caught

  • uan

    Discussion 28 : 25/08/2009 at 02:54 PM28

    an hour's notice? seriously?

  • RB

    Discussion 27 : 25/08/2009 at 02:24 PM27

    I do not support this way of punishing (death penalty). Here in Switzerland we also have big problems with drug abuse and many dealers. I have been many times in thailand and i think 20 years thai prison is like the death penalty (even worse..) but of course society have to feed him 20 years. This is the only point I agree with death penalty. Even i am not a "good" christian, we all should try to act according to the ten comandments, which one important is "you should not take anybodys life away". Thailand is a beautiful country and sure i don't want tell them what they have to do but we stay in 2009! You mean death of this 2 poor dogs will change or stop anything?!

  • DOK

    Discussion 26 : 25/08/2009 at 02:01 PM26

    Many may believe that killing bad ones for saving good ones is righteous. Under some tight circumstances we may face very limited options to spare mercy for those bad ones. Suppose terrorists who holding hostages or conducting bomb plots may get shot on site or executed later after trial (by that mercy killing).

    This disgusted drug business in reality involves many parties including dealers, users, and corrupted law enforcers. In order to suppress drug dealing, balanced actions on all participants should be taken. But why death penalty for non-terrorist incidents? No matter how smooth ways chosen to execute the convicts it is plain barbaric and murderous action legalized. Instead a wide option for the treatment is always available. If not, choosing death penalty is also disgusted. That won’t fix such things.

  • something

    Discussion 25 : 25/08/2009 at 01:06 PM25

    It was not barbaric, that's the way I want to die when I am 80. Choosing when I die and sanctioned by the state is the way to go! So not all state executions are bad

  • nobody

    Discussion 24 : 25/08/2009 at 12:57 PM24

    Considering the history of corruption among all institutions in Thailand the most egregious by allowing the outright smuggling of drugs and human trafficking for decades and decades I think this is tragically hypocritical. These individuals are nothing but pawns in a game of so much larger players. Let's keep it real

  • Tony

    Discussion 23 : 25/08/2009 at 12:35 PM23

    Death penalty might have its merits, but when you consider the fact that drug trade world wide is made possible by corrupt officials in both government and law enforcement, its hardly fair to execute underlings when it does absolutely nothing to deter the real cause of the crime.

    CIA imports TONS of cocaine into US cities ON RECORD! Coupled with a ridiculous education system and a dead economy, you get a steady stream of willing dealers to take the CIA's candy. All the executions in the world aren't going to fix that.

    Education, solid economy, and end the corruption in the police and government (I know that's asking a lot) and then it might be just or reasonable to execute traffickers. Until then, capital punishment becomes just more pointless violence and death. Singapore has the right idea, they have a harsh justice system, but they also have world class education, a clean government, and a strong economy to deter crime.

  • murder

    Discussion 22 : 25/08/2009 at 12:28 PM22

    Doesn't anyone in this forum see the paradox? The government, in fact all the thai people have killed two individuals. They are murderers and if double homicide carries the death sentence, all deserve to die. Keep those traffickers locked up and serve them only bred and water, but don't kill them. By the way, is this going to deter any future criminals? Not if the profits are high enough...

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