Debating the death penalty

The Corrections Department has opened the raw wound of capital punishment once again.

Authorities conducted the nation's first execution since 2009 on Monday. They executed convicted killer Theerasak Longji, 26, for the horrendous 2012 murder in Trang of a teenager, just for the purpose of stealing his phone and a meagre amount of cash. Theerasak was killed by lethal injection, the method used in seven cases since 2003.

Executions have become rare in Thailand in recent decades even though the number of crimes punishable by death has increased. Before Monday, it was last used in August 2009 when two drug traffickers were put to death on the same day at Bang Khwang prison. Bang Khwang is the nation's chief Death Row, but others exist in provincial prisons, for both men and women. There are currently about 450 condemned prisoners, according to the Corrections Department.