Proposed Amendments to the Authority to Use Lethal Force
Keywords:
the Authority to Use Lethal Force, Law Enforcement Officials, the Right to LifeAbstract
The authority to use lethal force is exercised as a last resort when suspects or offenders are being arrested by law enforcement officials. It should fall under the third paragraph of Thai Criminal Procedure Code section 83. If this paragraph is applied for such authority, the right to life would be more protected than under Thai Criminal Code section 68. With the present legislation, since the authority to use lethal force by law enforcement officials is not expressly granted in the third paragraph of Thai Criminal Procedure Code section 83, Thai Criminal Code section 68 has been used consistently instead. Hence, it is recommended that:
Firstly, under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand section 231(1), the proposal above with the ombudsperson’s opinion should be submitted to the Constitutional Court so a decision can be made regarding its constitutionality.
Secondly, a fourth paragraph should be added to the Thai Criminal Procedure Code section 83 as follows.
“The use of lethal force in the third paragraph can be applied only if suspects or perpetrators pose a death threat to law enforcement officials or other persons. Such lethal force can be applied only if it is found that all other means to eliminate such a grave threat have been tried”.
Thirdly, it should be noted that the existence of this authority to use lethal force does not mean law enforcement officers are being encouraged to use this extreme measure. What this authority does mean is that if such lethal force is used by officers in the protection of their own life or the life of another, it cannot be seen as a criminal act.
References
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2. Charan khōtsanānan. (2013). sitthi manutsayachon rai phromdǣn : pratyā kotmāi læ khwāmpen čhing thāng sangkhom [Human Rights without Frontiers : Philosophy, Law and Social Reality]. Bangkok: Nititham.
3. Charnchai Sawangsak. (2017). kotmāi pokkhrō̜ng kīeokap kānsưksā [Administrative Law related to Education]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
4. Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2015). ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [Website]. Retrieved from http://humanrights.mfa.go.th/th/humanrights/obligation/international-human-rights-mechanism/ICCPR.php.
5. fāi wichākān sūt phaisān. (phū rūaprūam). (2018). pramūan rabīapkān tamrūat kīeokap khadī [Code of Police Regulations related to Cases]. Bangkok: Soutpaisal.
6. Heyns, C. (2014, April 1). Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. [United Nations General Assembly – Word Document]. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/AnnualReports.aspx.
7. khana phon čhan hō̜m. (2020). lak phư̄nthān kotmāi ʻāyā lem 1 [Basic Principle of Criminal Law Book 1]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
8. Kietkajorn Vachanasvasti. (2019). khamʻathibāi kotmāi ʻāyā phāk 1 lem 1 [Explanation of Criminal Law Part 1 Book 1]. n.p.: Krung Siam Publishing Limited.
9. Montri Jitviwat. (1988). wisāmankhāttakam : sưksā chapho̜ kō̜ranī čhaophanakngān tamrūat [Legal Murder : Specific Study concerning the Police].(Master of Laws Thesis). Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
10. Narin Manjit. (2005). krō̜p kānchai ʻamnāt rat tām māttrā 83 kap kān pō̜ngkan dōi chō̜p dūai kotmāi : kō̜ranī kānchai kamlang bangkhap kō̜ hai kœ̄t kān tāI [Self Defense and Deadly Force]. (Master of Laws Thesis). Dhurakij Pundit University, Bangkok.
11. Nucharee Longkaew. (2013). kānchai kamlang bangkhap khō̜ng čhaophanakngān tām pramūan kotmāi withī phičhāranā khwām ʻāyā māttrā 83 wak sām [An Exercise of Force of an Official in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, Section 83 third paragarph]. (Master of Laws Thesis). Dhurakij Pundit University, Bangkok.
12. Pawarit Kitsukchit. (2018, July - September). the Use of Drones and International Humanitarian Law. Bot Bundit, 74 (3), 22-53. p.25.
13. Pawarit Kitsukchit. (2020a). dōn naʻat nō ti tit ʻāwut : panhā thāng kotmāi khō̜ng kānchai nai kānčhapkum phū tō̜ng songsai rư̄ ʻātchayākō̜n tām pramūan kotmāi withī phičhāranā khwām ʻāyā māttrā 83 wak thāi [Fully Autonomous Armed Drones: Legal Issues related to the Use of such Autonomous Vehicles for Arresting Suspects or Offenders under the Last Paragraph of Thai Criminal Procedure Code Section 83]. Bot Bundit, 76., 3, 58.
14. Pawarit Kitsukchit. (2020b, October - December). Targeted Killings and the Use of Force by Thai Law Enforcement Officials Based on the Third Paragraph of Thai Criminal Procedure Code Section 83 and Thai Criminal Code Section 68. Bot Bundit, 74 (4), 146-169. p.159.
15. phra mahā Veera thāwarō. (2017). khamsō̜n lūangphō̜ wat thāsung lem 58 : rūam tham thētsanā khō̜ng . . . lūangphō̜ phra rāt phrommayān ( phra mahā Veera thāwarō pō̜thō̜ 4) wat čhan thārām ( thāsung ) tambon namsưm ʻamphœ̄ mư̄ang čhangwat ʻuthai thānī. Bangkok: Speed Press.
16. Rātchakitčhānubēksā, ราชกิจจานุเบกษา. (1914). phrarātchabanyatchan sūt phlik sop Phō̜.Sō̜. 2457 [Autopsy Act, 1914]. (12, February, 2021). Retrieved form http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2457/A/92.PDF
17. saha rat kit supphakān. (2020). lak læ khamphiphāksā kotmāi ʻāyā [Legal Principle and Judgements]. Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing.
18. sālinī sāi chư̄a สาลิณี สายเชื้อ. (2003). māttrakān nai kān khūapkhum trūat sō̜p wisāmankhāttakam [Measures to Control and Examine Extrajudicial Executions]. (25, November, 2563). Retrieved form https://www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/CMUJLSS/article/download/64540/52938
Smith, R. K. M. (2016). Textbook on International Human Rights. 7th edition. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
19. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 169/2504 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.169/2504]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
20. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 1741/2509 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.1741/2509]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
21. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 3318/2529 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.3318/2529]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
22. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 555/2530 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.555/2530]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
23. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 879/2508 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.879/2508]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
24. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 943/2508 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.943/2508]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
25. The Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba. (1990). Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. [PDF File]. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/firearms.pdf.
26. The Secretary-General. (2006, September 5). Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. [United Nations General Assembly]. Retrieved from https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/488/01/PDF/N0648801.pdf?OpenElement.
27. Thīsut Phanrit. (2013). kān channasūt phlik sop læ kān wisāmankhāttakam [Autopsy and Extrajudicial Killings]. Bangkok: Nititham.
28. Twekiat Menakanist. (2014). General Principles of Criminal Law. Bangkok: The Project for the Promotion of Textbooks and Teaching Materials.
29. Twekiat Menakanist. (2019). pramūan kotmāi ʻāyā chabap ʻāngʻing [Criminal Code for Reference]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
30. Twekiat Menakanist. (2020). kotmāi ʻāyā phāk thūapai [Criminal Law: General Part]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
31. Udomsak Sinthipong. (2018). sitthi manutsayachon [Human Rights]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
32. UNODC, The Doha Declaration: Promoting a Culture of Lawfulness. (n.d.). Topic Three–The general principles of the use of force in law enforcement. Retrieved May 9, 2020, from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/crime-prevention-criminal-justice/module-4/key-issues/3--the-general-principles-of-use-of-force-in-law-enforcement.html
33. Winai Lumlert. (2018). kotmāi ʻāyā [Criminal Law 1]. Bangkok: Ramkhamhaeng University Press.
34. Yud Sang-Uthai. (1977). kotmāi ʻāyā phāk thūapai [Criminal Law – General Part]. n.p.
2. Charan khōtsanānan. (2013). sitthi manutsayachon rai phromdǣn : pratyā kotmāi læ khwāmpen čhing thāng sangkhom [Human Rights without Frontiers : Philosophy, Law and Social Reality]. Bangkok: Nititham.
3. Charnchai Sawangsak. (2017). kotmāi pokkhrō̜ng kīeokap kānsưksā [Administrative Law related to Education]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
4. Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2015). ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [Website]. Retrieved from http://humanrights.mfa.go.th/th/humanrights/obligation/international-human-rights-mechanism/ICCPR.php.
5. fāi wichākān sūt phaisān. (phū rūaprūam). (2018). pramūan rabīapkān tamrūat kīeokap khadī [Code of Police Regulations related to Cases]. Bangkok: Soutpaisal.
6. Heyns, C. (2014, April 1). Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. [United Nations General Assembly – Word Document]. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/AnnualReports.aspx.
7. khana phon čhan hō̜m. (2020). lak phư̄nthān kotmāi ʻāyā lem 1 [Basic Principle of Criminal Law Book 1]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
8. Kietkajorn Vachanasvasti. (2019). khamʻathibāi kotmāi ʻāyā phāk 1 lem 1 [Explanation of Criminal Law Part 1 Book 1]. n.p.: Krung Siam Publishing Limited.
9. Montri Jitviwat. (1988). wisāmankhāttakam : sưksā chapho̜ kō̜ranī čhaophanakngān tamrūat [Legal Murder : Specific Study concerning the Police].(Master of Laws Thesis). Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
10. Narin Manjit. (2005). krō̜p kānchai ʻamnāt rat tām māttrā 83 kap kān pō̜ngkan dōi chō̜p dūai kotmāi : kō̜ranī kānchai kamlang bangkhap kō̜ hai kœ̄t kān tāI [Self Defense and Deadly Force]. (Master of Laws Thesis). Dhurakij Pundit University, Bangkok.
11. Nucharee Longkaew. (2013). kānchai kamlang bangkhap khō̜ng čhaophanakngān tām pramūan kotmāi withī phičhāranā khwām ʻāyā māttrā 83 wak sām [An Exercise of Force of an Official in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, Section 83 third paragarph]. (Master of Laws Thesis). Dhurakij Pundit University, Bangkok.
12. Pawarit Kitsukchit. (2018, July - September). the Use of Drones and International Humanitarian Law. Bot Bundit, 74 (3), 22-53. p.25.
13. Pawarit Kitsukchit. (2020a). dōn naʻat nō ti tit ʻāwut : panhā thāng kotmāi khō̜ng kānchai nai kānčhapkum phū tō̜ng songsai rư̄ ʻātchayākō̜n tām pramūan kotmāi withī phičhāranā khwām ʻāyā māttrā 83 wak thāi [Fully Autonomous Armed Drones: Legal Issues related to the Use of such Autonomous Vehicles for Arresting Suspects or Offenders under the Last Paragraph of Thai Criminal Procedure Code Section 83]. Bot Bundit, 76., 3, 58.
14. Pawarit Kitsukchit. (2020b, October - December). Targeted Killings and the Use of Force by Thai Law Enforcement Officials Based on the Third Paragraph of Thai Criminal Procedure Code Section 83 and Thai Criminal Code Section 68. Bot Bundit, 74 (4), 146-169. p.159.
15. phra mahā Veera thāwarō. (2017). khamsō̜n lūangphō̜ wat thāsung lem 58 : rūam tham thētsanā khō̜ng . . . lūangphō̜ phra rāt phrommayān ( phra mahā Veera thāwarō pō̜thō̜ 4) wat čhan thārām ( thāsung ) tambon namsưm ʻamphœ̄ mư̄ang čhangwat ʻuthai thānī. Bangkok: Speed Press.
16. Rātchakitčhānubēksā, ราชกิจจานุเบกษา. (1914). phrarātchabanyatchan sūt phlik sop Phō̜.Sō̜. 2457 [Autopsy Act, 1914]. (12, February, 2021). Retrieved form http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2457/A/92.PDF
17. saha rat kit supphakān. (2020). lak læ khamphiphāksā kotmāi ʻāyā [Legal Principle and Judgements]. Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing.
18. sālinī sāi chư̄a สาลิณี สายเชื้อ. (2003). māttrakān nai kān khūapkhum trūat sō̜p wisāmankhāttakam [Measures to Control and Examine Extrajudicial Executions]. (25, November, 2563). Retrieved form https://www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/CMUJLSS/article/download/64540/52938
Smith, R. K. M. (2016). Textbook on International Human Rights. 7th edition. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
19. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 169/2504 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.169/2504]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
20. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 1741/2509 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.1741/2509]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
21. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 3318/2529 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.3318/2529]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
22. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 555/2530 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.555/2530]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
23. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 879/2508 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.879/2508]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
24. sūn theknōlōyī sārasonthēt læ kānsư̄sān nai sān dīkā. ศูนย์เทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสารในศาลฎีกา. (n.d.). khamphiphāksā dīkā thī 943/2508 [a Brief of Supreme Court Judgement No.943/2508]. 11 February 2021. Retrieved from https://deka.supremecourt.or.th/.
25. The Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba. (1990). Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. [PDF File]. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/firearms.pdf.
26. The Secretary-General. (2006, September 5). Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. [United Nations General Assembly]. Retrieved from https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/488/01/PDF/N0648801.pdf?OpenElement.
27. Thīsut Phanrit. (2013). kān channasūt phlik sop læ kān wisāmankhāttakam [Autopsy and Extrajudicial Killings]. Bangkok: Nititham.
28. Twekiat Menakanist. (2014). General Principles of Criminal Law. Bangkok: The Project for the Promotion of Textbooks and Teaching Materials.
29. Twekiat Menakanist. (2019). pramūan kotmāi ʻāyā chabap ʻāngʻing [Criminal Code for Reference]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
30. Twekiat Menakanist. (2020). kotmāi ʻāyā phāk thūapai [Criminal Law: General Part]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
31. Udomsak Sinthipong. (2018). sitthi manutsayachon [Human Rights]. Bangkok: Winyuchon.
32. UNODC, The Doha Declaration: Promoting a Culture of Lawfulness. (n.d.). Topic Three–The general principles of the use of force in law enforcement. Retrieved May 9, 2020, from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/crime-prevention-criminal-justice/module-4/key-issues/3--the-general-principles-of-use-of-force-in-law-enforcement.html
33. Winai Lumlert. (2018). kotmāi ʻāyā [Criminal Law 1]. Bangkok: Ramkhamhaeng University Press.
34. Yud Sang-Uthai. (1977). kotmāi ʻāyā phāk thūapai [Criminal Law – General Part]. n.p.
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Published
25.06.2021
How to Cite
Kitsukchit, P. (2021). Proposed Amendments to the Authority to Use Lethal Force. Journal of Thai Ombudsman, 14(1), 43–65. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ombudsman/article/view/249262
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