Judge Khanakorn Pianchana kills himself
Photo: Facebook
Yesterday, Saturday, March 7, Judge Khanakorn Pianchana killed himself with a pistol shot to the chest. This happened in Doi Saket, not far from Chiang Mai, when his wife and daughter were not at home.
For brief
Before he killed himself, he published a letter on his Facebook page pointing out the intolerable consequences of the events in October of last year: the possible loss of his job and criminal prosecution. He wrote: 'I was charged and became a suspect in a criminal case. I believe I will lose the job I love which is a loss to everyone's true personality. He called his act in October an honest wish to do justice for the Thai people.
The judge also pointed to the structural problems in the legal system. "Friends and compatriots, do you see malicious intent in what I did in October and what prompted disciplinary and criminal action?" The judge referred to the Constitution of 1997, which he called the most democratic and which prohibited interference in the decisions of a judge.
He also asked for donations to pay for his daughter's education.
The events of October 4, 2019
Judge Khanakorn shot himself that day, after reading a verdict acquitting 5 suspects in a violent act for lack of evidence. That happened in a courtroom in Yala, a southern province. He was not seriously injured and was taken to hospital.
That day he published a 25-page statement on Facebook. He reported that higher courts had strongly advised him to pass a guilty verdict but that it was impossible for him to do so conscientiously despite the dangers to his career. He saw no sufficient evidence to convict them. He also called in the statement for "Returning Judgment Power to the Judge" and "Returning Justice to the People."
A few days later, a legal committee announced that Khanakorn would be transferred to Chiang Mai and other disciplinary actions would be considered. This committee would also consider how draft judgments should be viewed and scrutinized in the future.
Source: Bangkok Post
On the criminal charge against him: possession of a firearm in a courtroom
prachatai.com/english/node/8335
Khanakorn's Facebook page
www.facebook.com/kanakorn.pe
2.700 people left comments, condolences, appreciation for his work and lots of gifts.
"He pointed to the intolerable consequences of the events in October of last year: the possible loss of his job and a criminal prosecution."
He was probably depressed. Killing yourself for possible job loss? And all this while leaving behind a wife and daughter? That's pretty selfish. Has little understanding or respect for it.
A brave man or someone who turns an incident into a drama? Don't know.
If he had pulled the lid off the cesspit, something might have 'happened' to him because accidents are the order of the day in Thailand. But you don't take your own life for nothing. So something is definitely going on, I suppose.
RIP
No one will know, but if every person with an ideal does something like that, it won't help.
A dead person is not a parasite and he is too unknown to be seen as a hero, so nonsensical action that shortfalls his own family and relatives, because in the history of the road to more freedom, he will be very happy.
separate role.
The man apparently had strong personal motives, including his professional honor as a judge that threatened to be disgraced. Something that we farrang in Thailand easily qualify as "safe the face".
However, the substantive signal that the man gives with his act of desperation seems to me to be particularly socially relevant. This judge sends a strong signal about the violation of the independence of the judiciary. A crucial necessary element in a constitutional state.
We farrang guests in this beautiful land of smiles with many lovely people should not interfere with internal Thai politics as guests. That's for the Thai.
However, I spend my last, non-professional part of life in this country, because my partner, after more than 30 years in cold frog country, was still homesick for her native country.
A structural return to something that seems to be moving more and more towards feudalism, to please a limited clique of (loan) lords, I look at with regret.
Another worrying signal from my wife's country. A woman and a country that I love.
This is exactly how I experience it too, Mark.
I have also thought, read and written a lot about 'losing face', which would play a major role in the East. Well, in the West too, and I agree with this sentence:
'The man apparently had strong personal motives, including his professional honor as a judge that threatened to be disgraced. Something that we farrang in Thailand easily qualify as “safe the face”.'
Although it is unclear to me why this article was posted, I still want to say something about it. Judge Khnanakorn on October 4 last year did not intend to hand down harsh sentences against 4 suspects of violence in Yala. He was not convinced of their guilt, but was urged by “higher” fellow judges to do what was expected of him, read: instructed. To reinforce his refusal, he posted a 25-page statement on Facebook, and then shot himself. He was hospitalized, recovered and transferred to Chiangmai. So a 2nd suicide attempt was successful. God rest his soul!
It's not that Khnanakorn just killed himself because he was depressed over job loss. Khnanakorn did attempt to address abuses in Thai justice with his desperation. Perhaps a strange way of acting in Western eyes, but here we are dealing with Thai situations. In a constitutional state, there is a separation of powers (trias politica). Principles of the rule of law are hard to find in Thailand. Khnanakorn wanted to make that clear, and at the same time was very aware of the dissident status that his attitude gave him. He didn't want to bear the consequences. That too is Thai. One cannot handle emotional conflicts. Fortunately, this conflict affected him himself, and that a solution to it was not devised outwardly, as happened in Korat. Be that as it may: Thailand is and remains a complicated tangle of motives.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/1765609/judge-shoots-self-in-court#cxrecs_s
You start by saying you don't understand why this article was posted. Then you give a very long explanation as to why this judge might have committed suicide. The enormous problems within the judiciary and the great unreasonable pressure that have been exerted on this man have led him to this act and that is why this article has been posted.
Many systems in Thailand are sick, this man apparently did not want to cooperate anymore.
“Fortunately that this conflict affected him himself” is defined very strangely.
If the Thai rule of law were not so corrupt, there would be no conflict, so no incident!
Judge Khanakorn refused to "justify what was crooked!"
RIP
When judge Khanakhorn Pianchana announced in October last year in Yala that he was under heavy pressure from above to change his judgment that the judiciary in Thailand is not independent, he effectively became a whistleblower.
In the “West” the life of a whistleblower is already difficult, in Thai labor relations it is several degrees worse. Apparently he didn't feel like it (anymore).
@Mark at 09:58: I may not be a good guest in your eyes, but I will speak my mind where possible and help to get a just, truly democratic Thai society.
But ultimately the Thai themselves determine their (political) course.
@ TheoB at 09:41 : Sorry dear Theo, I don't feel called to condemn you as a "bad guest". I am not your judge 🙂
Simply deeply sad. A loss to the country and to his family. The man clearly cared about his profession, a fair and independent judiciary. And yes Theo, completely agree: I will not hide my opinion (support for a Thailand with trias politica, democracy and human rights). But the key to change ultimately lies with the Thai. I/we can only provide moral support and generate international attention.