SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: Terror suspects offered way out Published on December 28, 2005 Cabinet approves plea-bargain initiative to woo militants and ensure justice. The Cabinet yesterday approved the introduction of plea-bargaining in order to woo militants to embrace peace in the deep South, where more than 1,200 people have been killed over the past two years. The plea bargaining is expected to ensure justice, as well as offer a way out for insurgents who want to lay down their arms and its enforcement is not as cumbersome as an amnesty, Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanarsatidya explained. The deputy permanent secretary at the Justice Ministry, Kittipong Kittayarak, said the idea was still in its infancy but government legal experts were examining a fourth draft of the proposed law. Because it will be used in areas that come under emergency law, the proposed law will eventually have to go to Parliament, Kittipong said. Plea-bargaining would give authorities the capacity to deal with suspected insurgents in an appropriate manner, as different peoples level of participation in the insurgency varies, he said. Many suspected insurgents may not know any better and may have been misled or lured into insurgent acts and therefore there is nothing to gain by punishing them. Based on the Cabinet decision, relevant agencies would draft a new bill to empower prosecutors to rule on charges and subsequent penalties against suspected militants, Chidchai said. In principle, prosecutors will have leeway to reduce penalties or decide to prosecute on lesser charges if suspects cooperate and confess to their involvement in terror attacks, he said. At present, all people accused of terror-related charges have to undergo lengthy trials, which has been perceived as unjust because defendants are detained during judicial proceedings. And many cases relating to the southern unrest since 2004 have not resulted in convictions due to lack of evidence. Deputy Prime Minister and legal expert Wissanu Krue-ngam said the draft of the plea-bargaining bill might take time because it involved a number of relevant laws. Plea-bargaining is a long established legal tool in many countries but not Thailand, hence there is a lack of local precedents for law drafters, he said. The governments plan for plea-bargaining was part of a 10-point strategy to quell violence in the three southernmost provinces. Bangkok Senator Sak Korsaengruang, a former president of the Law Society of Thailand and legal expert, said plea-bargaining would give more power to the authorities. What we have to be careful about is the investigative procedure if a suspect makes false claims in order to obtain leniency, Sak said. The process of negotiation starts from the beginning, immediately after an arrest is made, and an agreement could be reached without having the case put to the court, he added. This is very different from the current system in which a suspect may admit to a crime but the leniency he receives is not known until the courts decision. Another thing to watch was who would be brought into the process  investigators, Attorney-Generals Office or the court itself, Sak said. The Yala-based Southern Border Provinces Peace-Building Command was expected to enforce the strategy between this year and 2009. It would be implemented in three stages. In the first phase ending next year, the command would mobilise all resources with the aim of ending the near-daily killings and attacks. The second phase, from 2007 to 2008 would focus on restoring normal life and upgrading livelihoods. And the final phase, in 2009, aims for sustainable development in the deep South. In trying to restore peace, relevant agencies and security forces have been instructed to follow the advice of King Rama VI in 1923. The late monarch offered advice on dispatching qualified officials, the imposition of justice and non-discrimination against local residents, and respect for local customs and traditions. The government would also adhere to royal advice from Their Majesties the King and Queen in regard to the sufficiency economy, rehabilitation of terror victims and the unity of Thai citizens. Kornchanok Raksaseri, Worranaree Kosajan The Nation Post your comment to this story here
„Plea bargaining“ – hier: der Versuch, auf dem Verhandlungswege eine Einigung zwischen Anklagebehörde und dem Angeklagten zu erreichen, die dabei helfen soll, eine Person, die in ein terroristisches Umfeld geraten ist, wieder in die Gesellschaft zu integrieren – soll helfen, im aufrührerischen Süden Thailands wieder für Ruhe und Ordnung zu sorgen. Die Kabinettsentscheidung muss noch durch das Parlament bestätigt werden.

Dabei geht es darum, Strafnachlässe bei der Aussicht auf Besserung zu gewähren. Die Maßnahme zielt besonders auf Menschen ab, die sich dem Terror verschrieben haben und die durch herkömmliche Gerichtsverfahren und entsprechende Strafen nicht für die Gesellschaft zurückzugewinnen sind.

In den USA ist eine solche Verhandlungsstrategie recht verbreitet. Sie wird dort vor allem unter dem Aspekt der Ökonomisierung von Gerichtsprozessen gesehen. Zurzeit kommen in den USA auf 100.000 Einwohner 702 Gefangene, die Gefängnisse sind überfüllt. Gerichtsverfahren sind teuer. Mit „plea bargaining“ wird so ein Gerichtsverfahren fast fließbandmäßig beschleunigt. In Deutschland gibt es diese Form des Verhandelns vor Prozessende nicht. Es besteht lediglich die Möglichkeit für den Richter, Strafen zur Bewährung auszusetzen oder Strafmilderung zu gewähren, wenn der Angeklagte seine Schuld bekennt und Reue zeigt. Im Unterschied zum amerikanischen Gerichtswesen ist es nicht möglich, bereits vor dem Ende des Prozesses Verhandlungen über das Strafmaß zu führen.

In Thailand ist dieses Verfahren des „plea bargaining“ – wie erläutert – vor einem anderen Hintergrund zu sehen. Bisher gibt es damit jedoch noch keinerlei Erfahrungen. Den Strafverfolgungsbehörden sollen durch diesen Schritt mehr Machtmittel an die Hand gegeben werden, um in der Auseinandersetzung mit dem Terrorismus mehr Spielraum zu gewinnen. Im Übrigen sei das Verfahren keineswegs mit einer Amnestie gleichzusetzen, wie der stellvertretende Premierminister Chidchai Vanarsatidya erklärt. „Plea bargaining“ komme in Regionen zum Einsatz, die unter Ausnahmerecht stünden.

Der Prozess der Umsetzung des „plea bargaining“ wird sich über Jahre erstrecken. Er ist eingebettet in eine Gesamtstrategie der Regierung, die darauf abzielt, bis zum Jahr 2009 den Frieden in der Unruheregion wieder herzustellen. In den letzten zwei Jahren sind hier über 1.200 Menschen durch Terroranschläge ums Leben gekommen.