At the same time, Thailand adopted a new Constitution which also embraces several fundamental rights. But this is no time for the Thai government to rest on its laurels. Yet their new Constitution still allows for people to be sentenced to death. The death penalty is regularly handed down in Thailand, usually for murder, rape, and heroin trafficking. Since 1996, after a nine year hiatus, at least four people have been executed, most recently in October 1998.
Executions take place in secrecy and without prior warning.
Other fundamental rights guaranteed in the new Thai constitution, such as the right not to be tortured or ill-treated, are now protected by law but still often not respected in practice. Police sometimes torture untried criminal suspects and use excessive force to subdue public demonstrations. Prison conditions often constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, characterized by prolonged shackling in heavy chains, extended solitary confinement, and beatings for minor breaches of prison rules. Overcrowding and medical neglect are also ongoing problems. They are routinely sentenced to up to 40 days' imprisonment, if not longer.