Royal Thai Army admits eight drunken soldiers beat conscript to death
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has admitted that eight soldiers assaulted three conscripts at Sura Dham Pithak Military Camp in Nakhon Ratchasima, resulting in the death of one of the victims.
The case came to light after the family of a 21-year-old private, Krittanon Phonchantuek, publicly condemned the alleged abuse on social media. A woman believed to be Krittanon’s aunt shared his photograph online with a message expressing the family’s grief and anger.
“He became a soldier to serve the nation. No one expected him to face danger inside a military camp. How could this happen? It is cruel and far too sudden. The family still cannot accept the loss,” the post read.
The message quickly went viral, sparking widespread public outrage. In response, the Royal Thai Army’s official spokesperson team, Army Spoke Team, issued a statement on Tuesday, Jan 14, acknowledging wrongdoing by army personnel.
According to the statement, the assault occurred between Jan 9 and 10, when eight soldiers physically attacked three conscripts, including Krittanon, after accusing them of violating military regulations. Krittanon suffered severe injuries during the beating and later died in hospital. The other two conscripts remain under close medical supervision.
The RTA confirmed that the soldiers involved had consumed alcohol prior to the assault, describing the incident as a serious violation of military discipline and Thai criminal law. Legal action will be taken against all those involved, the army said.
It also announced the formation of a special investigation committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident. All soldiers implicated are expected to be suspended from government service pending the outcome of the investigation.
The admission came just one day after the RTA was forced to respond to another case of violence within its ranks. That earlier incident, which occurred on Oct 7 at a military facility in Prachuap Khiri Khan, involved a widely shared video showing a confrontation between conscripts and a senior officer.
According to the Army Spoke Team, Sergeant Major Phitpibun Wiang-in intervened in a dispute between two groups of conscripts but went on to physically assault one private. The army said he would face 45 days’ imprisonment under military regulations and lose his pension.
However, the RTA did not clarify whether the sergeant major would also face prosecution under Thai criminal law, raising renewed concerns about accountability and transparency within the military.
