Army denies ‘suspicious circumstances’ claim in death of teenage cadet

By PREEWADEE WICHAIPRASIT, 
JITRAPORN SENWONG, 
PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI 
THE NATION 

 

 

PHRAMONGKUTKLAO Hospital has dismissed concerns surrounding the recent death and reported “missing organs” of an 18-year-old military student.

Phakhapong “Moei” Tanyakan, a first-year student at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School (AFAPS), died on October 17 under what the family believes were suspicious circumstances. 

 

 

Lt Colonel Narut Thongsorn, a senior doctor at the hospital’s Army Institute of Pathology, said yesterday: “His body had no signs of injuries at all so we partially removed some of his organs, like his brain and heart, for detailed examination.”

 

He said the organs could be returned to the family now that the examination had been completed.

 

“The results show he died of acute heart failure,” Narut said.

 

The hospital held a press conference yesterday in response to the complaint from Phakhapong’s family members. They said they secretly submitted Phakhapong’s body for a second autopsy and were told some of his organs had been removed. 

 

 

This week, the family contacted the media to voice their concerns about what they claim were irregularities in Phakhapong’s death. 

 

AFAPS commander Maj-General Kanokpong Channuan told reporters that the issue of missing organs was a medical matter linked to the first autopsy. 

 

Kanokpong insisted that the fatal heart failure suffered by Phakhapong was not related to punishment he suffered three months ago. 

 

Phakhapong’s elder sister, Supicha Tanyakan, said yesterday that her sibling almost died on August 23 because of punishment he received at the school. 

 

“He fell unconscious and demonstrated low vital signs that day,” Supicha said. 

 

She added that her brother later told her that he had been punished because he and his friend were on a path prohibited by his seniors. 

 

“His senior forced him to put his legs up and his head down in a sauna room for hours,” she said.

 

Supreme Commander General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan summoned Kanokpong to explain the case after the scandal broke. 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is a former Army chief, said he was sad to hear about Phakhapong’s death. 

 

 

“I’ve heard that he fell ill quite often and received medical help at the school from time to time,” Prayut said.

 

Kanokpong said Phakhapong took part in the school activities as usual on October 16 but then reported accelerated breathing.

“So, he went to the first-aid room. CCTV has recorded all that,” Kanokpong said. 

 

He said Phakhapong fainted on October 16 and 17 “and we sent him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead”. 

 

Asked about the incident in which Phakhapong was punished and almost died a few months ago, Kanokpong admitted that the punishment had taken place. 

 

“But we have already taken disciplinary action against those involved,” Kanokpong said, adding that the case was also not related to the symptoms that caused Phakhapong’s death last month.

 

Prayut said if any investigation showed Phakhapong did not die naturally, those responsible for his death would face a stiff penalty. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30332200

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-22

Barbaric punishment that obviously contributed to his death

Maybe Thai media should be naming these "brutal beatings" for what they are instead of repeatedly supporting the military's attempt to normalize it by labeling  it simply "punishment"

Quote

Prayut said if any investigation showed Phakhapong did not die naturally, those responsible for his death would face a stiff penalty. 

But he forgot to add that the investigation would be done by the army itself.

 

As always he has his mouth full on how to run the country and how others should behave, but everything he and his army does is off limits for a real investigation.

Has become a big news item; all over Channel 3 this morning.

1 minute ago, nausea said:

Has become a big news item; all over Channel 3 this morning.

Yeah the Army/Junta are having to answer for their actions now. Nothing would have been said  a few months ago

5 minutes ago, nausea said:

Has become a big news item; all over Channel 3 this morning.

Fear not, the Thai army has been involved in plenty of scandals over the last few decades, many very similar to this one, and they are never held accountable and never subject to external scrutiny. This will be the same. This has only reached Channel 3 because the deceased was on track to enter the military as an officer and the family have some money, nous and clout.

I would like to comment, but the new warnings of keeping quiet carry a serious charge. 

I expect this story to disappear in a week or less. 

It's really sad though. 

Privilege is a right for some in Thailand.  Others must rely on luck for there is not scrutiny or fairness. 

So, as a first year student,  they are subject to being beaten and punished by the second, third, and forth year students for any reason, like walking down a path? 

And standing on your head in a f#%king sauna for hours is torture. But of course no one will be punished for it. And the prime minister lied about him being sick often. Absurd.

Fell ill quite often and recieved treatment at the hospital from time to time. 

Translation and my personal understanding . 

He often recieved injuries from his training supervisors which required hospital treatment. 

28 minutes ago, soistalker said:

So, as a first year student,  they are subject to being beaten and punished by the second, third, and forth year students for any reason, like walking down a path? 

And standing on your head in a f#%king sauna for hours is torture. But of course no one will be punished for it. And the prime minister lied about him being sick often. Absurd.

Yes, mostly correct.

 

I am sure there will be internal punishment but remember the Thai military answers to no external body. This is rule number 1. This explains the ridiculous statements of the PM. It also means that the internal disciplinary procedures will be not revealed. Even their existence will not be revealed.

How do they know the heart being given back belongs to the boy. 

Surely upon the cremation they would have destroyed it. 

Why would they keep a heart? 

 

Deny, deny, deny, as long as possible and hopefully the uproar will

pass. Standard operating procedure.

His brain was missing from his skull and internal organs were missing from his abdomen when his body was presented to his parents.  That's a hell of a heart attack.

An absolute crime if the senior military officers knew or contributed to this kind of “punishment”... for this young man! 

Just waiting for the junta fanboys to comment: 'to be expected at any military run school-  normal behaviour anywhere in the world '. I went to a military style school in England and of course senior boys bullied juniors but nothing like this would in any way be allowed. Poor young man and so sad for his family and friends. 

Oooooooh...if the Army sayeth so, so it must be!

First they denied it, then when it was revealed an autopsy had been performed by a hospital they admitted it, now they say it was justified. Being in the army doesn't mean you are the personal chattel of untouchable tyrants. Kudos to the parents, pursue them to the end. New abuse heights achieved today !

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“But we have already taken disciplinary action against those involved,” Kanokpong said, adding that the case was also not related to the symptoms that caused Phakhapong’s death last month.

 

Prayut said if any investigation showed Phakhapong did not die naturally, those responsible for his death would face a stiff penalty. 

beyond the pale of believability; is blatant lying taught in the various academies ?

Only in Thailand can the use of whitewash be considered a valid procedure in military autopsies!

Denies ‘suspicious circumstances’ makes everyone  suspicious.

1 hour ago, Ulic said:

Deny, deny, deny, as long as possible and hopefully the uproar will

pass. Standard operating procedure.

quite so, albeit entertaining, their excuses are ludicrous

Well, seeing as they claim he died as a result of a cardiac arrest, we can only assume Burke and Hare got involved, with a market for the young man's other organs. 

 

The only other possibility would be a cover up, and Heaven forbid, that would be unthinkable ... right?

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Privilege is a right for some in Thailand.  Others must rely on luck for there is not scrutiny or fairness. 

A young Man died nothing to do with Privilage 

have little respect for this poor young man 

32 minutes ago, saminoz said:

Only in Thailand can the use of whitewash be considered a valid procedure in military autopsies!

Easily available in the military. 

'I’ve heard that he fell ill quite often and received medical help at the school from time to time,” Prayut said.'

 

Then what the hell <deleted - that was a word?> was he doing in the army? 

 

'Prayut said if any investigation showed Phakhapong did not die naturally, those responsible for his death would face a stiff penalty.'

 

A lot stiffer than both wrists slapped, I should hope. 

Edited November 22, 20178 yr by Jonmarleesco

Another one? I'm starting to get them all mixed up now.

A new low. 

Taking organs from the victim. 

They could have put them back. 

Really there is no excuse. 

4 minutes ago, dcpo said:

Another one? I'm starting to get them all mixed up now.

Yes, and another young man wishing to be an officer in the navy apparently fell down and broke his ribs  (as they do in Thailand ).

Since he was in the hospital recovering he missed his graduation so they discharged him. His father went down there and let them have it, so now he's in trouble. 

Waiting for outcome.