Thai Army boss apologies for conscript's death

[webfact]

Army boss apologies for conscript's death

 

 

SURAT THANI: -- The Army Commander-in-Chief on Monday apologised to Thais and expressed regret to the family of a conscript who died in hospital following his fatal torture at a military base in Surat Thani province.

 

General Chalermchai Sitthisa-ard also vowed to bring all those responsible to justice, saying the army is conducting an investigation into the death of Yuthinan Boonniam who died after he was put into military detention as a punishment.

 

He was sent from the detention centre to a hospital with a swollen face and bruises. The photos were widely shared on social media over the weekend.

 

"I wish to send condolences to the family of the conscript and am ready to take legal action against all concerned. The incident is already under investigation," he said.

 

He said that he has emphasised in many meetings that there must not be assaults on the conscripts. "When this kind of incident happens, those responsible have to face prosecution according to the law. The superiors of those who are responsible for the incident will have to face disciplinary action for their lack of supervision that allowed this to happen," he said.

 

There would be no interference in the investigation, he said, adding he has already assigned the Fourth Army Region commander to take care of the family of the dead conscript..

 

"I want to apologise to society again and will try to solve the problems so that this will never happen again," he said.

 

He claimed tough discipline for conscripts has long been part of the army's practice, noting that the soldiers have to be trained to work along the border.

 

"They have to adhere strictly to the rules and those who do not face severe punishment," he said. However he insisted such activities have decreased.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30311136

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-03

[geriatrickid]

This isn't just about the NCOs  who  inflicted the  beating, but also relates to the apparent breakdown in order and discipline amongst the senior ranks. The NCOs  who knew about this who did not report to officers must be courtmartialed and discharged as must their officers who knew and did not intervene. Medical staff had both a moral and legal duty to report the injuries. If they did not, they must be  disciplined. An apology is a start, but all the  implicated  personnel must be removed from service immediately.

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"They have to adhere strictly to the rules and those who do not face severe punishment," he said. However he insisted such activities have decreased.

Punishment is fine as long as it does not include violence.  Conditioning is something that in closely monitored for gauging results.  What happened to this young man was murder, and shows the lack of professionalism of the army.

[tominbkk]

Talk is cheap.

[toybits]

Too many people have died. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn???

 

[Artisi]

It's all OK, the boss apologised - so no further input, investigation, training or discipline really needed - this very minor problem has now been attended to, noted, solved,  and swept under the table.  

[williamgeorgeallen]

an apology hopefully means a decent payout for the deceased guys family.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

A few years back it was a recruit on special forces training that drowned, then a parabat who jumped but the chute didnt open because of substandard equipment, 3 chopper that went down because of bad maintenance (of 80 coppers 40 can fly), fighter planes going down, ait craft carrier without aircraft, massive air baloon that cant fly, then in between we have the killing of conscripts every year. Oh I nearly forgot they now want subs in 60 m deep water and they are trying to run the country.

[Mickmouse1]

I was visiting a friend who just returned from the hospital visiting the mother of the murdered young man.

The TV interview last night showed the army boss wearing a polo shirt in a playboy style ? he mentioned transferring the persons involved but no mention of punishment yet.

[Emster23]

1 hour ago, toybits said:

Too many people have died. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn???

 

They have learned, just not lessons we would like. They have learned nothing happens, so will continue as usual.

[mrfill]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

Punishment is fine as long as it does not include violence.  Conditioning is something that in closely monitored for gauging results.  What happened to this young man was murder, and shows the lack of professionalism of the army.

 

It happens in other countries as well. Try googling "Pirbright barracks deaths"

[jesimps]

30 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

A few years back it was a recruit on special forces training that drowned, then a parabat who jumped but the chute didnt open because of substandard equipment, 3 chopper that went down because of bad maintenance (of 80 coppers 40 can fly), fighter planes going down, ait craft carrier without aircraft, massive air baloon that cant fly, then in between we have the killing of conscripts every year. Oh I nearly forgot they now want subs in 60 m deep water and they are trying to run the country.

It's a very poor and undisciplined military that resorts to physical abuse to punish its people. Mind you, you sort of expect this from one that instills itself in power.

Proper, well-disciplined militries remain undet the command of the elected govt.

 

[candide]

3 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

This isn't just about the NCOs  who  inflicted the  beating, but also relates to the apparent breakdown in order and discipline amongst the senior ranks. The NCOs  who knew about this who did not report to officers must be courtmartialed and discharged as must their officers who knew and did not intervene. Medical staff had both a moral and legal duty to report the injuries. If they did not, they must be  disciplined. An apology is a start, but all the  implicated  personnel must be removed from service immediately.

Additionnaly, from what I read in other sources they first told the mother that he had been beaten outside the army premises, then told that he had taken drugs,  etc... 

Well, at least the mother is yet not accused of defamation...

[Rhys]

YES... RIP.... be strong to the family..... but ranks are closing and scripted...

[yellowboat]

19 minutes ago, mrfill said:

 

It happens in other countries as well. Try googling "Pirbright barracks deaths"

If you are referring to the Megan Park mentioned in the BBC article, 17 September 2015 .  She was on a punitive run.  She was not beaten to death by her fellow soldiers.   It should not happen anywhere, including Thailand.  The difference is the British Army has taken responsibility.  The Thai Army wants to blame the recruit for being weak. 

[Jonmarleesco]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He claimed tough discipline for conscripts has long been part of the army's practice, noting that the soldiers have to be trained to work along the border.

You need an ever increasing number of conscripts to cover the border(s)?

 

Regardless, if you have NCOs who can't maintain discipline without resorting to an unacceptable level of violence - no doubt numerically disproportionate - they themselves need some severe form of discipline.

[TomTC]

49 minutes ago, jesimps said:

. Mind you, you sort of expect this from one that instills itself in power.

 

Would you rather the fake Western democracy' model.. which splits a country, then parties resort to violence,  or where 2 parties gang-up and become a 2 party dictatorship, controlled by 60 billionaires.. like in the land of the free. One man one vote? Imagine that the Industrialist billionaire with 300K employees gets 1 vote. (Thailand), The junior staff's kitchen assistant.. the same 1 vote. Where voters are paid,  where ballot boxes are stuffed with fake votes, others dumped, where computers are hacked, where dead an illegals appear on the roll, where if the winner is not a 'chosen one'.. its declared a fraud, or he/she character or person assassinated. Good luck with that wish. Let's thank the General for his steady hand on the wheel.. some rogues in military or not.

 

In the distant future.. highly trained, incorruptible  technocrats will 'rule', and yes there will be voting for the people to agree on this or that new law.

 nI

49 minutes ago, jesimps said:

 

 

 

[chainarong]

2 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

A few years back it was a recruit on special forces training that drowned, then a parabat who jumped but the chute didnt open because of substandard equipment, 3 chopper that went down because of bad maintenance (of 80 coppers 40 can fly), fighter planes going down, ait craft carrier without aircraft, massive air baloon that cant fly, then in between we have the killing of conscripts every year. Oh I nearly forgot they now want subs in 60 m deep water and they are trying to run the country.

Well at  least the cloud seeding planes are ready...................................

Edited April 3, 2017 by chainarong

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

This isn't just about the NCOs  who  inflicted the  beating, but also relates to the apparent breakdown in order and discipline amongst the senior ranks. The NCOs  who knew about this who did not report to officers must be courtmartialed and discharged as must their officers who knew and did not intervene. Medical staff had both a moral and legal duty to report the injuries. If they did not, they must be  disciplined. An apology is a start, but all the  implicated  personnel must be removed from service immediately.

Sorry gkid to many of these have come and gone and I like your enthusiasm about punishment but sadly will never happen. The good general in charge was caught in a Facebook barrage and to duck and save face came forward with an apology. Facebook for all my dislike has shone the light on this case. As in army maneuvers the bombardment must continue or its taps time.  

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

an apology hopefully means a decent payout for the deceased guys family.

We can only hope. My g/f tells me this happens on an annual basis.

[IAMHERE]

4 hours ago, tominbkk said:

Talk is cheap.

Unfortunately conscripts are even less expensive.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

6 hours ago, mrfill said:

 

It happens in other countries as well. Try googling "Pirbright barracks deaths"

Presumably you are implying that it is therefore OK for this sort of thing to occur in Thailand?   Is it also OK for 26000 people to die every year on the Thai roads because almost 2000 die on the roads in the UK, which has a very similar population?  So, using your logic, don't moan about the road deaths over here because people die on the roads all over the world?

[dinsdale]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Army boss apologies [apologises] for conscript's death

Re:write. Army boss takes responsibility for conscript's death. Responsibility? Thai? Responsibility?

 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

There would be no interference in the investigation, he said, adding he has already assigned the Fourth Army Region commander to take care of the family of the dead conscript..

Pay them lots of money. Now please be quiet. 

[berybert]

9 hours ago, mrfill said:

 

It happens in other countries as well. Try googling "Pirbright barracks deaths"

Does that it alright then ?

[jaltsc]

"General Chalermchai Sitthisa-ard also vowed to bring all those responsible to justice..."

 

"Those responsible" will be lower ranked enlisted men who will be thrown under the bus. As with everything else like this that happens in Thailand, saving face of the higher ups will be the number one concern. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Quote

 

 "When this kind of incident happens, those responsible have to face prosecution according to the law.

 

The superiors of those who are responsible for the incident will have to face disciplinary action for their lack of supervision that allowed this to happen,"

 

 

I'm trying to remember, when do I ever recall either of these things happening in the wake of similar cases in the past???