A soldier’s mother appeals after her son was beaten nearly to death by a drill instructor early in 2026; compensation efforts have stalled. She hopes no other soldier’s family will suffer similarly.
Nitchanan, a former People's Party MP candidate, posted on her personal page "Nam-Nitchanan Wangkahat" on 11 Mar 2026 about a complaint from a soldier’s mother. The case involved Suratham Phithak Camp, Korat, where nine drill instructors and senior soldiers violently assaulted three soldiers, resulting in one death and two severe injuries.
The injured soldier’s mother contacted authorities to urge progress on compensation and legal proceedings. She had initially refrained from contacting the unit out of respect, but now feels the case has stalled and the aid remains unclear, prompting her complaint.
The mother of Private Th. recounted the events of that day.
1. The incident occurred the night of 10 Jan 2026, when Private Kritanon was sent to the hospital and later died on 11 Jan 2026.
2. After the incident on 10 Jan 2026, the unit did not immediately send Private Th. to the hospital but treated him in the camp until 12 Jan 2026, when he was finally transferred to a hospital.
3. The mother received a call from the unit on 11 Jan 2026 around 14:00 stating that Private Th. was suffering from acute kidney failure and was hospitalized, prompting her to rush to visit him.
She questions why the unit concealed the truth, why they did not openly admit her son was beaten, and why they failed to notify her on the night of the incident.
4. The mother described Private Th.’s condition with injuries visible in photos. He was unconscious and unable to speak until noon on 13 Jan 2026, when he regained consciousness and communication, remaining hospitalized for two weeks.
5. Private Th. was a conscript from the second draft of 2025, starting 1 Nov 2025, signing up for a one-year term after finishing high school, aiming to become a non-commissioned officer. He told his mother about the events after training. Between Nov and Jan, he was allowed a 10-day leave home. On returning, a urine test showed purple urine, which the mother accepted if it was due to disciplinary issues, but she objects strongly to the severity of the beatings—he should have been punished with five lashes, not physically harmed.
6. After dinner and going to the barracks, the drill instructor ordered senior soldiers—nine in total, divided into teams of three—to blindfold three soldiers including Private Th., lead them out to the Tiger Cave area, where they were made to kneel, kicked in the stomach, and hit on the back with metal rods until they collapsed, then were led back to rest.
7. About two hours later, they were led out again to repeat the abuse, three rounds in total that night, which led to Private Kritanon’s critical condition and eventual death at the hospital.
8. Private Th. was treated in the camp until 12 Jan 2026 when he was sent to the hospital. During the beatings, he appeared intoxicated.
9. The unit filed a police report and Private Th. has been questioned. The unit promised to compensate the mother from the day she visited the hospital. The camp raised 10,000 baht to assist her, and the nine assailants personally apologized. The mother understands the senior soldiers were also pressured by the drill instructor.
10. Currently, the nine assailants are detained in a civilian prison, but the case has seen no progress and the police have not contacted the mother.
11. Compensation from the Ministry of Justice is pending. Through Nitchanan’s coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Cultural Integration Foundation, the case is scheduled for discussion on 31 Mar 2026.
12. Regarding compensation from the unit, initial promises of insurance or similar payments were retracted as the case was deemed ineligible. The unit gave Private Th. 2,000 baht and had him sign documents as if receiving 60,000 baht compensation, but no money has been paid. The mother fears the case may be ignored and requests help to push for legal progress.
13. The mother does not want this to happen to any other soldier’s child. She urges the army to implement measures to prevent and resolve such incidents and asks what can be done.
Why were the soldiers blindfolded, led out, and beaten three times? Why did no soldiers in the barracks report this? Where were the supervisors, and why did they not witness or intervene?