A conscripted soldier was beaten until dawn, left critically injured. The family demands compensation before his discharge, revealing that after recovery and return to the camp, his mental state is disoriented, raising concerns about his ability to live and work normally.
The case involving two conscripted soldiers injured and one fatality at Tham Suea Camp, Surathampitak, Phon Phatthana 2, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, has sparked questions about internal unit care procedures and rehabilitation approaches, after one injured soldier developed acute kidney failure and mental disorientation following the assault.
Thairath Online’s special team interviewed the mother of the first injured conscript, who said her son enlisted at a military camp in Nakhon Ratchasima in November 2025, with discharge scheduled for November 2026. He returned home to Ubon Ratchathani for about 10 days in late December before going back to the camp on 8 Jan 2026.
On the afternoon of 11 Jan, the soldier’s mother received a call from the unit informing her that her son had acute kidney failure and was being treated at a hospital, despite previously being in good health with no chronic illnesses or abnormalities.
The mother revealed that upon arriving at the hospital around midnight, she found her son unresponsive to his surroundings, even though doctors said he was stable. By the next morning, his condition improved enough for him to nod and respond partially to questions.
During this time, the unit invited the mother for a discussion but did not explain the true cause of his condition. Later, she learned that another conscript soldier died in a related incident.
"I was nearly shocked; I couldn’t accept if it was my son," she said, adding that initial financial aid of 10,000 baht was given, along with occasional payments of about 1,000-2,000 baht, but there remains no clear official rehabilitation plan.
After the injured soldier improved, he reported that on the night of 9 Jan around 9:00 p.m., he and two others were summoned, blindfolded, and bound, then taken to a location inside the camp. They were ordered to kneel and were beaten—kicked repeatedly in the chest and struck on the back with an iron rod—from that night until about 5:00 a.m. the next day, with short breaks in between.
The assault was triggered by a urine test showing a purple color for all three soldiers, while the attacker, an officer, was reportedly intoxicated.
The injured soldier said he was unable to stand, felt weak, vomited, was exhausted, and dizzy after the assault, but was not immediately sent for medical treatment. He was only hospitalized on 11 Jan 2026, where doctors diagnosed acute kidney failure.
The mother said that seeing the wounds on her son’s body, especially on his back and arms, convinced her the injuries resulted from assault, not normal illness. He was hospitalized for about two weeks, during which unit officials visited periodically.
Regarding compensation, the mother said there is still no clear policy, though commanders promised additional aid by providing three beef cattle to support his livelihood, but there has been no concrete progress.
She affirmed the family intends to pursue legal action against those responsible and calls on relevant agencies to clarify the facts and establish clear rehabilitation guidelines. She emphasized not wanting similar incidents to happen to other families, as conscripts are often the main support for their households.
The family of another injured conscript reported they were originally poor. Their son was studying in the Non-Formal Education system (NFE) before enlisting. Upon learning of the incident, the trainer called to inform them their son was hospitalized due to kidney failure.
When the family arrived at the hospital, they found the injured soldier with tubes attached and undergoing dialysis, with clear bruises from his abdomen to his waist and shoulders. Initially, he could only slightly shake his head in response and took 2-3 days before he could begin to speak.
Later, the injured soldier told his family he was assaulted inside the camp, starting with being slapped on the ear until he lost consciousness. When he woke, he was kneeling while non-commissioned officers and conscripts took turns beating him. If a kick was weak, he was ordered to kick again. When he passed out, water was thrown on him to revive him, then he was ordered to lie face down and was struck on his back with a metal rod.
Regarding compensation, the family said they received initial financial aid of 10,000 baht twice but have seen no clarity on long-term assistance or damage compensation. They said they have not dared to demand more yet, waiting for the unit’s clear approach.
The family also expressed a wish for tangible support such as home repairs or rebuilding, fearing that after discharge, the injured soldier may not receive ongoing care.
They reported that since the incident, the injured soldier continues to suffer mental symptoms including disorientation, blank stares, confusion, night terrors, and easy fright, clearly impacting his daily life.
“We want clarity on compensation and treatment for our son. We don’t know how he will make a living; he seems lost,” the family said.
The family calls on relevant agencies to define clear compensation guidelines covering medical costs and long-term rehabilitation. They noted the injured soldier is still under treatment and it is unclear if he can return to work in the future.
Recently, Major General Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson for the Army, stated that the Army does not endorse such actions. On the contrary, the Army considers itself a co-victim and is ready to cooperate with the victims’ families in pursuing civil litigation.