The Defense Ministry clarified that the image showing a private being punished does not align with the facts. After investigation, it was found that the private did commit an offense and was disciplined according to unit procedures, with no intention to pursue further legal action. Later, he was discharged for desertion.
Today (3 May 2026), the Public Relations Office of the Defense Ministry reported that Col. Dr. Nusara Woraphattharat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Defense Ministry, stated that following the dissemination of information via social media by the page “Nam-Nichanan Wangkahat – Nitchana Wangkahat,” claiming a private was excessively punished,
the Defense Ministry conducted a thorough fact-check with the private's parent unit, which is directly under the Ministry. It found the information was inaccurate on several points. The key findings are summarized as follows:
- The private admitted to violating regulations and was disciplined according to unit procedures, without disputing the punishment.
- The incident involving a scuffle with a senior soldier stemmed from a misunderstanding during duties. Upon learning this, the unit disciplined the offender and immediately separated their work assignments.
- Subsequently, the private did not return to the unit after his leave, resulting in disciplinary action under regulations for "discharge due to desertion."
- After experiencing stress, the private sought advice from the mentioned page without intending for the information to be published. However, the page posted it, causing inaccuracies.
- After verifying the facts, the page has since removed the post from their system.
The Deputy Spokesperson added that sharing incomplete or inaccurate information can affect many parties, including personnel, units, and public trust. In some cases, it may constitute defamation, violating the rights of individuals and organizations.
The Defense Ministry requests the public to exercise discretion when receiving and sharing information by verifying facts from official sources and avoiding spreading information that may cause misunderstandings.
The Defense Ministry affirms that it and the armed forces prioritize the proper care of personnel at all levels in accordance with humanitarian principles and discipline. They commit to transparent and fair investigations in all cases.