Army to investigate conscript abuse claims

The army has ordered an investigation in the wake of complaints of abuse of conscripts in a military camp in Kanchanaburi being revealed, spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said.

Ladawan Srichaiyan, the mother of Private Pinpetch Srichaiyan, yesterday petitioned Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha via the complaint centre at Government House.

She claimed her son was discharged as a conscript after three months of training and told not to go back to the military unit in Kanchanaburi.

Therefore, she was worried about whether his allowance was being embezzled or whether he had been abused in the military camp. Moreover, she was concerned he would have to face legal action after being accused by the army of evading conscription.

She also complained that food prepared for conscripts was low quality.

The spokesman said military agencies are given the responsibility of taking care of the welfare of the conscripts. There are penalties for violations, the spokesman said.

Pte Pinpetch was conscripted on Nov 1, 2016, but was declared to have evaded military service as of July 28, 2017, when it was adjudged he had been absent for too long.

The allowance previously allocated for Pte Pinpetch has also already been sent back to the Finance Ministry.

Col Winthai said a new round of investigation will be carried out though the results of the previous probe have already been sent to the mother.

Earlier this week, the army ordered an investigation into the behaviour of a senior officer who allegedly ordered conscripts to raise chickens.

The move came after a video clip was posted on social media by a man claiming to be a conscript at Thanarat Camp in Pranburi district.