The Royal Thai Navy has ordered the disciplinary detention of a commander for seven days after an investigation found he used excessive force against a naval conscript, in violation of navy regulations and standing orders.
Rear Adm Parach Rattanachaiyaphan, the navy spokesman, said on Sunday the service had acted swiftly after allegations of abuse circulated widely on social media. A fact-finding panel completed its inquiry the same day.
“The investigation concluded that inappropriate conduct and excessive use of force did take place,” R/Adm Parach said. “This is a clear breach of the navy commander-in-chief’s orders, which strictly prohibit any form of violent punishment of personnel.”
The officer had been disciplined under military regulations and ordered confined for seven days, effective immediately.
R/Adm Parach said the punishment reflected the navy’s established disciplinary framework, under which all allegations are subject to investigation and offenders sanctioned to maintain organisational standards and discipline.
“The navy will not tolerate violence in any form,” he said, adding that firm action would be taken against anyone who violates orders.
“Our aim is to ensure the Royal Thai Navy remains a disciplined, transparent institution that retains public trust.”
The case came to public attention after social activist Guntouch “Gun Jompalang” Pongpaiboonwet posted details on Facebook, saying a young naval conscript had sought his help. His page has 10 million followers.
According to Mr Guntouch, the conscript alleged that he was ordered by a superior to remove his shirt and was then forced to lie face-down on the deck of a naval vessel, his chest pressed against the hot metal deck. When that part of the deck cooled, he was allegedly made to move to another, hotter spot.
Attempts by others to intervene failed, the activist said, and the conscript suffered blister injuries across his body, photographs of which were later shared online.
The conscript said his commander had ordered him to remain on the vessel since February and he was allowed ashore for only half a day this month, when he went to see Mr Guntouch, despite submitting leave requests to visit his father, who is suffering from end-stage kidney disease.
The situation escalated when the conscript’s leave was revoked and he was called back immediately, preventing him from visiting his family in Phitsanulok, whom he had not met for more than eight months.
Mr Guntouch questioned the commander’s motive behind the decision to revoke the leave.
In a later update, Mr Guntouch said senior navy officers he contacted intervened to resolve the matter. The conscript was told to proceed with his family visit, with assurances that his leave would not be an issue.
“All it took was understanding and putting oneself in the young man’s place,” Mr Guntouch wrote. “His father is ill, but he is ordered to see his commander first. Who can think this?”
Neither the disciplined officer's name nor the conscript's name were made public.
