Unacceptable brutality in the Armed Forces

Three years ago, then Army chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha banned brutal punishments in barracks after two video clips depicted what was nothing less than brutal treatment of conscripts went viral.
In one video, a conscript was repeatedly kicked by soldiers even after he had fallen to the ground and passed out. The other video showed a naked recruit tied and beaten up.
These activities were supposed to be disciplinary in nature but the acts spoke for themselves. Such activities have no place in our society.
And so, when Army Private Songtham Mudmad was beaten to death in a military camp in Yala’s Bannang Sata this past week, one was left wondering if the word of the then Army chief and now prime minister, carried any weight in forces that are supposed under his line of command.
Does the Army even have some sort of internal investigation independent of the local command to ensure that policy or activities such as the recent punishment of Pvte Songtham and Pvte Chatpisut Chumphan are kept in check. Chatpisut, lucky to survive the beating, has been recovering .
According to military regulations, punishments are limited to probation, fines, detention and confinement.
Why does the military have to wait for uproar from social media to take action? Surely Songtham’s case was not the first and probably won’t be the last. But it would be somewhat reassuring to see some whistleblower in the military, someone who could step forward and declare enough is enough.
As the most powerful man in the country and one with no opposition to worry about, Prime Minister Prayut has a moral obligation to see to it that
justice prevails in this case.
He made a promise three years ago and should be reminded that incidents of torture in Bannang Sata not only challenged his authority, but would degrade the image of the Armed Forces if the people involved in this episode of brutality go unpunished.
Lack of interference from the headquarters in Bangkok has permitted the local command to smear the reputation of the slain private, as part a pernicious effort to save the six culprits. Pvte Songtham was accused of being a drug addict and hence the harsh punishment, one is led to conclude.
In his testimony to the police from the hospital, Pvte Chatpisut also said one of the officers stole their money. Pvte Songtham’s parents said the money was supposed to have been used for repairs to their home.
Thai conscripts don’t make much to begin with but for a young man to be able to save up and send money home to help his parents speaks a great deal about his character.
Understandably, his family is upset at the reaction and the treatment by the local command and the military.
Pvte Songtham’s mother, Chitra Chormanee, said she is considering taking her son’s body to Government House and demand an answer from Prayut himself.
Fourth Army chief Lt-General Wiwat Pathompark had reportedly ordered the six soldiers behind the beating carry out a rite of atonement and ask for forgiveness for their crime.
Army chief General Teerachai Nakwanich has transferred a lieutenant colonel and a captain out of the base over the Songtham case.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan recommended that the soldiers undergo a mental health check to see if they were of sound mind.
But these are minor actions. The leadership in Bangkok must ensure justice prevails. Atonement is not justice and transferring wrongdoers to a different post is not punishment. And if leaders in Bangkok think such actions are enough, perhaps they need to have their mental health checked as well.