Military Committee” invites “Navy” to explain the issue of “private” death tomorrow.
The House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee, led by Mr. Chirat Thongsuwan, Chachoengsao MP, Prachachon Party, as the committee’s spokesperson, and Mr. Chaiyaphon Satondee, Bangkok MP, Prachachon Party, as the committee’s spokesperson, announced the case of Private First Class Sirawat Jaidee who died during training at the Naval Police Department, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.
Mr. Chirat said that Private First Class Sirawat had died since July 2, but the navy only came out with a statement on October 5, stating that the autopsy results showed that his respiratory and circulatory systems had failed, and that the family of the deceased had been informed whether or not he had fainted before the autopsy. Why was the conclusion rushed and no committee was set up to investigate this matter before the family of the deceased was informed? Later, a fellow soldier came out and said that he had been kicked by a dr
ill instructor and ordered to be exposed to the sun for several hours until he died. Why was there no investigation into this matter?
Therefore, the committee is of the opinion that it is necessary to urgently invite the navy, the director-general of the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection as the committee for the prevention and suppression of torture and enforced disappearances, the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, the attorney general, the investigators in this case, as well as the relatives and families of the deceased, to a meeting on October 10 to inquire about the real cause, as the information received from the navy and fellow soldiers did not match up, and to follow up on the progress of whether this case can be brought to the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act. The committee expects that the navy will send someone directly responsible for this matter.
While Mr. Chaiyapol revealed that on October 10, Mr. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a
party-list MP for the Prachachon Party, as the chairman of the committee, will raise a live question on this matter to Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, in the parliament meeting.
When asked if the other side’s information stated that the soldier had hyperactivity, had seizures, and died, Mr. Chirat immediately responded that this issue was not as important as whether he was actually punched, slapped, or kicked, because the witnesses’ testimonies were consistent that he was forced to lie in the sun since the afternoon, including being kicked and punched. He hoped that the Navy would send the relevant camp director directly. He also asked the question: The army has an ironclad rule that disobeys commanding officers, but is there a rule that prohibits physical harm?
Source: Thai News Agency