Thai military conscripts face harassment, beatings, sexual abuse, Amnesty alleges

[webfact]

Thai military conscripts face harassment, beatings, sexual abuse, Amnesty alleges

By The Nation

 

 

A new investigation by Amnesty International published today (March 23) alleges that Thailand’s military “routinely subjects new conscripts to a barrage of beating, humiliation and sexual abuse that often amounts to torture”.

 

The organisation’s new report, “We were just toys to them”, documents what it claims is a widespread and long-standing pattern of abuse of new conscripts, including several incidents of rape.

 

In a written response to Amnesty during the research, Deputy Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Chalermchai Sri-saiyud stated that the military follows a policy of “treating new conscripts as family members and friends”. 

 

Clare Algar, Amnesty International’s senior director for Research, Advocacy & Policy, said “abuses of new conscripts in the Thai military have long been an open secret. What our research shows is that such maltreatment is not the exception but the rule, and deliberately hushed within the military. 

 

“Recruits described how sergeants and trainers brutally beat them with sticks and the butts of guns, sexually abused them and forced them to exercise until they fainted,” Algar said.

 

“The full chain of command bears responsibility for this culture of violence and degradation. Thai authorities must take immediate steps to stop these abusive and degrading practices before the upcoming annual military draft, as well as launch a commission of inquiry to investigate these crimes.”

 

Amnesty conducted 26 interviews with former and serving conscripted soldiers and commanders, including officers. As well as physical punishments, current and former conscripts described a “range of practices designed to humiliate, including being made to jump into septic tanks and forced to eat ‘like dogs’ using only their mouths”.

 

Reports of sexual abuse and humiliation were rampant. “Interviewees described being forced by their commanders to masturbate and ejaculate in front of each other, and several described being sexually attacked or witnessing such attacks. Gay conscripts and those perceived to be gay described how they were routinely singled out for acts of sexual violence, harassment and discrimination”, the report claims.

 

Conscripts described how they were often punished by being smacked, kicked and subjected to other types of beatings, with commanders using their hands, sticks, combat boots, helmets and, at times, the butts of their guns. 

 

“Not a single day passed by without punishment,” Amnesty quoted one interviewee as saying. “Every time the trainers have an excuse to punish you: you’re not chanting loud enough, you’re too slow in the shower, you failed to follow orders strictly, you smoked.” 

 

Another said: “A conscript [...] was once caught drinking [alcohol]. He was hit hard and I saw blood coming out of his mouth.”

 

Conscripts also described being made to perform physical exercises far beyond their endurance as a form of punishment. This included being forced to stand in positions which often led to fainting or injury.

 

Amnesty quoted another as saying that “three to four people would faint every day. They have a clinic where these people would be sent”. 

 

A clear majority of conscripts told Amnesty that they had experienced or witnessed sexual abuse, or heard from its victims. Only two said they had not. 

 

A form of collective sexual abuse called “the train” was cited by nine conscripts, who trained in nine different provinces during five different training cycles. “Normally taking place in the bathing area, the practice involves forcing conscripts, while naked, to hold each other’s penises and stand or walk in a column or a circle”, according to Amnesty.

 

Amnesty documented three cases of rape, one case of attempted rape, one of simulated rape, and two other cases in which conscripts were coerced into providing “sexual favours to commanders”, which likely amounted to rape. Most – though not all – of the rape survivors self-identified or were described as gay. 

 

“These young conscripts are exposed to commanders who inflict sexual abuse, including rape and other forms of torture,” Algar alleged. “These are serious crimes under Thai and international law and those responsible should face justice.”

 

Amnesty says it strongly recommends that the military take a number of preventive measures, including issuing orders to explicitly prohibit all types of abuse detailed in the report, ensuring that trainers are under constant supervision from higher-ranking commanders and instituting night inspections by officers.

 

To guarantee a full and transparent examination of the root causes of prevalent abuses, Amnesty has also urged Thailand’s national assembly “to establish a commission of inquiry [COI] to investigate and report on the treatment of conscripts, as well as propose measures necessary to end all abuse of conscripts and end the culture of dehumanisation of conscripts within the Thai military”.

 

“Following the tragic mass shooting in Korat last month, commander-in-chief General Apirat Kongsompong conceded that the Army needs to open up grievance channels for junior officers. To give meaning to these pledges, the Thai military would need to create a new unit that is authorised, trained and equipped to deal with soldiers’ complaints and act upon them,” said Algar.

 

“It’s equally important that conscripts and other soldiers are allowed to complain safely and confidentially to the National Human Rights Commission. The authorities must encourage a culture that respects everyone’s dignity, irrespective of seniority, rank, sexual orientation and gender identity,” Algar added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384672

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-24

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[Puchaiyank]

Animals with a gun and authority

...hiding behind a uniform...sicko!

[Odysseus123]

Ritual beatings and assaults by seniors on juniors (face slapping being one of the milder forms) was the stock in trade of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.

 

I wonder if it got passed on between 1942 and 1945?

[Canuck1966]

Not exactly breaking news, it's been known for years

[bangkokfrog]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Amnesty conducted 26 interviews with former and serving conscripted soldiers and commanders, including officers.

Not much of a sample, but the existence of this kind of treatment is pretty well-known around the country.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In a written response to Amnesty during the research, Deputy Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Chalermchai Sri-saiyud stated that the military follows a policy of “treating new conscripts as family members and friends”. 

I guess that explains the beatings and sexual abuse.

[leeneeds]

Once freedom of choice to join the military is law, then a large majority of abuse will stop,

The bullying and systematic violence has been a part of the thai military for many many years and recent deaths that have been covered up by the high ranking has been shown to be  complicit. 

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

treating new conscripts as family members and friends”. 

so they admit   it  then as domestic  abuse  is common here

[Benmart]

Corruption and abuse of authority are often used by those who outwardly profess adherence to a spiritual philosophy, but in truth, have only selfish, self-centered and tainted motives.

[soalbundy]

When your sons reach a certain age keeping them out of the military should be a priority.

[TheFishman1]

The Thai army mentality is just like normal here for ties TIT

[Yadon Toploy]

Apparently goes right to the very top here too.

[dinsdale]

Pretty sure at this very moment scapegoats are being identified. Low ranks ofcourse.

[hansnl]

4 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Animals with a gun and authority

...hiding behind a uniform...sicko!

Amnesty has degraded to a political organisation, a sample of 26 is rather minimal.

Interview any new soldier in any army in any country, take a small select group, and you will get the same result.

Even in professional armies.

[kingstonkid]

This is the problem when you have an entitlement society.  If you think about the way the British military used to be where people with money simply bought their rank and the more money and connections you had the higher you went.  The Thai military like a lot of Asian countries is in the same loop.  

As long as you have officers that do not get commissioned based on their abilities and only their money and connections the more you will have this.

There needs to be a purge of the military brass.  There needs to be a military college that teaches the leaders how to be leaders not to be dictators.

The promotion cycle needs to be taught to the NCO ranks.

Pay has to be increased for the military so that people can live at a good level without having to depend on corruption or other means to earn money.

[tifino]

if a lowly Private knew he was headed to just walk his Generals dog

- he'd have Enlisted as a DogHandler 

 

and his German Shepard could then eat that poodle 

[yellowboat]

I scolded a friend and her farang husband who thought it a good idea that one son join the Army.  I said If anything happened to their child, I would never talk to them again.  They reconsidered.  His grades got magically better, he got into uni, and he has a life saving weight "problem" now.

[bangkokbonecollector]

5 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Ritual beatings and assaults by seniors on juniors (face slapping being one of the milder forms) was the stock in trade of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.

 

I wonder if it got passed on between 1942 and 1945?

Do you mean when Thailand declared war against the Allies but luckily decency prevailed in Washington DC? Yeah I remember that and now they are doing the same with China. Next time we shouldn't be so bloody forgiving!

Edited March 24, 2020 by bangkokbonecollector

[bangkokbonecollector]

No wonder they can't even beat the Cambodian army in small skirmishes in the jungle. 

[spiekerjozef]

5 hours ago, Canuck1966 said:

Not exactly breaking news, it's been known for years

Explains the mall shooting recently.

[BobbyL]

I imagine it goes on here all the time yet is covered up by the establishments in charge. Right from the very top. I am sure Apirat referred to the army as 'sacred' recently in one of his interviews. The man is completely deluded and people like him are primarily the reason why Thailand can't move forward in its future.

 

I would love to see some of these senior military chumps in Thailand with all their fake badges and who have bought their position and rank actually fight in a real war on the front line. All of the action they have ever seen is against their own citizens in one of the embarrassing number of military coups in modern history. 

 

The day the army are moved fully out of any form of power in Thailand will be a joyous day. I just hope it isn't too far away. 

[Tchooptip]

 After reading this since the military is running this country how could we hope, we expatriates to be treated decently? 

[canthai55]

Same thing happened to me during basic - barring the rape and sexual assaults, which I take with a large grain of salt.

Purpose is to train a force capable of fighting TOGETHER. No room for individuals.

My nephew is just finishing up his conscription duties. Biggest problem he faced was a lack of enough to eat. We remedied that.

 

[trainman34014]

8 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Animals with a gun and authority

...hiding behind a uniform...sicko!

Animals don't treat Humans like this; Savages would be a better description !

[Krataiboy]

. . . a widespread and long-standing pattern of abuse of abuse. . .  including several incidents of rape.

 

. . . the military follows a policy of “treating new conscripts as family members and friends”. 

 

Spot the difference.

[unamazedloso]

Oh thats why the pm is the way he is. makes sense now.

[Puchaiyank]

10 hours ago, hansnl said:

Amnesty has degraded to a political organisation, a sample of 26 is rather minimal.

Interview any new soldier in any army in any country, take a small select group, and you will get the same result.

Even in professional armies.

You KNOW that they are simply biased against the Thai military and that unacceptable sexual and other harrassment is not taking place?

[olfu]

Why sudden interest in Thai military?

[thailand49]

My son is getting ready he is at that age!  it does worry me and although it isn't my time yet if something of this nature was to happen to him god help those responsible I wouldn't be filing any complaint or going to court I will be looking for payback and I wouldn't just stop with those responsible. I wouldn't just accept it never been my style and don't plan to start now!

[brianthainess]

Nothing will change here this military is full of sadists training others to become the same. internal investigations revel its all fake news no one will be held accountable,charged or jailed.

[Orton Rd]

14 hours ago, thailand49 said:

My son is getting ready he is at that age!  it does worry me and although it isn't my time yet if something of this nature was to happen to him god help those responsible I wouldn't be filing any complaint or going to court I will be looking for payback and I wouldn't just stop with those responsible. I wouldn't just accept it never been my style and don't plan to start now!

Only the poor and the stupid get drafted, even one of the Mrs brother got out of it with a 20k payment a few years back. We went to an army camp where another relative went in, some kind of open day, you could tell from the cars parked up no rich kids were involved. Fat boys and ladyboys are ruled out straight away as well.

Edited March 25, 2020 by Orton Rd