The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has announced that some military officers will be placed in detention for 15 days for physically abusing suspected drug users in Koh Larn, Chonburi Province.
The announcement came after a video clip of soldiers beating three drug suspects went viral on Facebook from 15 August. The video has generated over a million views and almost 500 shares at press time.
According to RTA spokesperson Col Sirichan Ngathong, the soldiers in the video were from the junta’s local ‘peacekeeper’ unit. The three individuals beaten in the video had been arrested for testing positively in urine drug testing.
In addition to placing the officers in detention, the RTA has withdrawn the peacekeeper unit from Koh Larn. Sirichan added that an apology has been sent to the victim’s relatives.
“The RTA feels sorry for the recent incident, even though it was the improper behavior of just one officer, and wants to affirm that the RTA has no policy that allows officers to exercise power beyond legal frameworks in any kinds of operation,” stated Sirichan.
The RTA has not confirmed whether the officers will receive a criminal punishment, however.
Officers beat the suspect (Photo from แหม่มโพธิ์ดำ Facebook page)