Thai Soldier's Remains Found with a "Spoon" After Death
Calls Grow for Truth Over Foreign Object Discovered After Cremation
Bereaved Family: "Abuse and Assault Allegations Must Be Investigated"
Political Circles Join In as Probe Begins into Alleged Assault by Superior Officer
A stainless-steel spoon was found among the remains of a conscript who died while serving in Thailand, prompting military authorities to launch a reinvestigation.
On the 24th, Yonhap News TV reported, citing Thai media outlets The Nation and The Thaiger, that Private First Class Phetcharat, a conscript serving with a unit under the 1st Army in Prachin Buri Province, Thailand, showed seizure-like symptoms while on duty and was transported to a hospital, where he died.
A stainless-steel spoon was found among the remains of a conscript who died while serving in Thailand, prompting military authorities to launch a reinvestigation. MGR Online
According to the military authorities, an autopsy concluded that the cause of death was heart failure, and no signs of physical abuse or external trauma were found. It was reported that at the time, Phetcharat had been disciplined for returning late without leave and was being held in a military prison. The bereaved family accepted the military’s explanation, proceeded with the funeral, and had the body cremated. However, controversy erupted when a stainless-steel spoon was discovered while collecting the remains after the cremation. The undertaker in charge of the funeral testified, "When the cremation began, I felt as though there was a hard object inside the deceased’s mouth," adding, "We did not use any spoons during the cremation process, and it does not belong to the funeral home."
The bereaved family is demanding a reinvestigation into the circumstances of the death. A relative of the deceased told local media, "He had no prior health problems," questioning heart failure as the cause of death.
The controversy has also spread into politics. Thai politician Nichanan Wangkahat claimed on social media that she had received reports from soldiers and witnesses who requested anonymity, alleging that a superior officer had forcefully kicked the deceased in the chest, and she urged the Royal Thai Army to reopen the investigation. In response, Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Nakpanit stated, "An investigation is currently underway," and added, "If any violence is confirmed, those involved will be strictly punished in accordance with the law." The Thai Senate has also launched an official inquiry.
A stainless steel spoon was found among the remains of a Thai soldier who died during service. Singto Prechar on Facebook
Meanwhile, controversy over abuse in death cases during military service has repeatedly surfaced in South Korea as well. The 2014 beating-to-death case of Private First Class Yoon in the Army’s 28th Infantry Division and the 2021 death of an Air Force Staff Sergeant Lee are cited as representative examples that exposed serious shortcomings in the military’s human rights protection system. Although measures have since been pursued to improve barracks culture and strengthen human rights protections, the situation remains far from fully resolved. As a result, in South Korea too, every time a death occurs in the military, there are renewed calls for a thorough fact-finding investigation.
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