The 2nd Army Region has pledged to cooperate fully with police and other authorities in an investigation into the death of a 20-year-old conscript found hanging from a tree at a military camp in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The body of Pvt Thitikorn Pongwankham, a conscript assigned to the medical company of the 3rd Medical Battalion, was found on Saturday afternoon behind a coffee shop at Suratham Phithak Camp in Muang district.
According to the 2nd Army Region on Sunday, personnel from the 23rd Artillery Battalion who had gone into the area to collect forest products discovered the body at about 1.30pm.
They reported the finding to the duty officer and their superiors, who then notified police and other authorities to inspect the scene in accordance with legal procedures.
A preliminary inquiry found that Pvt Thitikorn had been granted leave from Sept 1-10 to return to his home district of Na Chaluai in Ubon Ratchathani.
He failed to report back to his unit after the leave ended.
The unit contacted his family, who said he had told them he was returning to his base.
Relatives later tried to locate him through phone calls, people close to him and other channels but were unable to make contact before his body was found.
The army said initial inquiries with his commanders and colleagues had found no indications of conflict, violence or physical assault.
His body has been sent to the forensic medicine department at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
The 2nd Army Region expressed its condolences to the family and said it would cooperate fully with police and all authorities to establish the facts in a thorough, transparent and fair manner.
It also pledged to provide the family with assistance.