Ministry to act after brutal school hazing

Police are looking into an event that was brought to light by a social media advocate.

An image from the music video for SOTUS, released in 2020 by Rap Against Dictatorship, draws attention to abusive hazing rituals that are quite common in Thailand. Sotus is an acronym for “Seniority Order Tradition Unity and Spirit”. In practice, the rituals involve seniors bullying and humiliating freshmen. (Photo: Rap Against Dictatorship Facebook Page)
An picture from the music videos for SOTUS, released in 2020 by Rap Against Dictatorship, draws attention to aggressive abuse rituals that are quite popular in Thailand. The acronym” Seniority Order Tradition Unity and Spirit” is SOTU. In training, the rituals involve elderly bullying and humiliating students. ( Photo: Rap Against Dictatorship Facebook Page )

Following a hazing incident that severely injured a first-year executive scholar, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation committed to ending violence in educational facilities.

After meeting with researchers at Muang Nonthaburi police stop on Saturday, Suchada Taensap, director of the caretaker chancellor, promised to totally cooperate with the police in the research.

The child’s parents filed a complaint with the officers on Aug 15 after their 20-year-old boy, a freshman at Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, was assaulted by a group of individuals.

According to the problem, their boy was attacked on the college’s Nonthaburi school after he requested to leave the bullying action. His father allegedly suffered physical abuse as a result of the event.

Ms. Suchada argued that if it is determined that all learners involved in the crime have broken university rules, they may be suspended and expelled.

Police are looking into whether the injuries suffered by the student were the result of the bullying ritual, according to Ms. Suchada.

Superintendent of the Muang Nonthaburi stop, Pol Col Jaturon Anurakbundit, claimed officials had reviewed security camera footage and have identified all the offenders.

Shortly after police execute more conversations with the sufferer, his families, and the patient’s medical records, he said, adding that the school has fully cooperated with the research.

Kritsana Jirasarnsawat, assistant dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, said the school does not allow any bullying activities and may take drastic action against the intruders.

Police in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district on Saturday conducted an inspection of the location where reportedly there was hazing activity. They were joined by the cultural internet dissident Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet, also known as Gun Jom Phalang.

Mr. Guntouch claimed that the perpetrators coerced fresh students into enrolling in military-like training that included physical abuse and brutal punishments like being torched in their underwear.

He even asserted that income was regularly collected to recoup those guilty of a crime. Mr. Guntouch described the behavior as that of a legal group.

A 19-year-old rookie at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan in Nakhon Ratchasima was killed by a violent bullying ceremony in 2022.