The Latest Breaking News from Sirichan Ngathong

Conscription blues

The issue of compulsory military service has gained national attention in the lead-up to the May 14 polls, with several parties pledging to end it in favour of voluntary enlistment if elected as the next government.

Bangkok Post · May 7, 2023

Army general accused of violent male-sex abuse

An unidentified army soldier has been transferred pending an investigation into an allegation that a lieutenant general physically abused and injured a man he met through a dating app while on a trip in the South.

Bangkok Post · Apr 24, 2023

More than 25,000 men volunteer for military service

A total of 25,100 Thai men men had applied for voluntary enlistment this year as of Sunday, with backgrounds as diverse as being monks and holders of a master's degree, army deputy spokeswoman Maj Gen Sirichan Ngathong said.

Bangkok Post · Apr 17, 2023

Army can't find suspected hacker of personal data of 55m Thais

The army has yet to find a way to contact a sergeant, a driver at its transport department, suspected of hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais, according to the deputy army spokeswoman.

Bangkok Post · Apr 9, 2023

Army border patrols seized 232m meth pills over 12 months

The army's seven border defence forces seized more than 232 million methamphetamine pills in fiscal 2022, which was 25% more than the previous year, deputy army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong said on Monday.

Bangkok Post · Jan 2, 2023

Armed Cambodian army officer charged with illegal entry

An armed Cambodian army colonel was arrested after a 17 hour stand-off and charged with illegal entry and other offences after driving through a border checkpoint into Thailand without stopping into Khong Hat district of Sa Kaeo province on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Bangkok Post · Nov 7, 2022

Army recruitment opened to shorter men

The Ministry of Defence has lowered the height requirement for young volunteers in its online recruitment drive for military service in 2023, to give "shorties" the chance of also serving the country, deputy army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong said on Tuesday.

Bangkok Post · Aug 30, 2022

Field training to resume for territorial defence students

The army will resume field training for territorial defence students in July, when the Public Health Ministry is expected to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease.

Bangkok Post · May 31, 2022

Thai army boycotts online retailer Lazada after video enrages royalists

The Thai army said on Monday it will ban its 245,000 members from using one of Southeast Asia's biggest e-commerce websites for official purposes after royalists said a promotional video appeared to mock the royal family.

Reuters · May 9, 2022

Army boycotts Lazada over controversial video promotion

The army chief has ordered all units and organisations under his command to stop buying products via the Lazada online platform, to protect the royal institution and in protest against a controversial video promotion.

Bangkok Post · May 9, 2022