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Thailand - Conscription

“Since the end of the Cold War, there has been no military justification for mandatory military service in Thailand, nor do conscripts perform any urgent social role,” John Draper, director of the Social Survey Centre at Khon Kaen University, and a researcher on Thailand’s military explained in 2019. “Thailand’s military draft should be abolished as it supports a feudal, bloated military system with some of the highest general-to-soldier ratios in the world.”

As of 2023 Thailand had about 100,000 military conscription per year (in 2021, there are 97,558 military conscription per year). The total number of recruits (or conscripts) in 2020 was 134,618. Using calculations by multiplying the minimum figure of 9,904 baht/month by 134,618 people, it can be concluded that the budget required for active duty soldiers is up to 16,000 million baht/year.

In the past, there have been issues proposing to abolish conscription and use the voluntary system instead of compulsion. Currently, Thailand has developed a combination of voluntary and conscripted military recruitment methods. But outside society still did not understand the reason for the necessity of conscription. procedures and criteria in the Army's reserve manpower plan. Military conscription is controversial for many reasons. including objection to hostilities on the grounds thatconscience on religious or philosophical grounds. Political objections include government service or an unpopular war and ideological objections, for example, infringe on individual rights. Sometimes conscripts may evade government service by leaving the country.

Some selection systems adjust these attitudes by defining alternative government non-combat or non-military roles completely, such as civil service in Austria and Switzerland. Most of the Soviet Union was conscripted not only into the army. but also includes paramilitary organizations which are responsible for specific tasks such as the police ( internal military unit) or rescue duty. (Civil Defense Force). At the beginning of the 21st century, many countries no longer conscript the military, relying on professional soldiers who come as volunteers recruited according to the troop's needs. However, many states that have abolished conscription also reserve the power to resume conscription in times of war or crises.

In the past, possession of commoners or slaves or serving soldiers was one of the privileges of the nobility that existed since before the social reform to abolish the commoner system and the slave system in the reign of King Rama V. But the beliefs about the privileges of the nobility continue to be inherited. When the military institutions began to gain power, there was a return to the birth of the military system serving the senior officers. This became accepted from generation to generation without being seriously questioned in Thai society. Conscripts were turned into into service soldiers for high-ranking officers both in and outside official service. Violent treatment of soldiers was a way of thinking. The organization of noble-common relations that existed from the past continued until now - conscripts (former commoners) must accept living conditions, good or bad, depending on the merciful state of the senior officer.

The policies of political parties regarding military conscription include a variety of proposals. but they share the same goal that military service should be voluntary. Some parties propose to increase welfare, income for the active duty soldiers to motivate military service. Human rights groups have documented cases of young men allegedly killed by their peers or senior officers through brutal hazing rituals, corporal punishment and even torture. Conscription was a key issue at the 2019 elections.

In 2019 three parties talked openly about abandoning the draft. Future Forward, the party that energised the youth vote and came third, said it wanted to end the draft and reform the military. Pheu Thai, which won the most seats and is linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed in a 2006 coup, also talked of ending conscription. Even the Democrats, the country’s oldest party, hinted it would support gradual steps towards a fully professional military.

On February 27, 2019, Lt. Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanit defense ministry spokesman clarified the military conscription that some political parties had campaigned to cancel the conscription that rvery constitution, especially the 1960 constitution, prescribes the duty of the state to protect Institute of National Religion king Including maintaining sovereign independence and national interests, state security and public order. It is the duty of the state to maintain the military. for the benefit of the country's development. The army has the duty to prepare the forces for the kingdom's defense and use force according to his authority. Lt. Gen. Khongcheep stated that he did not want political parties to use the abolition of military conscription as a campaign policy. Because if canceled, will it be able to cope with the threat situation that will occur or not? He requested that the conscripts' mentality be taken into account.

The 2023 electoral campaign had an atmosphere of various political parties which raised a policy to abolish conscription. There were different offers in detail.

• Pheu Thai Party proposed to abolish compulsory conscription immediately. By opening up online military applications and not targeting recruits And reduce the defense budget by 10% to be used to fund new generation business support so that the budget used is appropriate and consistent with reality,
• Thai Sang Thai Party encouraged cancelling the capture of black cards and red cards. to change to a voluntary system In every army, there are about 100,000 conscripts, of which about 50,000 volunteered to become soldiers and another 50,000 people were caught with red cards, which was more than the actual demand. therefore saw the image of the soldiers serving in the commander's house misused and more than necessary
• The Progressive Party proposed abolishing military conscription. Use the 100% voluntary system by announcing that this April will be the last military draft. Because the party's policies can result in practical results by amending the law.

Military conscription is the duty of Thai men, stipulated in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Military Service Act, B.E. 2497, section 7. According to the law, the Military Service Act 1954 requires all Thai men to enter military service. Penalty for not joining the military These range from penalties related to damaging documents issued by officials. up to penalties related to non-reporting The statute of limitations for desertion from the military is 10 years.

Military Service Act, 1954, Section 16, “Men who are 18 years of age (meaning 17 years of age) in any year, must show themselves to be registered in the military reserve list in that year. Upon receiving a request to register in the reserved personnel under this section Have the district chief issue a certificate or a receipt for the applicant to register in the reserved army list as evidence. Section 18 “Any person who has not yet registered in the reserved military personnel at Amphoe along with a person in the same year for any reason, if the age has not yet completed 46 years of age, shall act in accordance with Section 16 within 30 days from the date of practicable but cannot let others notify instead If the District Chief would summon him to the reserved military list, he would do so regardless of the deadline. When being listed on the reserved personnel list under this section Have the sheriff issue a certificate as evidence (Sor.9 or receipt).

• Regimental soldier means a person who has attained the age of 18 years and has not attained the age of 30, who has already been posted to the reserved military account.
• Active duty soldier means a person who is registered in active duty and has served in government service.in the active duty division until discharged.
• Reserve soldier means a soldier discharged from active service by serving in the reserve.Active duty until maturity or military personnel Completion of military training in accordance with the law on training promotion for military training and registered in the active duty division and discharged as a reserve. A person who has not registered in the reserved military list for the specified period, if the age has not yet reached the age of 46 years, must be registered on all military accounts according to the law.

Usually during April of every year is the moment when young men in their 20s must come and catch a black card and a red card to be recruited into the military. After the enlisting, volunteers are dismissed for the day and the lottery process begins. Each man who stays for the lottery draws a card out of an opaque box: a red card for military service and a black card for release from the requirement. But this military enlistment was postponed from July 23 to August 9, 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation. If selected by catching a red card or applying to be a soldier yourself, a district director or district deputy would issue appointments for military service according to the rotation that can be drawn by lottery.

A Thai man begins to serve in the Royal Thai Army at the age of eighteen years. At the age of 17 years (at the age of 18), Thai men must register themselves for military registration within that year. At 20 years of age (21 years old) received a summons to show himself at the local district that is his military domicile in that year. He would attend the screening examination (military enlistment) according to the date and time specified in the summons, and accept a call to reserve troops receive military training as required.

Normally, every man with Thai nationality, at the age of 21 in any year, is required to enlist in the military.But the law also allows certain types of rights to be exempted:

• Persons who are exempt from active duty military service
• People with physical disabilities. People with disabilities who cannot be a soldier as specified as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation No. 74(B.E. 2497), issued under the Military Service Act B.E. 2479, such as glaucoma, deafness in both earsDisabled heart valves, asthma, diabetes, mental illness, mute, albinism, etc.
• A monk with a monastic rank Mahayana monk, novice, monk, monk of Mahayana Buddhism that has been certified by the Ministry of Education
• Priests of other religions issued by the provincial governor
• Persons who have passed the military course (studying R.D.) complete the prescribed curriculum.
• military school students Ministry of Defense
• Teachers under the control of the Ministry of Education which the provincial governor issued a certificate
• Students of the Adult Education Training Center of the Ministry of Education.
• Students of the Civil Aviation Training Center of the Ministry of Transport
• Persons who acquired Thai nationality by naturalization and persons who have been sentenced to imprisonment by judgment to the point of imprisonment several times for a total of ten years or more or have been detained by a court order

Once registered on the reserved military list, an exempt person is not summoned to inspect and select military service during normal times. Some Thais have found ways to escape the draft and the tension that accompanies the lottery. Reports of bribery are common although the military says it is cracking down on corruption and those found guilty of trying to avoid the draft risk up to three years in jail. Some even enrol in Reserve Officer Training programmes for three years in high school. If they have a university degree, they join voluntarily to reduce the commitment from two years to six months.

Many Thai men do not have to serve in the active duty military because they have undergone military training according to the curriculum specified by the Ministry of Defense for a period of three years, or there may be reasons for exemption or relaxation as specified by the Ministry of DefenseThe law stipulates that there is no need to go for the screening or go on the day of the screening for those who have not studied or did not complete the course as specified by the Ministry of Defense (did not complete the 3rd year) or completed the waiver. Once established, they must go through the full active service selection process, being classified into four categories according to the integrity of the body, If there are people willing to voluntarily enter the active duty service in full, then there will be noDraw lottery. In the event that there are not enough applicants and there are more people to choose from if the desired amount is received, the method of drawing lottery will be used. The person who receives the red card must continue to serve in the military.

Twenty-one years old Regimental soldiers upon having served in the military service until completion or completionThose who have completed military training according to the curriculum specified by the Ministry of Defense or have attained the age of 30 will be discharged as Reserve soldiers, and when the time passes or reaches the age specified, the reserve soldiers will be discharged from military service.

In October every year, the district will make announcements for the reserved soldiers turning 21 years of age in that year, to present himself in order to obtain a warrant issued by the district. Such an announcement will be posted at the Amphur office, headman's office, village headman's office and those disclosed by the community in that locality and the sheriff will send announcement to the village headman to inform the people in their locality as well. If any person does not accept the warrant as scheduled will be carried out Criminal prosecution for evasion and disobedience an offense liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month; or a fine not exceeding one hundred baht or both. Bringing the person to prosecution shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months. or a fine not exceeding three hundred baht or both.

Mobilization is the call of reserves for military service when the country is inCritical situations, with a time limit depending on the situation, to protect the country or riot suppression and expanding the war power. Calling all 4 types of troops is to prepare the troops to make the troops effective in being ready. All the time, the reserve soldiers, when receiving a summons from the local district must go to receive a call according to date, time and place specified in the summons. If avoiding and resisting, there will be an offense according to the law. That is, avoiding or resisting to enter military service in summoning troops for inspection is liable to imprisonment for not more than 3month, or a fine not exceeding 300 baht, or both. If avoiding or resisting to enter military service, the summons of troops for military training or test the abundance or in rallying, shall be punished by imprisonment from 3 months to 4 years.

The benefit to oneself is being trained to be disciplined, to have courage having patience for hardships, which is the basis for living. Training to fight against difficulty will cause perseverance to not give up in the face of obstacles that come into life. Sacrificing personal benefits for others makes people generous.