PM defends Kingdom’s conscription system

By Wasamon Audjarint 
The Nation

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday defended Thailand’s current conscription system, which he said needed to be in place as the Kingdom “needs soldiers in times of crisis”.

 

“What are we going to do without soldiers?” Prayut said during his weekly press briefing. “We’re open for voluntary application and if we don’t acquire sufficient numbers of cadets, we have to obtain them via drafting. It’s just as natural as that.

 

“They also become more disciplined after quitting the service, because they go through training,” the retired general added.

 

The debate over the necessity for conscription in Thailand, which has not seen any major military threats since the end of the Cold War, has been discussed over a number of years, especially in regard to cases of maltreatment of cadets.

 

Reports of cadets being severely injured or losing their lives in military camps emerge every year.

 

Some cadets are also assigned posts on a par with personal servants or errand boys for their seniors.

 

Last month, one cadet made a complaint online of having been forced to look after his superior’s chickens and fighting cocks, and even having to live near to their cages amid poor hygienic conditions.

 

Debates about the military draft tend to emerge more intensely during periods of junta rule, when military-centric politics is heavily observed.

 

Prayut, meanwhile, responded to observations on the upcoming military reshuffle list, which appoints and moves high-ranking officers.

 

The junta chief and PM brushed aside any favouritism or nepotism potentially playing a part in the list.

 

“The Defence Ministry will take care of this. They’ll consider each officer’s capability and seniority. The list should be made fair and appropriate,” he insisted.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30351668

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-8-7

3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“What are we going to do without soldiers?”

The next generation of generals?

1 minute ago, ratcatcher said:

The next generation of generals?

No the next generation of uneducated serfs,  exactly  what the PM and his puppeteers and Elite supporters want to maintain.  In fact they may be soldiers by name but hardly by training or nature,

Is Thailand the only country that has more generals than conscripts?

I heard a major supermarket were considering a buy-two-get-one-free offer.

 

“needs soldiers in times of crisis”    i.e.   the next COUP

24 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“What are we going to do without soldiers?”

 

Make love - not war?

25 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The junta chief and PM brushed aside any favouritism or nepotism potentially playing a part in the list.

8 minutes ago, Darcula said:

 

Make love - not war?

**** that for a game of soldiers.

 

but, on the other side...

- there's a lot of aimless somchais out there,

that could do with a bit of discipline...

What's the going rate for knowing the size and texture of the black ball vs. the red ball these days?

 

Asking for a friend.

1 minute ago, tifino said:

but, on the other side...

- there's a lot of aimless somchais out there,

that could do with a bit of discipline...

All you end up with is a bunch of fairly fit aimless Somchais, who have a rudimentary knowledge of tactics and know their way around infantry weapons.

 

Not a terribly good thing if you are concerned about restless people and areas, and you are in power by virtue of being a military junta, which seized power in a coup which prevented an election, which was likely to be won by people probably favoured by said Somchais and their kin. 

2 minutes ago, Darcula said:

What's the going rate for knowing the size and texture of the black ball vs. the red ball these days?

Asking for a friend.

(for those watching in black&white, the red ball is behind the yellow)

 

 

2 minutes ago, JAG said:

All you end up with is a bunch of fairly fit aimless Somchais, who have a rudimentary knowledge of tactics and know their way around infantry weapons.

 

Not a terribly good thing if you are concerned about restless people and areas, and you are in power by virtue of being a military junta, which seized power in a coup which prevented an election, which was likely to be won by people probably favoured by said Somchais and their kin. 

my angle comes from the hope that somchai can grow up and unlatch himself from tugging on mummy's apron strings

UK and Thailand have similar population sizes.

 

UK armed forces - approximately 230,000 personnel. Professionals, no conscripts (Territorial Army are volunteers, but well trained).

 

Thai armed forces - approximately 700,000 personnel. I can't comment about professionalism.

 

Seems to me that Thailand should employ fewer, but better trained and better paid, people. Encourage young men and women to consider the armed forces as a career and gradually phase out conscription.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnel

50 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“What are we going to do without soldiers?” Prayut said during his weekly press briefing.

Yes, its very difficult to stage a coup and kick out a democratically elected Government without a bunch of soldiers isn't it?

3 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

UK and Thailand have similar population sizes.

 

UK armed forces - approximately 230,000 personnel. Professionals, no conscripts (Territorial Army are volunteers, but well trained).

 

Thai armed forces - approximately 700,000 personnel. I can't comment about professionalism.

 

Seems to me that Thailand should employ fewer, but better trained and better paid, people. Encourage young men and women to consider the armed forces as a career and gradually phase out conscription.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnel

Sounds good to me, but unfortunately you've fallen at the first hurdle - bringing logic into the conversation.

 

55 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

We’re open for voluntary application and if we don’t acquire sufficient numbers of cadets, we have to obtain them via drafting. It’s just as natural as that

Not all that different from the current political support strategy.

18 minutes ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

Yes, its very difficult to stage a coup and kick out a democratically elected Government without a bunch of soldiers isn't it?

And that right there says it all! 

28 minutes ago, Darcula said:

What's the going rate for knowing the size and texture of the black ball vs. the red ball these days?

 

Asking for a friend.

Obviously I have no idea what you are talking about, but if I did and were to ask a Thai friend of mine, he might just come up with the figure of 30,000 Baht.

Unfortunately there are some young men too ill to serve their country and will be treated appropriately sympathetically. 

46 minutes ago, tifino said:

but, on the other side...

- there's a lot of aimless somchais out there,

that could do with a bit of discipline...

Yes and most of those aimless Somchais were conscripts previously

This guy needs to have his mouth slapped. 

The draft needs to end. No way my male children (who are Thai citizens) will be soldiers. Speaking of which I heard it's quite easy to avoid the draft. Anyone know what needs to be done? Pay a fine? This is Thailand after all.

Enlist them there ladyboys they seam to want a fight everyone anytime and could be very useful in war time? 

45 minutes ago, jimster said:

The draft needs to end. No way my male children (who are Thai citizens) will be soldiers. Speaking of which I heard it's quite easy to avoid the draft. Anyone know what needs to be done? Pay a fine? This is Thailand after all.

If they do cadets at school for two years ( one afternoon a week and a couple of weekend camps of pretty mickey mouse training) then they are exempt the draft. 

Surrounded by countries that have no intention of attacking them.  DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!!

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday defended Thailand’s current conscription system, which he said needed to be in place as the Kingdom “needs soldiers in times of crisis”

 

When will he understand that he IS the crisis? -?

 

“What are we going to do without soldiers?”

 

  We'd live a life in harmony and the "rest of the world" would eventually rethink and start to like this country again. 

Edited August 7, 20187 yr by jenny2017

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

Enlist them there ladyboys they seam to want a fight everyone anytime and could be very useful in war time? 

They'd "easily fall in hands" of the enemy. 

2 hours ago, Darcula said:

 

Make love - not war?

Make kids- no money? 

The officers need soldiers, they are used as house boys by the wives, gardeners and duties as required around the home.  The brother in law always has around 5 and they reside under their hoochies at the bottom of the garden

PM insists mandatory conscription is still needed

By Thai PBS

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday reaffirmed the need to retain the mandatory conscription for Thai male adults as soldiers form an indispensable force in time of crisis or emergency.

 

He was speaking a press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting in response to criticism that mandatory conscription should be scrapped as there is no need of conscripts.  All Thai men are legally required to go through the annual conscription process. Lot drawing has been the method used to determine who are to be conscripted.

 

Defending the mandatory conscription, the prime minister said that soldiers have several roles besides defending the country. He said soldiers are necessary in time of crisis as government agencies don’t have enough manpower to deal with such situation.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-insists-mandatory-conscription-is-still-needed/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-08-08