SURVEY: Conscript Deaths -- problem or not?

[Scott]

In the past, there have been several topics and reports of the death of conscripts.   In your opinion, does the Thai military need to do a thorough review of how conscripts are treated?

Please feel free to leave a comment.

 

For further reading:  

 

 

[klauskunkel]

8 hours ago, Scott said:

does the Thai military need to do a thorough review of how conscripts are treated?

No, it doesn't. Reviews are pointless, committees are useless window dressing.

It's part and parcel of a much bigger problem of which conscripts' torture is just one of the symptoms:

The military is not subject to independent empowered oversight, it acts with impunity and answers to no one, it has taken on the role of civilian law enforcement and therefore can intimidate whosoever it chooses. 

 

[connda]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

The military is not subject to independent empowered oversight, it acts with impunity and answers to no one, it has taken on the role of civilian law enforcement and therefore can intimidate whosoever it chooses. 

 

A military that is not under the control of a civilian government is a military unrestrained and unanswerable to anyone. 

 

Considering that Thailand has had 19 coup attempts with 12 successes since 1932, it's quite obvious that the military wields the the ever-present 'coup card' over the heads of all of democratically elected civilian governments.  As such, there will never be accountability, and malfeasance in the military will continue until a strong enough civilian government is capable of reining the generals in.  I'm not holding my breath.  On the flip side, there is a large enough contingent of voting age Thais who prefer a military-led, authoritarian government that can impose 'order' as opposed to the color revolutions that have happened over the past decade.  So the majority of the Thai population may actually want this military dominated form of government -- warts and all.

[Samui Bodoh]

Er... Ahem... Oh...

 

This is the same survey as 2-3 weeks ago.

 

True, it is interesting, but...

 

More coffee, Dudes!

 

 

[Artisi]

Pretty corny survey, any unnecessary death from any cause is a problem.

[MyFriend You]

6 hours ago, connda said:

A military that is not under the control of a civilian government is a military unrestrained and unanswerable to anyone. 

 

Considering that Thailand has had 19 coup attempts with 12 successes since 1932, it's quite obvious that the military wields the the ever-present 'coup card' over the heads of all of democratically elected civilian governments.  As such, there will never be accountability, and malfeasance in the military will continue until a strong enough civilian government is capable of reining the generals in.  I'm not holding my breath.  On the flip side, there is a large enough contingent of voting age Thais who prefer a military-led, authoritarian government that can impose 'order' as opposed to the color revolutions that have happened over the past decade.  So the majority of the Thai population may actually want this military dominated form of government -- warts and all.

Sometimes the Heavy Hand is necessary, time and again without Military Rule in Thailand, there has been corruption beyond our wildest dreams..........but also on the same note, the longer the Military rules Thailand, corruption seeps back in. We also kow from Laos, Cambodia, and other countries around the world, Coalation Govts never work, (Civilian and Military partnerships) starts out just fine - Kumbaya  -  but near always winds up  a coup of some sort, or all out civil war.   I agree the Thai's secretly want a Military Leadership, its the only form of Gov here that works.  Democracy??   Always comes with a price!!   Communism/Socialism??  works well in some small countries, not so well in large ones.........smarter people than I have answers that I can't fathom...I only speak from Experience.

[unblocktheplanet]

The sole purpose of militaries is to inflict violence on others. When young men are trained in violence, why does it come as any surprise that they use it on each other?

 

Thailand simply does not need a top-heavy armed forces. End the draft and establish a small self-defence police force.