Investing in Army is important, says Prayut

By NATTHAPAT PHROMKAEW 
THE NATION 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha addresses students of Kamnoetvidya Science Academy in Rayong province during a visit yesterday.

 

PM speaks up as key parties vow to end mandatory conscription, downsize military

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha declared yesterday that investing in soldiers is important and expenditure on military affairs cannot be seen as a financial gain or loss. 

 

This message was sent across yesterday as several political parties listed the cancellation of mandatory conscription and the downsizing of the armed forces as key election policies. 

 

Pheu Thai, Future Forward and Seri Ruamthai parties have announced that they will end mandatory conscription if they take over the country’s administration. 

 

“The country can call troops out any time of the day for a mission. If you downsize the armed forces, who will help out in times of disaster?” asked Prayut, who himself was once an Army chief. 

 

 

The general was speaking during a visit with several Cabinet members to the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology and the Kamnoetvidya Science Academy in Rayong province to follow up on education progress during his government’s tenure. 

 

“Forget about my role in the military. Think about the part the soldiers play in watching over Thailand’s borders in the air, sea and on land,” the premier said, adding that he was thinking for the people, not himself.

 

Thailand recruits some 100,000 conscripts yearly for its military operations as support for soldiers who have joined the military voluntarily.

 

However, it is widely believed that some of these conscripts end up running personal errands for generals, and the Defence Ministry’s spokesperson Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit also admitted that this was the case yesterday.

 

In fact, a popular soap opera even depicts conscripts washing clothes and cleaning the home of a senior military officer. 

 

“But I would like to emphasise that the conscripts running personal errands are very few in number,” he said, adding that the public should not associate scenes in TV soap operas with real life. 

 

Kongcheep also said that some 67 per cent of conscripts are under training or handling operations within the country, while the remaining 33 per cent are tasked with border-based operations. 

 

“Our past experiences show that going to war without being fully prepared can result in huge casualties,” Kongcheep said, adding that this is the reason why mandatory conscription has been in effect since 1954. 

 

He said conscripts acquired discipline and good ideology during their time in service, “so they will be quality citizens after they are discharged”. 

 

Kongcheep said that though many critics believe Thailand does not need a huge number of soldiers, because it is not at war with anybody, “we still have to be ready in the military aspect. It is about national security. If we can deter attacks, we don’t really have to go to war.”

 

According to law, all Thai men aged 20 have to serve as conscripts unless they have health problems or are eligible for exemption. For instance, those who have joined the Thai Reserve Officer Training Corps can be exempted. 

 

Kongcheep said some 20 per cent of the men called in for conscription voluntarily jump in. “In some years, the percentage of willing conscripts is as high as 45 per cent. This has happened in 2014 and 2015,” he added. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30364917

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-28

Call out the 200000000000000000000000000000000000000000POlice  they have every 1km throughout Thailand

"...Thailand recruits some 100,000 conscripts yearly for its military operations as support for soldiers who have joined the military voluntarily.

However, it is widely believed that some of these conscripts end up running personal errands for generals, and the Defence Ministry’s spokesperson Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit also admitted that this was the case yesterday..."

 

Hey! Have some sympathy! You don't really expect all those Generals to do their own laundry or mow their own lawns, do you? You heartless bastards! 

 

 

On a more serious note;

 

"...Kongcheep also said that some 67 per cent of conscripts are under training or handling operations within the country, while the remaining 33 per cent are tasked with border-based operations..." 

 

If 33% are tasked with securing the border (a reasonable function), then it seems that the other 67% are tasked with coups and fighting Thai people. 

 

How about a compromise?

 

Cut the military by 50%, outright ban draftees from being personal servants, and act like a modern day military?

 

Problem solved. Bring on Thailand's Golden Age!

 

(sadly, it actually is about that easy...)

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Forget about my role in the military. Think about the part the soldiers play in watching over Thailand’s borders in the air, sea and on land,” the premier said, adding that he was thinking for the people, not himself.

wish we could foregt about the military; even wiki described the thai military as 'bloated' (before the upsizing after the coup)

I believe compulsary conscription should be implemented in some western countries such as Australia & US,  even as a 6 month requirement.

The reason I say this is becuase I have always maintained that kids who have responsibility, respect, community involvement and who are kept busy .... they generally don't fall into bad habits, drug taking, criminal activity and the likes.

Australia has a high youth drug problem, crime, school brawling, waywould students etc ....

 

A one or two year compulsary conscription could be implemented and broken down :

6 months service to learn dicipline, respect and responsibility.

6 months community service with local government involvement.

6 months career path and job training for when they leave.

6 months higher studies and further job skill training.

 

The money that is currently being spent on social security and youth unemployment could be used for this.

If this type of senario had been implemented and actually up and running some years ago, Australia and other countries wouldn't have the big drug problems they are facing now.

 

I know some of you will say ' you can't implement that ' or ' that goes against basic human rights etc ....  well,  I'm just saying that it would go a long way to keeping kids off the street and stop them getting into trouble.

Just my 2 cents worth.

If a new government comes in and starts downsizing the army, etc, just stage another coup. Don’t know what the problem is. 

 

Show the youth how to be responsible by staging coups. 

Posts in violation of the following have been removed:

 

Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed. 

 

 

Wake up and smell the Diesel  ...

15 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I believe compulsary conscription should be implemented in some western countries such as Australia & US,  even as a 6 month requirement.

The reason I say this is becuase I have always maintained that kids who have responsibility, respect, community involvement and who are kept busy .... they generally don't fall into bad habits, drug taking, criminal activity and the likes.

Australia has a high youth drug problem, crime, school brawling, waywould students etc ....

 

A one or two year compulsary conscription could be implemented and broken down :

6 months service to learn dicipline, respect and responsibility.

6 months community service with local government involvement.

6 months career path and job training for when they leave.

6 months higher studies and further job skill training.

 

The money that is currently being spent on social security and youth unemployment could be used for this.

If this type of senario had been implemented and actually up and running some years ago, Australia and other countries wouldn't have the big drug problems they are facing now.

 

I know some of you will say ' you can't implement that ' or ' that goes against basic human rights etc ....  well,  I'm just saying that it would go a long way to keeping kids off the street and stop them getting into trouble.

Just my 2 cents worth.

That’s a lovely plan. Only problem is it won’t work because of corruption. If you can’t hold those in power accountable, they will do as they please. So conscripts will continue to do personal jobs for those in charge. 

 

Insead of wasting money by forcing human beings to clean rich people’s houses, etc, how about using that money for better education, parenting skill courses and a more professional police force who enforce the law.

 

Seems by forcing kids to join the army and become ‘disciplined’ you’re just taking away some idea of responsibly from the parents and schools, whose job it is to instill these values. 

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Thailand recruits some 100,000 conscripts yearly for its military operations as support for soldiers who have joined the military voluntarily.

However, it is widely believed that some of these conscripts end up running personal errands for generals, and the Defence Ministry’s spokesperson Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit also admitted that this was the case yesterday..."

 

Hey! Have some sympathy! You don't really expect all those Generals to do their own laundry or mow their own lawns, do you? You heartless bastards! 

 

 

On a more serious note;

 

"...Kongcheep also said that some 67 per cent of conscripts are under training or handling operations within the country, while the remaining 33 per cent are tasked with border-based operations..." 

 

If 33% are tasked with securing the border (a reasonable function), then it seems that the other 67% are tasked with coups and fighting Thai people. 

 

How about a compromise?

 

Cut the military by 50%, outright ban draftees from being personal servants, and act like a modern day military?

 

Problem solved. Bring on Thailand's Golden Age!

 

(sadly, it actually is about that easy...)

 

And then you woke up ????

2 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

That’s a lovely plan. Only problem is it won’t work because of corruption. If you can’t hold those in power accountable, they will do as they please. So conscripts will continue to do personal jobs for those in charge. 

 

Insead of wasting money by forcing human beings to clean rich people’s houses, etc, how about using that money for better education, parenting skill courses and a more professional police force who enforce the law.

 

Seems by forcing kids to join the army and become ‘disciplined’ you’re just taking away some idea of responsibly from the parents and schools, whose job it is to instill these values. 

I see where your coming from and I don't disagree, however evidence has shown, and especially in Thailand, that kids who have been in the military for a few years do seem to come out with a better understanding, more responsible within their local village and generally become better men. At least that's what I see in our village and town.

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I see where your coming from and I don't disagree, however evidence has shown, and especially in Thailand, that kids who have been in the military for a few years do seem to come out with a better understanding, more responsible within their local village and generally become better men. At least that's what I see in our village and town.

Whilst I would like to see a better way of achieving this, I do agree with what you say.

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

{snipped}

Hey! Have some sympathy! You don't really expect all those Generals to do their own laundry or mow their own lawns, do you? You heartless bastards! 

 

Or in the case of my Thai brother-in-law who was called up, spent a year looked after his CO's ageing parents, both who were senile.

 

He had to live with them, clean their house, do their shopping and cook their food. Their dementia was so bad that often ten minutes after they had eaten, they would complain to my B-I-L that he hadn't given them any food, saying he was starving them.

Everyday they watched the cartoon channel and saw the same cartoons, laughing at them, as they'd forgotten they'd seen them the day before.

My B-I-L hated it, as he couldn't get away from them for more than an hour at at time.

He's right you know, Thailand is surrounded by enemies armed to the teeth waiting to get in on the scams. The enemy is already within, hiding in plain sight wearing brown and green.

To survive in any way, the army needs reorganizing. Loyalty must be to the government. The past situation where the army is above the government led to a good few unscheduled changes of government, which sent investors running for the hills and Thailand's credibility plumming new depths. As they have repeatedly shown the armed forces couldn't organize a bun fight in a bakery, and worse do not eagerly accept criticism. 

 Investing in a "tame" army might be a good idea, but can we please leave plans for a submarine fleet on the shelf?

44 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I believe compulsary conscription should be implemented in some western countries such as Australia & US,  even as a 6 month requirement.

The reason I say this is becuase I have always maintained that kids who have responsibility, respect, community involvement and who are kept busy .... they generally don't fall into bad habits, drug taking, criminal activity and the likes.

Australia has a high youth drug problem, crime, school brawling, waywould students etc ....

 

A one or two year compulsary conscription could be implemented and broken down :

6 months service to learn dicipline, respect and responsibility.

6 months community service with local government involvement.

6 months career path and job training for when they leave.

6 months higher studies and further job skill training.

 

The money that is currently being spent on social security and youth unemployment could be used for this.

If this type of senario had been implemented and actually up and running some years ago, Australia and other countries wouldn't have the big drug problems they are facing now.

 

I know some of you will say ' you can't implement that ' or ' that goes against basic human rights etc ....  well,  I'm just saying that it would go a long way to keeping kids off the street and stop them getting into trouble.

Just my 2 cents worth.

It wouldn't work. This is not the 1950s anymore and folks quite rightly will not put up with 'Because I say so', these days.

Conscription is nothing but slavery by another name. Slavery no professional armed forces want, by the way.

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

If 33% are tasked with securing the border

so  thats  why theres  so few illegal  immigrants then????

Damn, if they end conscription it will only mean that there will be that more van van biker boys between the ages of 19-21 riding around...

 

I VOTE TO KEEP THE CONSCRIPTION IN ORDER TO KEEP THAILAND SAFER!!!

Investing in Thailand's people would be more appropriate, Job creation and improved education, they give a return on investments made, the military just soaks up money, does nothing for the economy and is a thing of its past, you could half Thailand's military capability and still have too many Generals.   

8 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

To survive in any way, the army needs reorganizing. Loyalty must be to the government. The past situation where the army is above the government led to a good few unscheduled changes of government, which sent investors running for the hills and Thailand's credibility plumming new depths. As they have repeatedly shown the armed forces couldn't organize a bun fight in a bakery, and worse do not eagerly accept criticism. 

 Investing in a "tame" army might be a good idea, but can we please leave plans for a submarine fleet on the shelf?

As long as it's not the continental shelf.

3 minutes ago, LazySlipper said:

Damn, if they end conscription it will only mean that there will be that more van van biker boys between the ages of 19-21 riding around...

 

I VOTE TO KEEP THE CONSCRIPTION IN ORDER TO KEEP THAILAND SAFER!!!

What, more testosterone fuelled youngsters with shooters roaming around the place? 

Lucky for the conscripts they can make a rank general after the haircut ????

15 minutes ago, baboon said:

It wouldn't work. This is not the 1950s anymore and folks quite rightly will not put up with 'Because I say so', these days.

Conscription is nothing but slavery by another name. Slavery no professional armed forces want, by the way.

Conscription in Thailand is in respect to serve HRH, this style of governance still assists the military to stay powerful and if you are in UNI and the barracks you are assigned to but  the town doesn't have your chosen UNI courses, all it does is interfere with your degree and career prospects, its a throw back from centuries old tradition , not relevant in todays society. 

Edited February 28, 20197 yr by chainarong

3 hours ago, webfact said:

If we can deter attacks, we don’t really have to go to war.

 

The European powers didn't want them back in colonial days, so who does he think might want to attack now?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Investing in Army is important

So says the the PM because it his security.

Of course it is important. It is the means to protect the junta and the wealth of their filthy rich 1% friends. Likewise it is needed to keep the other 99% under control and prevent any revolution should they try to create a more equal distribution of the country's wealth and a true democracy. Why am I reminded of the French Revolution?

18 minutes ago, chainarong said:

Investing in Thailand's people would be more appropriate, Job creation and improved education, they give a return on investments made, the military just soaks up money, does nothing for the economy and is a thing of its past, you could half Thailand's military capability and still have too many Generals.   

Thailand has almost 3 times the Generals of the US, and 1/6 the amount of active duty personnel, you could eliminate 80% of the Generals and save a fortune! I would halve the size of the military and then have the Constitution restrict the number of Generals to about 50 in total, which would be more appropriate for the size of the country. Just imagine, the Generals would have to actually work for a living, not be pampered Rolex collectors who use the active duty personnel as serfs.

Edited February 28, 20197 yr by ocddave

51 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I see where your coming from and I don't disagree, however evidence has shown, and especially in Thailand, that kids who have been in the military for a few years do seem to come out with a better understanding, more responsible within their local village and generally become better men. At least that's what I see in our village and town.

Japan doesn’t have conscription, and they have one of the lowest crime rates in the world. 

 

You want better people? Educate them to be better. And that starts by something as simple as setting good examples. The days of “Do as I say and not as I do” are coming to an end. It’s hypocrisy and people don’t like it. Regardless of how brainwashed they are. 

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

A one or two year compulsary conscription could be implemented and broken down :

6 months service to learn dicipline, respect and responsibility.

6 months community service with local government involvement.

6 months career path and job training for when they leave.

6 months higher studies and further job skill training.

 

This doesn’t appear to be military service…it rather appears to be some sort of reactionary youth program running off the rails. It's a type of pre-emptive criminal probation for potentially wayward young people. Who, by the way, haven't committed any crime, but need to be punished and forcibly indoctrinated...just in case. This does not describe the purpose and function of a modern military...and is not something any free society would ever endorse or tolerate.

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 20197 yr by Hayduke

4 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Japan doesn’t have conscription, and they have one of the lowest crime rates in the world. 

 

You want better people? Educate them to be better. And that starts by something as simple as setting good examples. The days of “Do as I say and not as I do” are coming to an end. It’s hypocrisy and people don’t like it. Regardless of how brainwashed they are. 

While I agree with your comment, it's the people in power who don't want better, educated people.

The population would realise the raw deal they have been getting for centuries. Those in power would lose their grip on it.

Quote

...adding that the public should not associate scenes in TV soap operas with real life. 

That's funny...bit of an uphill battle on that one I think and don't Bogart that joint man.