Future Forward seeks end to mandatory military conscription

[snoop1130]

Future Forward seeks end to mandatory military conscription

By THE NATION

 

 

Members of the opposition Future Forward Party led by party-list MP Lt-Gen Pongsakorn Rodchomphu have submitted a draft for a revised Conscription Act calling for military service to be voluntary except in dire circumstances.

 

Pongsakorn announced on Thursday (November 14) that the proposal was submitted via the Secretariat of the House of Representatives to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai in the hope it will become an amendment to the Conscription Act BE 2497.

 

He said Future Forward believed the existing legislation in effect since 1954 had to be changed to mirror modern social attitudes.

 

“We strongly believe military service should be voluntary rather than mandatory. Mandatory conscription should come into effect only in wartime or in states of emergency. Otherwise it is a violation of an individual’s rights.”

 

The proposed draft would replace mandatory conscription for males aged 21 years old with voluntary admission for persons aged 18-40.

 

“We also propose that the period of service be five years rather than two and that enlisted personnel be allowed to progress through the ranks up to lieutenant colonel before being discharged no later than age 46,” Pongsakorn said.

 

“The amended act would also pardon those who avoided enlistment before the revised law came into effect.”

 

Pongsakorn said the aim was to foster human rights, reduce the financial burden that mandatory conscription places on the military and enhance efficiency among enlisted personnel by extending their service time and enabling rank progression.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30378343

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-11-14

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[Eligius]

This could well be Future Forward's suicide note. 

Massively undercutting the all-pervasiveness of the military in Thai society  - and its brainwashing programme - will NEVER be allowed.

One or other (Future Forward or the omnipresent military) will have to go - and it won't be the insidious military (not least because the Thais will simply lie back and allow same-same to continue indefinitely ....).

 

Edited November 14, 2019 by Eligius

[billd766]

I think that is a great idea provided that the volunteers learn a trade and are NOT detailed to work at senior and retired officers houses as servants.

If the officers NEED to have maids, batmen, drivers to take the wives out then hire them from the civilian population.

 

A professional military is always much better than a conscript military.

 

Of course the senior officers will lose face, so I don't expect that to happen anyway.

[lungbing]

Where would the generals get their house servants from if that happened?

[billd766]

1 hour ago, lungbing said:

Where would the generals get their house servants from if that happened?

They would have to spend their OWN money like everybody else does. I have no doubt that they can get an allowance from the military budget to do so.

[nausea]

Totally outdated concept since WW1. You need professionals not a bunch of mummy's boys.

[Toadie]

It's how they wean their teenagers. Nothing to do with actual military.

[pegman]

Great idea. Cut the military budget in half while they are at it.

[Geoffggi]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Rodchomphu have submitted a draft for a revised Conscription Act calling for military service to be voluntary except in dire circumstances.

Normally I would agree with this concept, however, in a country like Thailand where discipline is in short supply and the feelings of others abused it could result in even a wider spread of lawlessness throughout the country.

[Bob12345]

40 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Normally I would agree with this concept, however, in a country like Thailand where discipline is in short supply and the feelings of others abused it could result in even a wider spread of lawlessness throughout the country.

The military draft to to keep lawlessness in check?

55555+

 

Thats funny given that a lot of the lawlessness in Thailand comes directly from the military (coup after coup after coup, and in between coups they beat up and kill their own conscripts while the high-ranking officers get filthy rich while using their men as slaves). 

[yellowboat]

46 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Normally I would agree with this concept, however, in a country like Thailand where discipline is in short supply and the feelings of others abused it could result in even a wider spread of lawlessness throughout the country.

Given the military answers to nobody, it is a non disciplined group.  Looking to the military to solve Thailand's woes is why Thailand is a dull basket case of a country.   They do as they like, and, if challenged or an opportunity arises, they start a coup.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Members of the opposition Future Forward Party led by party-list MP Lt-Gen Pongsakorn Rodchomphu

As he is now a civilian MP should the title Lt-Gen be dropped?

[mike324]

FF seems to be dreaming too much.... with the current structure of the country. The military is used to protect everything and there is a huge power shift going on this year. Some regiments of military has been transferred under private control.

[rkidlad]

6 minutes ago, mike324 said:

FF seems to be dreaming too much.... with the current structure of the country. The military is used to protect everything and there is a huge power shift going on this year. Some regiments of military has been transferred under private control.

Yes, we are now witnessing how brave the army here really is. Relinquishing control of different regiments without even a whimper of protest. 

[Creasy]

They need to cull the generals.

 

The United States has a population of 360 million people, and an active duty military force of 1,281,000 (including 210,000 women), with about 900 generals and admirals serving in all military branches. The US military is engaged in two combat missions (Afghanistan & Iraq) and several military support and peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and Africa.

 

In comparison, Thailand has a population of 66 million, with a military force of about 350,000. But the Thai military is burdened with over 1700 generals and admirals, which is more than their total number of warships, tanks, and aircraft put together! Over 300 of them work in Bangkok. And those senior officers have aides, not to mention conscript soldiers to do their household chores. And not one of those generals or admirals has seen combat since the Thai-Lao border skirmish in 1988.

[BobbyL]

A good idea yet again by the FFP. They seem to be a modern thinking party that this country needs to progress. 

 

However, will they be allowed to change the society here? I doubt it. 

[GarryP]

1 hour ago, Creasy said:

They need to cull the generals.

 

The United States has a population of 360 million people, and an active duty military force of 1,281,000 (including 210,000 women), with about 900 generals and admirals serving in all military branches. The US military is engaged in two combat missions (Afghanistan & Iraq) and several military support and peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and Africa.

 

In comparison, Thailand has a population of 66 million, with a military force of about 350,000. But the Thai military is burdened with over 1700 generals and admirals, which is more than their total number of warships, tanks, and aircraft put together! Over 300 of them work in Bangkok. And those senior officers have aides, not to mention conscript soldiers to do their household chores. And not one of those generals or admirals has seen combat since the Thai-Lao border skirmish in 1988.

Sorry to disappoint but they did not even see combat in 1988. They kept away from the border. Soldiers were running away (AWOL) in large numbers as there were not being lead properly. You could get rid of 2/3 of the Thai generals and they would not be missed. They do SFA apart from line their pockets and pass their hours on the golf course. I personally know one very high ranking female officer in the Air Force and she spends all her day in the gym. She literally has no work to do. No responsibility. So she is free to do what the hell she wants in office hours, so being a keep fit fanatic she spends a very large part of her time in the gym. 

 

I wouldn't agree to culling, although perhaps a few deserve something along those lines. Perhaps, forcing all those over 50 with no active duties into early retirement. They keep their pensions but are no longer granted housing. Then terminate the employment of the remaining generals who do not have active duties and give them severance pay. But they will not be entitled to any pension. Then stop promoting people because of their Year at the Academy, who their friends are, how old they are. Promotion based PURELY on performance (and I do not mean acting).  

Edited November 15, 2019 by GarryP

[Reigntax]

16 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Sorry to disappoint but they did not even see combat in 1988. They kept away from the border. Soldiers were running away (AWOL) in large numbers as there were not being lead properly. You could get rid of 2/3 of the Thai generals and they would not be missed. They do SFA apart from line their pockets and pass their hours on the golf course. I personally know one very high ranking female officer in the Air Force and she spends all her day in the gym. She literally has no work to do. No responsibility. So she is free to do what the hell she wants in office hours, so being a keep fit fanatic she spends a very large part of her time in the gym. 

 

I wouldn't agree to culling, although perhaps a few deserve something along those lines. Perhaps, forcing all those over 50 with no active duties into early retirement. They keep their pensions but are no longer granted housing. Then terminate the employment of the remaining generals who do not have active duties and give them severance pay. But they will not be entitled to any pension. Then stop promoting people because of their Year at the Academy, who their friends are, how old they are. Promotion based PURELY on performance (and I do not mean acting).  

Stop all this logical thinking. This is a Thai forum. Sit back, dream and laugh with the rest of us.

You are just the sort of person the Thai military don't want entering this lawfull, respectful and advanced country.

[billd766]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

As he is now a civilian MP should the title Lt-Gen be dropped?

no, but he should add retired (retd) after his rank.

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, Reigntax said:

Stop all this logical thinking. This is a Thai forum. Sit back, dream and laugh with the rest of us.

You are just the sort of person the Thai military don't want entering this lawfull, respectful and advanced country.

You do have a way with words ????

[Orton Rd]

Only the poor and the stupid get conscripted, if you have a few bob it's easy not to get called up in the ball lottery. Even one of our relatives bought themselves out for less than the cost of an i phone. Or you can always put a dress and lipstick on, they don't take trannies.