Hi all, i recently when to Chiangmai, Thailand on a Travel Journalism course, and am writing a story on the monks there. I need someone to validate this fact for me: Is it true that boys who serve as monks for a period of time do not have to enlist in the army, and for how long?

Btw, this was told to me by a novice monk at the monk chat, and another young man (who is a former monk)... Unforutnately, I did not write it down so I want to verify it first.

Thanks!

Yes, it might be true if he continues his monkhood until he's fourty something years old!

Monks do not have to enlist in the forces. But as soon as they leave a monkhood they will have to report to the authorities.

Edited March 31, 200719 yr by Thai-Aust