Commanders Face Heat Over Army Conscript Abuse Scandal

[webfact]

FILE photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

In a critical move, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced on Tuesday that commanders of units involved in conscript abuse will face disciplinary action.

 

This strong stance follows reports of atrocious treatment of conscripts by trainers and senior officers. Mr Phumtham's declaration came during his visit to the conscript recruitment unit at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok.

 

Abuses involve physical and emotional mistreatment, with some conscripts reportedly forced to serve as house help for senior officers.

 

Determined to put an end to this, the Defence Minister insists that trainers must be schooled on recognising abusive practices. Should such abuses continue, not only the perpetrators but their commanding officers will be held accountable.

 

 

 

In an effort to prevent further misconduct, Mr Phumtham plans to install CCTV cameras at training venues. This measure aims at ensuring transparency and safeguarding the well-being of the conscripts. Following discussions with parents, the minister united with them in ensuring improved conscript care.

 

The initiative is part of broader military reforms aimed at reducing the number of conscripts while maintaining defence readiness through enhanced technology.

 

Vocational training will be offered to attract volunteers, smoothing their transition to civilian life post-service. Employment opportunities are being sought for these soldiers, with businesses encouraged to reserve positions for them.

 

Thailand’s conscription period is scheduled from April 1-12, involving men aged 21 who are selected through a lottery. The changes aim to modernise the military and provide economic opportunities for the young men serving their country.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-04-09

 

 

[flyingtlger]

These conscripts need discipline. They should not be treated with kid gloves.

If they break a rule, they need to learn they did something wrong, especially if they're soldiers and their mistake could put another soldiers' life in jeopardy.....

 

 

[Mason45]

This is probably the only lottery that Thai mums want their sons to lose. I did 2 years national service in Australia, discipline was taught the right way, not some senior officers bum boy. The main thing I was taught was to drink hard and play hard. That was 60 years ago, now what I used to do all night takes me all night to do now.

[ukrules]

17 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

These conscripts need discipline. They should not be treated with kid gloves.

If they break a rule, they need to learn they did something wrong, especially if they're soldiers and their mistake could put another soldiers' life in jeopardy.....

 

Same goes for the officers, but more so.
 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

In a critical move, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced on Tuesday that commanders of units involved in conscript abuse will face disciplinary action.

So they always got away with it before ?

[jayboy]

Why does Thailand need conscripts at all? It has no enemies and there are plenty of volunteers available.

[NativeBob]

Some pretty dark things are happening there I was told. Really nasty one. 

[Chris BKK]

Finally a government spokesman is doing something about the treatment of conscripts, this has been going on for years plus using them as glorified maids to senior officers. Is there any wonder there is no trust in the military to treat people fairly.

Discipline is fine, but cruelty is not, bullies the lot of them, praying on people who cannot fight back, so basically cowards.

[Patong2021]

9 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

These conscripts need discipline. They should not be treated with kid gloves.

If they break a rule, they need to learn they did something wrong, especially if they're soldiers and their mistake could put another soldiers' life in jeopardy.....

 

 

Did you not read the article? It is in respect to the abuse these conscripts suffer at the hands of sick corrupt misfits. Conscripts are not there to serve as personal servants. This issue has been raised multiple times and is still not resolved.

As for your comment about discipline, no one argues against it but discipline for too many is abusive.

[Patong2021]

13 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Why does Thailand need conscripts at all? It has no enemies and there are plenty of volunteers available.

How many people volunteered in the last year?

The military is used for building social cohesion and for teaching some basic skills like hygiene. My best friend was an NCO and had to teach some recruits how to properly wash themselves. Others were taught skills like how to a sew button, how to do basic truck servicing, first aid and proper nutrition. Gun safety is taught. The army acts as a first responder service when there are catastrophes.  Thailand has enemies. What do you think the exchange of gunfire at the Myanmar border has been?

[Srikcir]

26 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Why does Thailand need conscripts at all? It has no enemies and there are plenty of volunteers available.

There is allegedly a self-correction in treatment of conscripts in that conscription numbers will begin draw down in April 2024 and zero out by April 2027. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Armed_Forces

But it appears the military has a difficult time breaking its military traditions of abusing conscripts. Just as it does with its propensity for military overthrow of elected Thai governments.

[PETERTHEEATER]

This is not the first time mis-use and abuse of conscripts has been in the news.

The last time the same 'We will taake action' platitudes were uttered but little has changed.

The promise to install CCTV should include married officers quarters with feeds only to a recorder in Defence Ministters office as a reminder.

[rough diamond]

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

there are plenty of volunteers available.

Where?

[jayboy]

45 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

How many people volunteered in the last year?

The military is used for building social cohesion and for teaching some basic skills like hygiene. My best friend was an NCO and had to teach some recruits how to properly wash themselves. Others were taught skills like how to a sew button, how to do basic truck servicing, first aid and proper nutrition. Gun safety is taught. The army acts as a first responder service when there are catastrophes.  Thailand has enemies. What do you think the exchange of gunfire at the Myanmar border has been?

 

You are talking nonsense.If conscription was dropped there would be little difficulty in attracting the numbers to service a moderately sized efficient military.The opportunity to acquire technology skills would be a significant attraction and the social disadvantaged types you mention would not pass muster in the first place.It is not the task of the army to teach recruits to wash themselves anyway (but perhaps your NCO friend had a special interest). Senior officers in the Thai army like a large number of underemployed soldiers to act as servants - and the scandals associated with their abuse are a matter of common knowledge.

 

As a fighting force the Thai army is third rate.Individual soldiers often perform well but the senior office corps is a corrupt incompetent disgrace.Their purpose is not to to excel militarily but to engage in business and make money, and of course stick their noses into politics - conducting coups when they think appropriate.They need cutting down to size which means among other things cutting down on the laughable number of generals - more than the US military.

 

Your comment on gunfire on the Myanmar border is laughable.Of course Thailand needs to protect its borders but that is a different thing altogether from having a bloated corrupt massive military which holds democracy in contempt, and sticks its nose into the business trough.

 

 

[blaze master]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

How many people volunteered in the last year?

The military is used for building social cohesion and for teaching some basic skills like hygiene. My best friend was an NCO and had to teach some recruits how to properly wash themselves. Others were taught skills like how to a sew button, how to do basic truck servicing, first aid and proper nutrition. Gun safety is taught. The army acts as a first responder service when there are catastrophes.  Thailand has enemies. What do you think the exchange of gunfire at the Myanmar border has been?

 

Costa Rica begs to differ.

[blaze master]

4 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

You are talking nonsense.If conscription was dropped there would be little difficulty in attracting the numbers to service a moderately sized efficient military.The opportunity to acquire technology skills would be a significant attraction and the social disadvantaged types you mention would not pass muster in the first place.It is not the task of the army to teach recruits to wash themselves anyway (but perhaps your NCO friend had a special interest). Senior officers in the Thai army like a large number of underemployed soldiers to act as servants - and the scandals associated with their abuse are a matter of common knowledge.

 

As a fighting force the Thai army is third rate.Individual soldiers often perform well but the senior office corps is a corrupt incompetent disgrace.Their purpose is not to to excel militarily but to engage in business and make money, and of course stick their noses into politics - conducting coups when they think appropriate.They need cutting down to size which means among other things cutting down on the laughable number of generals - more than the US military.

 

Your comment on gunfire on the Myanmar border is laughable.Of course Thailand needs to protect its borders but that is a different thing altogether from having a bloated corrupt massive military which holds democracy in contempt, and sticks its nose into the business trough.

 

 

 

It's not like parents can't teach hygiene.

[rough diamond]

15 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

It's not like parents can't teach hygiene.

They may be able to but they don't and that is NOT only in Thailand.

[rough diamond]

22 minutes ago, jayboy said:

It is not the task of the army to teach recruits to wash themselves anyway

You have obviously never served in the military and taught basic recruits!

[Purdey]

The professional soldiers in Thailand I have met tend to be very hard men. I wouldn't get on their bad side.

Conscripts are much softer and are not people you would worry about meeting in a dark alley. Better to go with a fully professional military.

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

So they always got away with it before ?

 

Many such instances have been detailed in the media over many years.

[Sir Dude]

Thailand has to move toward a volunteer army that has good pay, conditions, pensions etc. and it will get the most capable young men joining who want to fight and progress... conscript armies suck and can't perform. Thailand needs to move away from high level officers seeing their troops as slaves to serve them, do their gardening, wash their laundry, drive around their wives around on shopping trips etc. and enter the real world.

[kidneyw]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

with some conscripts reportedly forced to serve as house help for senior officers.

Better than fighting the terrorists in the south.

[blaze master]

2 hours ago, rough diamond said:

They may be able to but they don't and that is NOT only in Thailand.

 

Noted.

[Sydebolle]

 ........ "conscript abuse will face disciplinary action" ......... 

Well, the Ministry of Inactive Posts will have some new members shortly; usually they are assigned to Thailand's biggest Ministry for a few months only. 

I've been told that a little black token (exemption) can account for 60,000 Baht and yes, cadets and recruits mums, aunties and grannies don't like the red tickets (conscripted for two years). 

Those with a red ticket though are, more often than not, being "abused" as servants, gardeners, drivers and other work assignments as seen fit by the superior colonels and further up. 

[jayboy]

2 hours ago, rough diamond said:

You have obviously never served in the military and taught basic recruits!

 

You have obviously no experience of a modern well educated all volunteer army.

[rough diamond]

21 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

You have obviously no experience of a modern well educated all volunteer army.

B.S.! as you obviously have no such self experience or that of a close relative undergoing basic training today.

 

[Mike_Hunt]

Conscription is government slavery. 

[rough diamond]

1 minute ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Conscription is government slavery. 

Not if you are at war!

[Mike_Hunt]

1 hour ago, rough diamond said:

Not if you are at war!

Sure it is.  A bunch of young men get to die for the political failures of the old leaders. 

[rough diamond]

11 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Sure it is.  A bunch of young men get to die for the political failures of the old leaders. 

Usually because the dictators of another country have invaded our/your democratically elected  country. 

Then we have to go to war to defend OUR rights and not that of an invading  dictators dictum!