Thai Army To Turn Violent Students Into 'Gentlemen'

[webfact]

Army to turn violent students into 'gentlemen'

Supinda na Mahachai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Army has agreed to help the Education Ministry arrange the "Vocational Gentlemen" programme to reform the behaviour of some 130 vocational students with histories of violence.

Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej hopes to launch the programme as early as next month.

"It will last three months, during which time the students will receive training at a military base," he said yesterday.

He was speaking after a meeting with the Royal Thai Army's deputy chiefofstaff LtGeneral Surasak Kanjanarat.

During the discussion, available information suggested there were just 130 troublemaking students at 36 vocational schools or colleges behind the recent brawls. This is in addition to alumni who have encouraged the use of violence against members of rival institutes.

"We will reform these 130 students first and find a way to separate them from alumni who incite violence," Suchart said.

The training at the military base will focus on instilling discipline, ethics, gentlemanly behaviour and a willingness to sacrifice in the students, he said.

Education Ministry permanent secretary Sasithara Pichaichannarong said the Royal Thai Army would also dispatch officers to teach at vocational institutes from next semester onward.

Suchart said that as an immediate measure, all students of the 36 rival vocational institutes were now instructed to wear general student uniforms without any symbols that could identify their school.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday approved arrest warrants for two more suspects involved in a bloody fight in the heart of Bangkok earlier this week.

One person was brutally beaten and receiving treatment at a hospital.

Huai Kwang police station deputy superintendent LtColonel Jarupat Thongkomon identified the two suspects as Pornpissanu Kanjanadul, 33, and Rattapon Sotawan, 27.

Pornpissanu pulled out a gun and opened fire, but no one was hit.

"They are charged with attempted murder and causing serious injury," Jarupat said. "We will track down three or four more of their accomplices."

Earlier this week, 26yearold Sutas Prathumchai was arrested in connection with the case. Sutas reportedly confessed to beating the victim.

-- The Nation 2012-06-23

[cougar52]

Huai Kwang police station deputy superintendent LtColonel Jarupat Thongkomon identified the two suspects as Pornpissanu Kanjanadul, 33, and Rattapon Sotawan, 27.

These are students.......33 and 27 years old.....?????? These are Men, Not Students. What is wrong for jail for offenders like these.

[apetley]

Huai Kwang police station deputy superintendent LtColonel Jarupat Thongkomon identified the two suspects as Pornpissanu Kanjanadul, 33, and Rattapon Sotawan, 27.

These are students.......33 and 27 years old.....?????? These are Men, Not Students. What is wrong for jail for offenders like these.

Two different incidents.

As usual the Nation report makes hardly any distinction between them.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Moruya]

Someone in the government has decided this is comedy weekend for we Westerners.

[KKvampire]

"We will reform these 130 students first and find a way to separate them from alumni who incite violence," Suchart said.

The training at the military base will focus on instilling discipline, ethics, gentlemanly behaviour and a willingness to sacrifice in the students, he said.

no words needed

[beano2274]

Did the same in England at Colchester, did not work. There was no respect for the Army Personnel from the prisoners.

[harrry]

Did the same in England at Colchester, did not work. There was no respect for the Army Personnel from the prisoners.

THe difference is here if they cannot instill respect they will and can instill fear.

[GentlemanJim]

When I read the thread title, i had a grin and was going to add "within 3 months", in mockery of Chalerms 'Mafia' comments yesterday. Then I read the third line of the op

"It will last three months, during which time the students will receive training at a military base," he said yesterday.

Oh my giddy Aunt!

[beano2274]

Did the same in England at Colchester, did not work. There was no respect for the Army Personnel from the prisoners.

THe difference is here if they cannot instill respect they will and can instill fear.

Installing fear will get more negative reactions from the offenders, they will rise up against those who are in charge.

[SOTIRIOS]

....in my experience, the secondary students that have 'enlisted', while still in school, come back more aggressive, often smoking and talking about guns ....(I hope they are right....)

[EyesWideOpen]

Given the long term history of the army using violence against Thai citizens this is an odd story. Think Tak Bai massacre .... here is a quote from the Wikipedia article.. Video footage shows soldiers kicking and beating those already bound and helplessly lying on the ground. So having the Thai army teach civility seems a bit odd. Are these stories put out just to wind up the farangs living here? Sometime I wonder...

Edited June 23, 2012 by EyesWideOpen

[EarthAlien]

At least this is a very positive move by the authorities. Whether or not the desired outcome could be achieved inside 90 days is questionable. I would think more like 12 months would be better and then add to it some awards for progression and good conduct and even the option of good jobs and/or some scholarships so that the attendees have something to work toward rather than seeing the whole excercise as some kind of penance.

[animatic]

I'd said bootcamp LIKE places, not an actual Army Bootcamp.

And 3 months ain't gonna be enough for these guys.

[LindsayBKK]

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Conscription

I think we have seen enough youth in Thailand making a nuisance of themselves.

Bike / car racing gangs, students spending hours on end at internet cafe's and

Century Plaza Car park I see students sitting on the car park ramps blocking cars,

not to mention the graffiti of the name of the school there that have to get painted over.

Conscription would be a good solution, either that make parents responsible for their

kids behavior, that's been talked about in a few countries of late including Australia.

I think you need to teach parents first. Without this respect will never be achieved.

Alternatively http://www.boystown.com.au/about-us.html Thailand needs places like this.

Edited June 23, 2012 by LindsayBKK

[LucidLucifer]

Whether it will work or not is another thing, but at least the authorities are being more proactive in tackling the problem for a change.

I think the heart of this problem is much deeper than a few unruly types and will take some serious solving though. Expelling the students from the technical colleges would go some way to eradicating the fights, but then you'd just have those boys out on the street, unqualified and at a loose end. They'd simply find a different way to indulge in their penchant for violence.

As for ex-students inciting violence, surely their must be some law in this country that makes that illegal. They should be held accountable with hefty penalties, and by that I mean jailtime.

Pesonally i'd think they should be consripted. Make them sign-up for 5 years, give them discipline, give them vocational training, and give them a focus and direction in life.

[MikeThaison]

Given the long term history of the army using violence against Thai citizens this is an odd story. Think Tak Bai massacre .... here is a quote from the Wikipedia article.. Video footage shows soldiers kicking and beating those already bound and helplessly lying on the ground. So having the Thai army teach civility seems a bit odd. Are these stories put out just to wind up the farangs living here? Sometime I wonder...

Why use such outdated crap? Not saying the army is any better now, but pulling shit from 40 years ago as evidence to back your statement is well just lazy. Why not use something from the 2010 demonstrations or the Krue Se Mosque massacre?

Am I the only one that thinks this could be good? Last week TV was bitchin and moaning about not enough being done. Now they are trying to reform them bootcamp style! Awesome, many places have used this as a technique. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 3 months is too short. You need to remove them from their environment for atleast 6 months to 1 year and they can be reformed.

I say send them to boot camp then send their asses down to the south.

[lovetotravel]

During the discussion, available information suggested there were just 130 troublemaking students at 36 vocational schools or colleges behind the recent brawls.

Come on. Only 130? When a brawl happens here, everybody jumps in. Training needs to happen to a MUCH larger group of students. It's called ethics.

[LucidLucifer]

Given the long term history of the army using violence against Thai citizens this is an odd story. Think Tak Bai massacre .... here is a quote from the Wikipedia article.. Video footage shows soldiers kicking and beating those already bound and helplessly lying on the ground. So having the Thai army teach civility seems a bit odd. Are these stories put out just to wind up the farangs living here? Sometime I wonder...

Why use such outdated crap? Not saying the army is any better now, but pulling shit from 40 years ago as evidence to back your statement is well just lazy. Why not use something from the 2010 demonstrations or the Krue Se Mosque massacre?

Tak Bai was in 2004, not 40 years ago.

[kiniyow]

May work as planned? Military training often does teach Disipline and teamwork something many have never experienced....If this don't work then Jail.....

[Soutpeel]

May work as planned? Military training often does teach Disipline and teamwork something many have never experienced....If this don't work then Jail.....

It also teaches them to use weapons properly...

[LucidLucifer]

May work as planned? Military training often does teach Disipline and teamwork something many have never experienced....If this don't work then Jail.....

It also teaches them to use weapons properly...

Yes it does, but it also teaches them to respect weapons.

There are always downsides played out on this subject; instead of unfit ill-disciplined yobs, you'll have well-trained, fit ones, skilled in the very arts we wish to eradicate from them. That is where the other elements of military training come into play.....hopefully.

[nkg]

The "Vocational Gentlemen" programme

Gentleman 1: I say, old boy, did I just observe you perusing my fiance's decolletage perchance?

Gentleman 2: While I regret my unseemly conduct, perhaps you would care to engage in fisticuffs?

Edited June 23, 2012 by nkg

[lubbkis]

Did the same in England at Colchester, did not work. There was no respect for the Army Personnel from the prisoners.

THe difference is here if they cannot instill respect they will and can instill fear.

Installing fear will get more negative reactions from the offenders, they will rise up against those who are in charge.

Is that what happened at Deepcut. I can't remember. What was the outcome of the enquiry?

[Soutpeel]

The "Vocational Gentlemen" programme

Gentleman 1: I say, old boy, did I just observe you perusing my fiance's decolletage perchance?

Gentleman 2: While I regret my unseemly conduct, perhaps you would care to engage in fisticuffs?

Queensbury rules of course...

[Pseudolus]

I went briefly to Central Ladprao today when The Nation was hosting some very small expo on the top floor. A nice friendly exec from the paper hauled me over to talk as the only Farang there, and asked me what I thought about The Nation.

"The Nation? You work for The Nation? (he nods). Let me ask you this then. What is the purpose of an independent news paper? Is it to basically advertise government policies and business of the owners friends or do you think The Nation should actually do some journalism?"

"Well sir, we think the standard of journalism is very good"

"Indeed? So if I told you that your newspaper never questions anything, never looks for a reason behind why something has been done or why something has been said, would this offend you or would you be happy at this description?"

"I think is certainly how we try to work, yes."

"Well sir, in answer to your question, The Nation is not a newspaper. It is a PR machine for various people, but I have yet to see any actual news reporting in it. good day."

He looked blank.

Anyway, on this lovely piece, in some countries this would be a good idea. herem, it would just teach these guys to shoot straighter and give them access to better gun. .

[thequietman]

At least this is a very positive move by the authorities. Whether or not the desired outcome could be achieved inside 90 days is questionable. I would think more like 12 months would be better and then add to it some awards for progression and good conduct and even the option of good jobs and/or some scholarships so that the attendees have something to work toward rather than seeing the whole excercise as some kind of penance.

Agreed. 12 months or longer would be much better.

I have seen young men from my village that were pure asses and pissheads.

their names were pulled out in the draw to join the army.

3 years on, they are not the same people. well manered, considerate and hard working.

when the wife engaged them in conversation, the young men said it was the best thing to happen to them

Pillars of the village now. I hope this initiative works but it is unlikely in such a short space of time.

however, if they continue to be repeat offenders and have to attend again and again then maybe it will be a sufficient deterent to help them change their ways.

[zydeco]

Let them go clear minefields somewhere. That'll instill discipline in them. Either that . . . or they simply won't be a problem anymore.

[redroo]

the army will use them as a http://reconnaissance unit during anny conflict.

Or when they stumble upon field of land mines ,

they'll send them thru it first ,

"just move gentle men"

then just follow there foot steps.

[Bagwan]

Did the same in England at Colchester, did not work. There was no respect for the Army Personnel from the prisoners.

Thanks to do gooders and wishy washy liberals I expect. These Thai yobos should be given a very hard time, no TV, no smokes, no strange substances and no excuses accepted for failure to complete tasks. Those who joined the UK Armed Forces as Boy Entrants know that such a system works.

Colchester was once feared by all Army personnel who didn't toe the line. Shepton Mallet had a similar reputation. Neither establishments had many returning guests.

[bigbamboo]

I wonder if the Thai Army could turn violent politicians into gentlemen too?