Violent Students To Be Drafted Into Army Automatically: Thailand

[webfact]

Violent students to be drafted into Army automatically

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- From now on, students from vocational schools who are regarded as troublemakers or have a history of violence will be automatically conscripted to the Army as soon as they reach the correct age, Army chief General Prayuth Chanocha announced yesterday.

However, he said, this policy would be shortterm and might even be cancelled if it succeeds in preventing or reducing violence between rivalling schools.

This latest policy comes after a compulsory military drill was imposed on a number of troublemakers and those involved in recent brawls. Prayuth did not say when this new policy would go into effect.

"The troublemakers will be drafted automatically, instead of being selected from a list of names. Let's see if they turn out to be good soldiers as they have been showing off in their school years," he added.

The general said he hoped that both the automatic conscription and the current bootcamp drills could help the youngsters realise the consequences of violence while constituting good values in Thai society.

Meanwhile, police yesterday stopped 30 students from a vocational school in Bangkok's Bang Khunthien district from attacking a group of students from a rival school when they converged near Soi 50 on Rama II Road.

The students initially denied that they were preparing for an attack and said they had gathered to prevent an attack from their enemies. Though police did not find any weapons on the students' bodies, they found a bag containing 14 knives and a club hidden nearby. However, the students denied ownership of the weapons.

Since the students were between 18 and 20 years old, they were considered adults and taken to Tha Kham police station to be registered and will undergo a disciplinary course later. They were eventually picked up from the station by their parents.

-- The Nation 2012-06-30

[theblether]

An excellent idea...........it will immediately dampen the machismo of the students if they think that by being caught they will get drafted, plus a bit of time in the army will knock the stuffing out of them. Great news!!

Well done, more of the same please

[Mosha]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

[theblether]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

I was thinking that myself............TiT.

[Sharp]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

My thoughts exactly ......

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[Reasonableman]

At least they should learn some self-discipline and teamwork, at worst enhanced combat skills. Disciplinary measures used to include cleaning latrines, peeling spuds, forced long-distance hikes in full gear, "marching up and down the square", and solo night watches beset by mosquitoes bitgod. ;-) Wonder what the Thai army's "course" comprises.

Edited June 30, 2012 by Reasonableman

[mike123ca]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

I think the odds will be very low...

Rich kids buy their way into good school not technical colleges..

[Lifer]

Just more talk so far. Draft them and send them to the south and border to defend against the terrorists and insurgents, and don't give them a chance to steel Army weapons. May solve the future problem of school hoodlems fighting each other in school.

[noahvail]

I'm not so sure about this. Take kids who are violent, have problems with authority, give them weapons and live ammo... and then tell them that their squad is better, stronger, and tougher than other squads. Possible disaster in the making.

[noitom]

It seems like the wrong approach. For one, what will this do to regular army personnel psychology? That their "duty" is a punishment? Why would loyal regular army personnel feel proud to serve standing next to juvenile delinquents in their ranks?

Secondly, it won't act as a deterrent since the Thais readily admit that they are incapable of figuring out how to stop this "student fighting." So why would they be willing to compromise the integrity of the army and sidestep the core issues in an effort to "trial and error" a circus type approach of disciplinary management?

If you were a loyal regular army troop, would you like to put your life in the hands of a "juvenile delinquent" conscripted into service as punishment? Would you, as a loyal regular army soldier, be comfortable charging in battle or skirmish, while the conscripted by force student fighter is providing cover for you?

[Scoop1]

Maybe Australia can learn a lesson here, but i doubt it, maybe they will hop on a leaky boat and get five star treatment here on the free gravy train

scoop

[chinook]

It seems like the wrong approach. For one, what will this do to regular army personnel psychology? That their "duty" is a punishment? Why would loyal regular army personnel feel proud to serve standing next to juvenile delinquents in their ranks?

Secondly, it won't act as a deterrent since the Thais readily admit that they are incapable of figuring out how to stop this "student fighting." So why would they be willing to compromise the integrity of the army and sidestep the core issues in an effort to "trial and error" a circus type approach of disciplinary management?

If you were a loyal regular army troop, would you like to put your life in the hands of a "juvenile delinquent" conscripted into service as punishment? Would you, as a loyal regular army soldier, be comfortable charging in battle or skirmish, while the conscripted by force student fighter is providing cover for you?

Thailand already conscripts, so not a great shock for the RTA, they're well experienced in dealing with naughty Thai boys and turning them into disciplined men.

[TomTao]

I'm not so sure about this. Take kids who are violent, have problems with authority, give them weapons and live ammo... and then tell them that their squad is better, stronger, and tougher than other squads. Possible disaster in the making.

Not necessarily, what these kids need is discipline and the army will give them that, plus the military does not tollerate individualism, you must be a part of the unit or you will be made to fit, I know this because of my time in the Australian military, plus they will not be given live ammo till there instructors consider them to be responsible enough.

[kevc]

I'm not so sure about this. Take kids who are violent, have problems with authority, give them weapons and live ammo... and then tell them that their squad is better, stronger, and tougher than other squads. Possible disaster in the making.

There was a series on UK Tv years ago called Lads Army, they took towrags and put them through the national conscription programme from the 50's, at the start one kid said he'd been to every kind of institution and this would be a doddle. He didn't even last a day as they filmed him climbing over a fenceand running down the road saying he couldn't take anymore.

At the end of the series a lot of them joined up and got there lives on track.

[joecos]

At least they should learn some self-discipline and teamwork, at worst enhanced combat skills. Disciplinary measures used to include cleaning latrines, peeling spuds, forced long-distance hikes in full gear, "marching up and down the square", and solo night watches beset by mosquitoes bitgod. ;-) Wonder what the Thai army's "course" comprises.

Thanks for the Monty Python clip absolutely priceless. Seriously tho` Cameron should do the same with the benefit funded thugs

in the UK.Wherever there origins

[noahvail]

I'm not so sure about this. Take kids who are violent, have problems with authority, give them weapons and live ammo... and then tell them that their squad is better, stronger, and tougher than other squads. Possible disaster in the making.

There was a series on UK Tv years ago called Lads Army, they took towrags and put them through the national conscription programme from the 50's, at the start one kid said he'd been to every kind of institution and this would be a doddle. He didn't even last a day as they filmed him climbing over a fenceand running down the road saying he couldn't take anymore.

At the end of the series a lot of them joined up and got there lives on track.

I have no doubt that the Brits could pull something like this off, as could the Yanks. I have serious doubts about the RTA doing it, though.

In the village I used to live in, several yaba users were sent off to RTA camps for rahab. 2 weeks later, they came back "cured" for all of the first day they were back.

The government says it's "cured" 400,000 addicts so far this year. Yeah, right. I expect the same sort of result out of this new plan.

[h90]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

I think the odds will be very low...

Rich kids buy their way into good school not technical colleges..

Not good schools, expensive schools with guarantee to pass.

[h90]

It seems like the wrong approach. For one, what will this do to regular army personnel psychology? That their "duty" is a punishment? Why would loyal regular army personnel feel proud to serve standing next to juvenile delinquents in their ranks?

Secondly, it won't act as a deterrent since the Thais readily admit that they are incapable of figuring out how to stop this "student fighting." So why would they be willing to compromise the integrity of the army and sidestep the core issues in an effort to "trial and error" a circus type approach of disciplinary management?

If you were a loyal regular army troop, would you like to put your life in the hands of a "juvenile delinquent" conscripted into service as punishment? Would you, as a loyal regular army soldier, be comfortable charging in battle or skirmish, while the conscripted by force student fighter is providing cover for you?

Where you ever draft in an army?

The first thing they told us is that the gun the officers have are not to shoot the enemy, it is to shoot us in case we won't run in enemy fire.

Shoot one and the others will follow the order.

You can think how "proud to serve" we were.

Soldiers who were doing it as job called the drafted on only "meat".

Very high rate on suicide and mostly covered up. Never hit the news.

[phiphidon]

Last time I looked this country was being governed by a civilian government. Who the #@%$ does Prayuth think he is?

[whybother]

Last time I looked this country was being governed by a civilian government. Who the #@%$ does Prayuth think he is?

Last I checked, Prayuth was the army chief. Apparently he was talking about army drafting policies. Who do you think should be talking about army drafting policies?

[animatic]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

But why would the rich kids be in these vocational schools?

They aren't the problem,

their driving and recreational drug and sex habits are their problem.

[transam]

They should try that in the UK.

[LucidLucifer]

However, he said, this policy would be shortterm and might even be cancelled if it succeeds in preventing or reducing violence between rivalling schools.

Have I just read this right?

Are they saying if the policy works, they will then cancel it?

Surely if it works they should keep it going.

Thai logic at its best!!!!

[OzMick]

I'm not so sure about this. Take kids who are violent, have problems with authority, give them weapons and live ammo... and then tell them that their squad is better, stronger, and tougher than other squads. Possible disaster in the making.

You seem to have some very strange concepts about the issue of live ammunition. Normally this is only done at range practice immediately before firing, strict count is kept of the number of rounds fired, a check is made of all magazines and pouches before leaving, and possession of live rounds (or even blank rounds) without authorisation is a very serious offence.It is NOT common practice outside of a war zone for soldiers to be armed with anything more deadly than a bayonet or pocket knife.

[Reasonableman]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

But why would the rich kids be in these vocational schools?

They aren't the problem,

their driving and recreational drug and sex habits are their problem.

Perhaps because their parents didn't give a dam_n, and put them into daycare at the lowest possible cost. Hard to imagine, but i guess it's possible.

[Exsexyman]

At least they should learn some self-discipline and teamwork, at worst enhanced combat skills. Disciplinary measures used to include cleaning latrines, peeling spuds, forced long-distance hikes in full gear, "marching up and down the square", and solo night watches beset by mosquitoes bitgod. ;-) Wonder what the Thai army's "course" comprises.

Thanks for the Monty Python clip absolutely priceless. Seriously tho` Cameron should do the same with the benefit funded thugs

in the UK.Wherever there origins

Great idea. Lets extend it to the likes of the top man at Barclays, and all the other bankers who have been ripping everybody off for years. And any MP caught fiddling their expenses, would concentrate their minds wonderfully!

[chrisinth]

If the student is caught fighting at the age of 18, what happens to him for the next 3 years before the conscription age of 21? This is the time when the students are more prone to being involved in fighting (aquiring their gang status if you like) than any other. Even if they send them to boot-camp, this would only be temp.

Can't help imagining these kids doing their conscription time and coming back as mature students! That would give the authorities something of a problem with weapon training and unarmed combat added to their resumes. ................

Give the police more powers over these people, irregardless if the are classed as students or not. Class them as adults or send them to the young offenders centres; that is what they are there for.

One last point, for someone to chase another person, only because they are wearing a different uniform, with a machette, and then tries to hack their head off is not normal in any sense of the word. IMO, they should undergo first a compulsory drug testing followed by a visit to a trick cycilist for a really long talk!

[CockneyGit]

It seems like the wrong approach. For one, what will this do to regular army personnel psychology? That their "duty" is a punishment? Why would loyal regular army personnel feel proud to serve standing next to juvenile delinquents in their ranks?

Secondly, it won't act as a deterrent since the Thais readily admit that they are incapable of figuring out how to stop this "student fighting." So why would they be willing to compromise the integrity of the army and sidestep the core issues in an effort to "trial and error" a circus type approach of disciplinary management?

If you were a loyal regular army troop, would you like to put your life in the hands of a "juvenile delinquent" conscripted into service as punishment? Would you, as a loyal regular army soldier, be comfortable charging in battle or skirmish, while the conscripted by force student fighter is providing cover for you?

Nice to hear a bit of common sense coming from the Thai government for a change. Put these offenders in the Army is exactly what is needed in many countries around the world (UK a prime example!).

As for the "regular" Army personnel, don't worry, they will have their own "ways and means" of how to deal with these people and the students will be nowhere near the front, stuck at the back doing the worst possible jobs that only the Army can give..!!

Hooray for common sense!

[Fozfromoz]

On the surface this seems a good plan. Defence forces the world over, if nothing else, are good at knocking discipline into soldiers.

Lets hope that there are no exemptions due to family status, and apply the one rule for all. The knock on effect with this is while the "student" is in the military the studies cease, so that would be an extra penalty if they get left behind.

Give them a choice, expulsion and fend for yourself, or do some time in the Army, and when you have the discipline knocked into you, come back and finish your studies.

[apalink_thailand]

Odd's on the rich kids being exempt?

My thoughts exactly ......

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Rich kids do not attend technical colleges.