EC stages orientation course for territorial defence volunteers

The Election Commission today (Wednesday) held an orientation course for territorial defence volunteers who will spread out across the country to explain to the public the referendum process and to convince them to vote in the referendum.

Election commissioner Prawit Rattanapien who chaired the meeting said that the EC had targeted an 80 percent voter’s turnout in the referendum compared to 57 percent turnout in the referendum nine years ago.

He said that the orientation course would have nothing to do with the essence of the draft constitution as the duty of the territorial defence volunteers was to publicise about the referendum so that members of the public would try to study the draft charter and to vote in the referendum.

General Chalermchai Sitthisart, assistant army commander-in-chief, who also attended the course, said that the army was a government’s tool in spreading the content of the draft charter to members of the public.

He expressed concern with the efforts of some political elements, apparently referring to the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, to discredit the referendum.

He believes that the publicity campaign assisted by the volunteers will make people aware of their duty to go to the polls to vote in the referendum.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ec-stages-orientation-course-territorial-defence-volunteers/

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-15

I know that there are a number of different groups under the umbrella of "Defence Volunteers".

This bunch look like school cadets.

I suspect they plan on using:

Volunteer Defense Corps

Territorial Defense Volunteers

Village Defense Volunteers

Village Protection Volunteers

Civil Defense Volunteers

some/all of which have both full-time (decent salary) and part-time responsibilities. There may be more types? I think just about anyone with a pulse and a connection works for the State, and draws a salary.

While these folks may be trained by the military, I think they are part of the Interior Ministry, and report to the local administrator?

I thought they had to be at least 21, with M3 education, but those young people on the left look younger than that?

The Junta is definitely committed to a decent turnout, as of today. Maybe they'll drive turnout in friendly areas, and hope those unfriendlies stay home?

I suspect they plan on using:

Volunteer Defense Corps

Territorial Defense Volunteers

Village Defense Volunteers

Village Protection Volunteers

Civil Defense Volunteers

some/all of which have both full-time (decent salary) and part-time responsibilities. There may be more types? I think just about anyone with a pulse and a connection works for the State, and draws a salary.

While these folks may be trained by the military, I think they are part of the Interior Ministry, and report to the local administrator?

I thought they had to be at least 21, with M3 education, but those young people on the left look younger than that?

The Junta is definitely committed to a decent turnout, as of today. Maybe they'll drive turnout in friendly areas, and hope those unfriendlies stay home?

well done i reckon you got most branches of interior ministry cadres.

nice cleanskins on the left of the photo, i was expecting to see hill billy/ border police types.

this referendum might not be too clean once the hard core express their influence.

" territorial defence volunteers "

Hmm, I was confused when I saw this line and the EC in one sentence. Not sure what to think of this, oh sure I know, what a load of bullshit.

Subtle (not)

the army was a government’s tool in spreading the content of the draft charter to members of the public.

Except the government is owned and operated by the army.

Pinky and the Brain?

Territorial Defence Volunteers spreading the word the word about the referendum but what does voting having to do with ' territorial defence ' ?

Using people in uniform implies authority and a ' must comply ' feeling not that would ever be the intention of course.

Q. What's got 38 legs and an IQ of 200?

A. The front row in the above photo.

Until that changes, nothing in Thailand will change.

Winnie

Those white jackets won't have been cheap!

Didn't seem desperately enthusiastic though did they?

Edited June 17, 201610 yr by JAG