Conscription

  • Thailand News

    Thai man runs naked after Buddha statue grants conscription exemption

    A Thai man honoured his vow to a Buddha statue at a shrine in the central province of Ang Thong by running naked after the statue granted conscription exemption. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) summons Thai men aged over 21 years old for military conscription every year. Failure to attend the conscription draw can result in imprisonment for up to three…

  • Thailand News

    MFP MP’s former assistant commits suicide in military camp

    A former assistant to a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP reportedly committed suicide in a military camp. The MP has called for the abolishment of military conscription, citing the intense pressure and toxic environment within military facilities as contributing factors to the individual’s decision to end their life. The MFP MP, Tisana Choonhavan, took to Twitter to share the distressing…

  • Politics News

    Prayut: Conscripted soldiers can benefit from opportunities

    Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also holds the position of defence minister, has emphasised his commitment to offering army conscripts chances for educational, occupational, and character development, in order to become contributing members of society. Sharing his thoughts with the press following a Cabinet gathering yesterday, PM Prayut expressed satisfaction upon discovering that certain areas of the military had…

  • Thailand News

    RTA condemned after ordering bedridden patient to report for conscription

    Thai netizens criticised the Royal Thai Army (RTA) for their lack of empathy after a woman had to take her bedridden disabled son to report for conscription in the northern province of Lamphun. A former Thai actor, 21 year old Thanakit “Off” Wutthirothong, left the movie industry after a motorcycle accident rendered him disabled. A drunk woman crashed her car…

  • News

    TST pledge to reform military, abolish conscription, a voter winner with Thailand’s youth

    The Thai Sang Thai Party (TST) pledges to reform Thailand‘s military and abolish conscription if they are elected in the upcoming General Election on May 14. This move appears to be aimed at attracting young voters who are often reluctant to undergo military service due to the fear of losing productive years, harsh training, poor welfare, and hazing. Under the…

  • World News

    South Korea looks to amend military service laws, because of one music band… BTS

    South Korea has certainly come out of its creative shell over the past 2 decades and now making inroads into all levels of international creative endeavour, including TV, music and film. But for the young people, principally men, who are involved in these careers, they have a major hurdle – South Korea’s compulsory conscription that requires all men to serve…

  • World News

    The BTS Law, South Korean parliament amends conscription law to allow Jin to stay with BTS

    Many countries still have compulsory military conscription, where young men, usually, are enlisted to serve under their country’s military services. Thailand has it, so does Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia in our immediate sphere. So does South Korea. That’s a problem for pop kings BTS. Of course the 18 – 24 months becomes a disruption to your life and your career,…

  • Covid-19 News

    Thai PM suspends military conscription for 3 months

    Thailand’s mandatory annual military conscription has been put on hold due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. The Ministry of Defence, under an order from PM and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has postponed this year’s round of the draft, which was scheduled for April 1 to 12, for up to 3 months. Conscription in Thailand is traditionally done by drawing lots…

  • Politics News

    Thailand unlikely to abolish the draft

    Thai Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon says military conscription won’t be scrapped any time soon, as there aren’t enough volunteers signing up for service. Prawit told reporters conscription is meant to avoid manpower shortfalls, but admitted that conscripts represent a small percentage of all recruits, appearing to contradict himself. “If conscription is abolished and something untoward happens to Thailand, there won’t be…

  • Politics News

    Future Forward calls for an end to compulsory military conscription

    PHOTO: Thai Army Conscriptees are selected with a lottery system – Al Jazeera Pongsakorn Rodchomphu and several other members of the opposition Future Forward Party have submitted a formal draft revision to the Conscription Act that would make military conscription voluntary, except in emergency situations. The Nation reports that the proposal was put forward to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai yesterday.…