Thais who want to avoid military conscription - No problem. Here's how

[Gaybutton]

According to the proposal, all anyone who wants to avoid conscription has to do is be wealthy . . .

Sorry General, but don't you think that's just a wee bit unfair?

I wonder how much one would have to pay.
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Military proposal on paying to avoid conscription sparks debate

by THE NATION

January 11, 2025

Suggestions raises questions over being tilted in favour of the wealthy

The Thai military’s recent suggestion that citizens could be allowed to pay in order to avoid conscription has stirred a public debate.

Lt-General Taweepool Rimsakorn, head of the Territorial Defence Command, proposed on Wednesday that those wishing to skip conscription could pay a fee, and the funds would be used to support voluntary recruits.

“The idea is not to eliminate conscription but to offer an alternative for those who do not want to serve,” he said.

The funds could strengthen the military’s capacity to attract more volunteers, he said.

This was just an idea and would require further study before any decisions are made, he added.

In Thailand, all men over the age of 20 are required to undergo a mandatory military draft. The process, however, can be postponed until the age of 26 for educational reasons.

Men who want to avoid conscription altogether must join the Thai Reserve Officer Training Corps programme, which requires three years of training during high school.

Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai raised concerns about the fairness of such a scheme, saying that the government must thoroughly evaluate the potential impact of such a policy, especially regarding equality.

“The proposal must be examined. There are questions about whether this would disproportionately benefit the wealthy,” Phumtham said.

Critics, including legal expert Surapong Kongchantuk, have called on the military to focus on motivating people to join the army, rather than finding ways to let them avoid it.

Surapong said the military could encourage enlistment by enhancing welfare benefits, ensuring fairness in career progression, and addressing concerns about violence and mistreatment within the army.

“We should focus on these positive attempts rather than introducing a policy that could create division,” he added.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/politics/40045051

[Dodger]

One has to wonder how Taweepool Rimsakorn became a general??? ($$$)

[Gaybutton]

One has to wonder how Taweepool Rimsakorn became a general??? ($$$)

[Jun]

I thought people could already avoid conscription with an appropriate sum of money in a brown envelope?

[Gaybutton]

I thought people could already avoid conscription with an appropriate sum of money in a brown envelope?

Not that I ever heard of. If your name was on their military list, then you better be there conscription day. The only way to get out of it was to be lucky enough to draw a black token rather than a red one. Those who draw a red token are now in the military for 2 years.

Lady boys used to be exempted, but my understanding is now they have to show up and it is at the examining officer's discretion whether they are eligible for conscription.

Those who don't show up for the conscription lottery without a militarily valid reason or attempt any illegal methods to avoid it now face a 3 year prison sentence plus possible fines.

[Montree]

When I first started visiting Thailand one of the commonest requests for money was to pay to avoid the conscription. I've not heard anyone make that request in recent years.

[Jun]

When I first started visiting Thailand one of the commonest requests for money was to pay to avoid the conscription. I've not heard anyone make that request in recent years.

I've certainly seen it referred to on blog posts and forums over the years.
However, with fewer being conscripted and many of the bar boys coming from other countries, hearing less about that is no surprise.

[Dodger]

Unfortunately the Move Forward party was blocked from taking their rightful position in the government - as one of the progressive proposals on the MF Charter was the abolition of the highly unpopular military draft.

The going rate for bribing ones way out of conscription was and still is only 20,000 baht for boys registered in the rural areas, although, as little as this seems, there are a lot of boys who simply don't have the funds.

I went with my previous partner Thep to the conscription center in Kantharalak when it was his turn to enter the lottery. Thep walked behind the building where the lottery was taking place - handed the village boss 20,000 baht in an envelope - and we simply left. In situations like this the village boss takes his share of the bribe money and gives the majority to the military officer in charge at the time. That's the way it usually works.

If a boy asks for money to help with this, ask to see his I.D. If he's under 21, or over 21 by two or more years, it's a scam.

As a side note: If you ever see a str8 boy running around with small tits it's probably because he was taking hormones shortly before he turned 21 to avoid the draft...as ladyboys are exempt.

[Jun]

handed the village boss 20,000 baht in an envelope - and we simply left. In situations like this the village boss takes his share of the bribe money and gives the majority to the military officer in charge at the time.

So the "village boss" is as bent as the rest of them. How does he retain any credibility in the village?

[Gaybutton]

So the "village boss" is as bent as the rest of them.

"Of course, dear. What did you expect?"
- Gladys Cooper (Mrs. Higgins), 'My Fair Lady'

ladyboys are exempt.

My understanding is ladyboys still have to show up for conscription. Then it's up to the individual conscription centers how to handle it. Some might simply exempt them, but that is not a standard. Some conscription centers do not necessarily exempt them. If they end up conscripted, I have no idea what happens next. Do they go through the basic training process? Are they mistreated? Are they assigned work usually reserved for females?

From what I understand it's just like immigration - individual offices just make up their own rules.

Also I had never heard of being able to bribe one's way out of conscription. If they can get out of it for 20,000 baht or thereabouts, then what is this general trying to come up with? What's the point of his proposal? If bribing one's way out is something that has been ongoing for years, is he going to pretend he didn't know about it?