PM reverses stance on sending unruly students to fight in South
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has changed his mind about conscripting students caught brawling or motor racing into military services in the restive deep South, arguing the move would put other soldiers’ lives in danger.
“We have to think of soldiers who are willing to be soldiers,” he said. “If we make them work with these students, they might abandon their colleagues in the war zone.”
He said he had not yet thought of other potential solutions to solve problems associated with wayward students.
It is compulsory for all qualified Thai men aged 21 to 30 who have not voluntarily joined the military to draw lots annually to be determined who is conscripted into the armed services.
It had been proposed that students charged with brawling or motor racing would be conscripted into the military automatically without going through the drawing of lots.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said he supported the proposal but added he needed more time to think it through.
He said some laws would need to be amended if the proposal were adopted.
