"I don't want to be a soldier in any violent army"
Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, the first Thai conscientious objector
By: Lee Yu Kyung
Netiwit is a nineteen-year-old high school student and, considering his age, one of the most outspoken students with a high degree of open defiance. He is the first to publicly declare himself a conscientious objector in Thailand where the military is a source of fortune, status and near-absolute power.
He thought about it from the age of sixteen until he announced his deliberate refusal of military service on September 14, 2014, on his eighteenth birthday.
"Military rule has dominated Thailand, not only now, but for a long time," Netiwit's statement says, "they control the textbooks that foster nationalism and respect for the military." We know they want to turn Thailand into a military state."
Netiwit does not limit his argument to 'non-violence' or pacifism. Nor does he back down from his criticism of the Thai armed forces or Buddhism. 'I cannot possibly say that I am a Buddhist in a country full of violence and human rights violations', he states, 'I am a conscientious person'.
Thailand is one of more than thirty countries that still have conscription. According to the Military Service Act (1954) all twenty-one year olds are required to serve in the armed forces. About sixty percent of the armed forces (300.000 men) are professional soldiers, the rest are conscripts.
Thailand also has many more generals than the United States, 1750 compared to 1000 in the US, which has a force several times larger.
Pakawadee Veerapaspong, an independent writer and activist in Chiang Mai, told me that while Thailand has no threat of war, 'the budget for the armed forces is increasing every year. (almost doubled since the 2006 coup, Tino). The spending of all that money is shadowy and should be scrutinized more closely'.
Pakawadee further noted that after the democratic uprising against General Suchinda's military rule in 1992, everyone thought that the military's influence on politics was over and therefore no one felt it necessary to reform the military. "That's why we now have to live in the nightmare of a military dictatorship over and over again," she adds.
I met a group of high school students. They showed me some posters that said, "Thai men are not slaves of the army."
They said they were considering launching a campaign of public protests. One of the students was nineteen-year-old Nithi Sankhawasi. He had just finished his Ror Dor training (see note 1).
“Every Friday we went to the military camp,” said Nithi, “we learned about ancient Thai history, but never about contemporary things. We also learned about the King, the Religion (Buddhism) and the Army, in addition to some military training now and then.'
'We had to buy clothes and boots just like soldiers. Everyone at the Ror Dor training had to pay for it themselves. The companies that supply products belong to the military'. For Nithi, this is corruption. 'I thought it was a waste of time. Teenage years are precious, aren't they?'
Netiwit also refused to participate in the Ror Dor program. That means he will be drafted into the army in two years. “I also have a problem with Ror Dor training for teenagers,” he said, “schools want us to obey like soldiers. They want us to live in fear of the soldiers. If there is a coup then there is little resistance and most people think it's OK'.
On February 4, the army commander announced that Ror Dor trainees will be deployed to educate voters at polling stations during the referendum on the draft constitution next July. There is a growing fear that this deployment will have an intimidating influence on voters.
Since Netiwit's declaration as a conscientious objector, he has received more than a thousand messages with death and other violence threats. "They thought I wasn't patriotic enough," he said.
Those who illegally evade conscription face a prison sentence of three years. "I can't say I'm ready to go to jail," Netiwit said, "I hope there's another way." If not, then so be it'.
His father once mentioned a "payment" to avoid conscription. But Netiwit opposes that because it is corrupt. 'The poor cannot afford the amount (30-40.000 baht, Tino). It's not fair, it's not just." Netiwit said his family is lower middle class and respects his decision.
The idea of a "conscientious objector" is new to Thai society, Pakawadee notes. "The fear of prosecution by a court-martial and of beating and bullying by officers in the barracks is widespread." She emphasizes that "a lot of help is needed for Netiwit when the time of the conscription comes."
Note 1
Ror Dor workout. Ror Dor (RD) is short for ráksǎa phaen din' which means 'care for the nation'. Young men in the last three grades of high school can participate. It costs about four days a month and gives exemption from military service if the training is fully completed.
My son participated in this training for two weeks and refused to continue, one of the reasons for him to return to the Netherlands. (Thai don't have that option). My son said that it is mainly propaganda (about the 'enemies' like Burma and the colonial powers, the strength of the Thai nation, and the need for the army) and that there is also a lot of humiliation. Obedience in carrying out the most idiotic orders is paramount. They called him 'âi fàràng', or 'damned farang'.
I've shortened the original story, which is available in full at the link below, to about half, mostly reporting Netiwit's actions and words.
Sources:
- Lee Yu Kyung, in Green Left Weekly website, February 20, 2016: www.greenleft.org.au/node/61113
- Want to know more about Netiwit? Here's his own story 'Confused Thai Educators' on New Mandala (2014). Recommended, see also the comments there: asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2014/07/16/confused-thai-educators/
- An interview with Netiwit in the Bangkok Post (2012). At the age of sixteen, he started resisting compulsory (military) haircuts in Thai schools: www.bangkokpost.com/print/368583/
neti white,
Good luck in your fight against the military dictatorship.
You are mi one: TOPGOZER!
Fight against a military dictatorship? I think it is positive for Thailand that the military are in power. It is now much safer than when the red and yellow political parties tried to murder each other.
As long as the Thai people and their political leaders have the urge to take advantage of the weak political system, they will still have many coups.
There is little difference between a military dictatorship and a government elected by an ignorant people.
Power lust is very great among the many candidate prime ministers who trumpet that Thailand suffers from a military dictatorship.
At least there is discipline now.
goodbye.
The people are not ignorant, that honor belongs to the current rulers.
Did you know that many of the former leaders of the Yellow Shirts, who called for a coup back then and cheered when the coup came, now regret it? For example, Mongkol said after Songkhla: 'Everything was better under Yingluck, I regret that I participated in the yellow demonstrations'.
Respect for the main character in this impressive story. I fear that his position will not be appreciated and that many trials await him. If he ends up in a military prison, it is highly questionable whether he will make it out alive.
Netiwit, I support you. I have mil myself. Tried the service for a while, but the drill techniques were so off to me that I managed to get out,
Evert
I can still somewhat understand people like the main character in this article, although it seems to me that he may be incited by some group to this action and does not yet fully understand the possible consequences.
However, I have no respect for people who try to avoid conscription through devious means, if they have already been called up and are already in service (S5?). Personally, I still believe that there is nothing wrong with conscription. Especially in these times... Young people learn a trade, respect and, in my opinion, are better prepared for society than those who supposedly study until they are 39 or so. It would not be surprising if conscription were also reintroduced in the Netherlands.
At the time I enjoyed being in the army, part of the marines, and volunteered for quite a few years and never regretted it or got worse, despite the "drill"
Otherwise, for a lot of young people, it wouldn't hurt to learn some discipline again.
Maybe we also had a safer society.
As for this Thai young man. I myself think it is still too early in Thailand for such protests.
By the way, corruption is of course not only of the military.
nicole,
You are absolutely right when you say that for “a lot of” young people (especially boys) it can do no harm to be disciplined. When I look into Thai families, I mainly see boys being treated as a kind of demigods. They can do anything and therefore do whatever they want. Often no education at all.
An exceptionally brave and sensible boy. The best but he will have a hard time..
That's never going to save that kid's life on his own. The question is whether his attitude is courageous, let alone wise. At the very least, he must provide a network of people who support and assist him. If not, he will fade into oblivion. He is never strong on his own, and only the power of numbers can give him some power. Nice words like the above won't help him, because they won't get very far. As the quoted Pakawadee Veerapaspong says: he is threatened with a court-martial. And what has he achieved? What goal did he achieve?
Completely agree with you. Perhaps very brave, but very unwise
I have no respect whatsoever for a conscientious objector, including this naive Thai boy. Refusing to serve is disrespectful to your peers.
Certainly in Thailand it is also pointless, because everything he does to get publicity will work against him. The publicity for this stupid loner is over the top anyway.
I would advise him to show himself a man and just go into service. If you want to protest do it from the army organization and don't kick it from the outside.
Gringo,
You are entitled to your opinion that refusing service is disrespectful. Think for a moment about the fact that only poor wretches become conscripts, the people with money buy it off. How fair is that? Many conscripts are abused for personal services by their officers.
However you may think about his principled refusal, Netiwit is a very intelligent and well-read boy. Absolutely not naive and moreover he is not alone.
Protesting within the army organization is impossible, you will be immediately locked up. As someone said: many stay away after their leave.
If you don't want to be a soldier in any violent army, in the absence of nonviolent armies you never want to be a soldier in an army.
You then either let others pull the chestnuts out of the fire, or there is no army at all, in which case sooner or later you will be overrun by less principled pacifists.
I think it's fine, but then don't complain later.
Tino's articles always steal my heart.
I know your aversion to the military, but I would like to know from you how else you can solve the political problems in this country.
It has been quiet in Thailand for ages now, no one fights and no longer protests, what a peace.
For Thailand I would not know a better alternative.
Without this coup, fighting would certainly have broken out, the end of which would have been lost.
If people do not want to consult with each other, a coup remains, in which case the battle has ended.
I completely agree with the article, but you can't make it on your own, as your son would have done better to go back to the Netherlands.
As long as I can't think of an alternative, this seems to me to be the best of the worst solution for Thailand.
As long as the people are very easy to bribe (just like the army) and also not interested in politics, often because the people already have enough trouble to make ends meet, the people need a good leader who keeps the peace and the serves the public interest.
This leader will not have many of these qualities, but maybe…something better than nothing.
People will have to realize that fighting each other is not an option to make the country better.
I would like to read your better solution.
good regards from Danny
It's great that Tino Kuis (and Lee Yu Kyung!) pays such extensive attention to this courageous teenager! Someone must be the first to denounce the insanity of the nationalistic military mindset that unfortunately rules the roost in this country. For me, Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal deserves a statue just for his independent thinking and stance. He is the salt in the porridge! This country is in great need of independent thinking young people like him! May he have the strength to endure as a shining example to others.
Just a note: although compulsory military service applies to all 21-year-olds, it is done by drawing lots
decides whether or not to actually serve. About 50% of the "drawings" have to do actual military service, about 22 months.
Recognizable. I know more Thai young people who have not returned to the army after their leave. They could no longer stand the Saddist regime in the army. Keep in mind that they can never get a job for which they need an ID card. Because they are still arrested when applying for an ID card. Only days of work. This boy has the courage to admit that he is a draft resister. This is the reason I don't want to give my son (hal Dutch, half Thai) a Thai passport
There have been conscientious objectors for years and it will always remain that way. We live in a world with madmen and deranged people who are only after power and status and who want to achieve this partly through violence. Look at that idiot in Syria and that other idiot in North Korea, just to name a few. Both are able, and have already demonstrated this, to have no respect for their subjects and quietly kill or starve them. A self-respecting country needs an army, because we don't live in a fairytale world. I would have liked to see it differently, but that's how it is. So being there for your homeland and being able and willing to act when the situation arises is a necessary evil. It is necessary that there is a certain discipline in the army, otherwise it will not function. This discipline deviates from normal life and behavior. You can also learn from this and become richer, which is a clear message in life. Growing through experience and adaptation. Opposing a lot of things, such as military service, that are inextricably linked to the society in which we live, is something that is not recommended for those who want to do this. Running away from certain responsibilities that you don't like and letting others pay for them. Given the 50% draw, there is a real chance of being released and those 22 months in a lifetime are what we are talking about. I wish this young man strength in his decisions, but everything has consequences, even what you would rather not see as a reaction.
Very brave to take on such a great force majeure, wish him strength and much wisdom.
Would also like to add some nuance here, namely that the Thai boy benefits somewhat, if not much, from the fact that there is an army in Thailand.
Why?
Wasn't that army there cq. If not, Thailand would now be called Myanmar or Cambodia.
Nico B
Nice story of someone who speaks from his own feelings and dares to have and express his own opinion in a country like Thailand where corruption and favoritism are rampant.
All that nonsense that you are disrespectful to your peers reminds me of all those gray herd animals without any opinion.
You have to be in the system first to attack it.
I myself was a non-arms refuser and yet I helped my country and my fellow human beings with alternative service.
Ralph van Rijk.
If conscription to the nation is so highly regarded in Thailand, why is only the male half of the youngsters eligible? And why is half of it then drawn by lottery? And why do a large part of the more affluent male youngsters who are drawn buy themselves out with baths from mom or dad? Are those sons of the wealthier less deserving to the Nation? And what would that show? And are the underprivileged male youths who “voluntarily” take their place more deserving Thais for the Nation? And what would that turn out to be? And why is the young Netiwit, in the eyes of some, doing less well than the sons of the more wealthy who buy their freedom?
Many questions that give food for thought.
Personally, I find it very strange that in a predominantly Buddhist country like Thailand there are no forms of conscription other than military? It suffices to look around you on the spot to see that there are enough social needs that could be met by various forms of conscription to the Nation.
Not only for these Netiwit, but for the masses of Buddhist youth in Thailand, this could be a meritorious way out, good for themselves and for the Nation.
"So being there for your homeland and being able and willing to act if the situation arises is a necessary evil." Rarely have I read such a naive view of conscription. People don't seem to realize that discipline and respect are very often opposites. Discipline, if not criticized, always results in abuse, after all, soldiers are only human and, as can be seen all over the world: power corrupts.