Conscription should be replaced with voluntary enlistment to provide economic benefits, according to Srettha Thavisin, prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party.
Thavisin expressed his disappointment with a particular politician’s staunch support for maintaining conscription in the name of national defence and patriotism. He asserted that compulsory military service is harmful to the economy, as it diverts skilled professionals from the workforce for an extended period.
According to Thavisin, both individuals and the country suffer losses: individuals are unable to contribute their skills and expertise, while the country experiences a shortage of personnel capable of promoting economic growth and making constructive contributions. Conscription, he contended, results in a domestic brain drain, and the military should devise strategies…
