The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has done the country and the Thai armed forces a great service in recommending that the military brings to an end the use of conscripts as personal employees of higher-ranking officers within 90 days. Rights commissioners made a loud and clear official statement last week that the practice is a human rights violation.
So far, the Defence Ministry has not come out with an official response. The NHRC recommendation is not legally binding, but it is to be hoped that the Thai military which has pledged to modernise the armed forces will walk the talk by duly following the rights commissioners' recommendations. Sending conscripts to serve in what are essentially servant roles only reinforces the antediluvian image of the Thai military.
