SAMUT PRAKAN, Thailand — A Thai lower court has sentenced prominent student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal to a six-month prison term, suspended for one year, for refusing to participate in the national military conscription process. The landmark ruling marks the first time a Thai citizen has formally cited conscientious objection as the basis for boycotting the military draft.

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The Samut Prakan lower court rejected the activist’s defense and found him guilty of violating the Military Service Act of 1954. Because Netiwit has no prior criminal record or history of incarceration, the court opted to suspend the six-month sentence for a probationary period of one year. He will avoid serving time in prison provided he remains law-abiding and does not commit further offenses during this period.

The path to this verdict was prolonged, with the ruling deferred for nearly a year after the witness examination phase concluded last September. The delay was granted to allow Netiwit and his legal team to petition the Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of compulsory military conscription. However, the Constitutional Court ultimately determined that the conscription law remains fully aligned with the national charter, prompting the Samut Prakan court to proceed with its final judgment.

Thailand: Court to rule in first criminal case on conscientious objection to military servicehttps://t.co/bLSIRBlVQS

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Netiwit had been officially ordered to report for the 2024 conscription process in Samut Prakan. Under Thai law, failure to comply with the Military Service Act carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison. During the trial, prosecutors substantiated the charges by calling two witnesses to testify, including an army officer and a police official.

Responding to the sentencing, Netiwit expressed no surprise at the outcome, emphasizing that meaningful social and legal change requires persistent, long-term effort and does not happen overnight. Drawing parallels to his earlier high school activism against restrictive student hairstyle regulations, he noted that such campaigns inherently face initial setbacks. He used the platform to encourage younger generations to maintain hope and continue advocating for their rights despite judicial hurdles.

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A dedicated activist since his undergraduate studies in political science at Chulalongkorn University, Netiwit is currently expanding his academic and intellectual pursuits abroad. He has begun a master’s degree in theological studies at Harvard University in the United States for the current academic year, continuing his advocacy on an international stage while navigating the ongoing legal ramifications of his stance at home.

-Thailand News (TN)