THE STUDY OF THE LAW ON EXEMPTIONS FROM MILITARY CONSCRIPTION AND THE MONASTIC DISCIPLINE REGARDING THE MILITARY SERVICE OF MONKS AND NOVICES IN THAILAND

Abstract

This academic article aims to study the law on military conscription exemption and the discipline on military supervision of monks and novices in Thailand. The research method is based on documents, textbooks, and online media, as well as synthetic analysis. The results of the study are as follows: 1. Military conscription is related to monks and novices because they are considered a Thai population that must be selected for military conscription. However, there are exceptions and exemptions that can be granted. Evidence of exemption can be presented to the district chief or related persons. Those who will be conscripted as monks and novices under the age of 30 and disrobe must enter the process of selecting military conscription, which is related to many laws. Monks and novices who will live in Buddhism and observe the precepts of the Lord Buddha must know the law in this part and comply with the law; otherwise, they will be punished according to the law of the country as stipulated in the Military Conscription Act of 1954. 2. The reason why the Lord Buddha forbade monks and novices from visiting the army or attempting to participate with the government in military conscription is because at the time when he announced Buddhism, In order for monks to survive in order to spread Buddhism, they must first be role models, that is, different from ordinary householders. In order to maintain the faith of Buddhists in the Indian subcontinent at that time, they had to focus on those who were military commanders or princes who were kings. Integrating these teachings that were disciplinary rules all resulted in benefits and were connected to military recruitment.