His boycott decision became a landmark move – the first time a Thai has cited “conscientious objection” as the reason for not participating in the military draft process, reports the Bangkok Post.
The court rejected Netiwit’s defence and found him guilty of breaching the Military Service Act (1954), adding that conscription law is in line with the constitution. His sentence was suspended for one-year because he had not been jailed before and, if he stays out of trouble, he will probably not serve time.
The court completed the witness examination stage in September last year. The ruling was deferred for almost a year as the judges allowed Mr Netiwit and his legal team to forward the case to the Constitutional Court. They wanted a ruling on the constitutionality of compulsory conscription.
Mr Netiwit was ordered to report for conscription in Samut Prakan in 2024. Failing to comply with the Military Service Act carries a maximum sentence of three years.
After his refusal to serve, prosecutors took him to court, calling two witnesses, one an army officer and the other a policeman.
Mr Netiwit showed no surprise in his X message responding to Monday’s sentencing. He said success does not happen overnight. He also urged younger generations to not give up hope on the issue.
“It’s quite normal to lose (a case),” he wrote. “The campaign over student hairstyles did not find success in one day when I was at school.”
Mr Netiwit has been an activist since he began studying political science at Chulalongkorn University. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies at Harvard University in the United States, starting this academic year.