Sirawit "Ja New" Serithiwat reports for military conscription in Bangkok's Nong Chok district on Monday morning, and was declared overweight and exempted. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)Former student activist Sirawit "Ja New" Serithiwat, a core member of the New Democracy Group, has been exempted from military conscription after he was found to be overweight. Mr Sirawit, 25, reported to an army drafting unit at Wat Nong Chok (Pakdinoraseth) School in Bangkok's Nong Chok district on Monday morning, as required by the law. Ja New said he had been requesting deferment since 2011 because he was still a political science student at Thammasat University. Those in this category are not qualified for conscription because they are overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35.

Source: Bangkok Post April 10, 2017 08:48 UTC