00:04Black or red? Choose wisely. That's all it comes down to.
00:08The Conscription Lottery happens in Thailand every April,
00:11a system used to decide which eligible men must serve in the military.
00:14The lottery has a 160cm height requirement,
00:18and there's also a physical exam before the drop.
00:20In some cases, young men reportedly even gained weight on purpose just to avoid service.
00:25It's been two years old.
00:27Then it begins. A container is brought out inside our folded cards.
00:32The outcome can only go one of two ways.
00:34A black card means exemption from military service, while red signals conscription.
00:39When your name is called, you walk up, reach in and pull one out.
00:42You don't open it. An officer does that for you, reading the card out loud, locking in your fate.
00:47Some guys break into relief instantly. Others just freeze, like their body hasn't caught up with what they just heard.
00:53While many openly volunteer or accept the outcome,
00:57a lot of people still hope for black, trying to avoid putting their life on hold.
01:01Even monks fall under the system, with exemption based on education and certification.
01:05Transgender women registered as male also attend, unless they have proper documentation to be excused.
01:11This year, the attention felt different.
01:13Border clashes with Cambodia have increased tension and pushed more volunteers into service.
01:18But for everyone else still in that room, it comes down to just one thing, black or red.
01:24Long.
01:25Long.
01:25Long.
01:25Long.
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