ALTERNATIVE SERVICE IS MORE FRIGHTENING THAN MILITARY SERVICE
Support A1+!Armenian National Assembly is to embark on Alternative Military Service Bill consideration soon as part of fulfilment of Armenia’s CE commitments.
A seminar was held today at Congress hotel to discuss the Bill. Experts from local and international organisations as well as Armenian Deputy Defence Minister Arthur Aghabekyan and political parties’ representatives attended the event.
Human Rights Convention states that alternative service not be something like punishment. It should allow citizens to replace their compulsory military service duties with working as teachers at schools, or as nurses at hospitals etc.
The seminar participants voiced their discontent at the Bill saying it seems like a real punishment and contradicts to the Convention, as under it an alternative serviceman is left with no option but to clean toilets in military units’ compounds for 4-year term.
“A citizen has a right for alternative service in case of being a member of any religious organisation registered legitimately”, the Bill says. This doesn’t apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses because they organisation has no state registration. Already 22 members of the organisation are kept in jail for dodging military service.
In fact, the Bill doesn’t solve the problem. The seminar participants are convinced that to serve for-year term in Armenian Armed Forces and to serve punishment in prison is the same thing.
