The Situation of Alternative Service in Lori Region

On October 11th, 2006 the first round table on “The Situation of Alternative Service in Lori Region” took place in the office of HCA Vanadzor. The round table was organized within the framework of the project Yellow Tulips, which is supported by Interchurch Peace Council (IKV, the Netherlands) and implemented by HCA Vanadzor.

Representatives from the Vanadzor military commissariat, NGOs, mass media and students participated in the discussion.
The coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, Arthur Sakunts, presented the participants the principles of the law “On Alternative Service” and those points that do not correspond to international standards. Particularly, by the adoption of the law, such an important principle as the duration of the alternative service was violated. The RA law defines 36 months for alternative civil service, 42 months for alternative military service, whereas 24 months are foreseen for usual military service. Additionally, citizens who choose alternative service should not be under the control of military structures during the whole course of service. The law is unclear on how one can choose alternative service, and thus does not present it effectively as an alternative to normal military service. It also does not provide mechanisms for the protection of their rights, even though it has already been in effect for two years.
The coordinator of the juridical department of HCA Vanadzor, Karen Tumanyan presented his findings on the implementation of the law “On Alternative Service”, the results of monitoring carried out by the organization. The investigation of HCA Vanadzor shows that the men who chose alternative service were treated in a discriminatory way, thus their rights have been violated. Particularly, they are not paid the same as regular soldiers. The jobs done by the alternative service men (cleaning of sanitary system, treatment of dead bodies, etc.) are humiliating and an attack on human dignity. During the service, they were controlled by members of the military police and the military, people who treated them without respect.
A representative of the organization “Jehovah’s Witnesses” of Vanadzor was also invited to the discussion but he refused to participate on the grounds that he did not have authorization and that he was not completely informed of the problem.
Aren Sargsyan, the head of the recruitment group of Vanadzor military commissariat, said that due to lack of experience, they are unable to evaluate the implementation of the law “On Alternative Service”, an evaluation that could have aided in the improvement of the law. At the same time, Mr. Sargsyan referred to some provisions of the law that do not promote its proper implementation. Particularly, what type of work qualifies as alternative service is not specified, and this leads to ambiguity in the rights and responsibilities of those who choose it. Mr. Sargsyan formulated in his speech the following rhetorical question “What has the military commissariat to do with the alternative service?” mentioning that such issues should be solved by an entirely different structure – a non-military structure – that could specialize in such issues. In his speech, he mentioned that one person applied to them for alternative service this year, but he applied past the deadline (September 3). In a formal legal sense, the right of this citizen to choose alternative service can be rejected.
The participants of the discussion attached importance to the provision on the necessity of the military commissariat to be informed in all areas of recruitment, including deadlines and documents required for alternative service. In response, the representative of the commissariat stated that on the one hand, they did not have such obligations; and on the other hand, the budget did not provide financial support.
During the discussion, the law “On Alternative Service” was observed as one of the important directions for the improvement in military forces. At the same time, it was mentioned that its observation apart from the general improvements of military forces could bring wrong comments on the institute of alternative service.
The participants referred to the importance of the law once again in connection with the right to conscience, faith and religion. The discussion showed that society did not have an adequate perception towards the institute of alternative service. Neither state nor public intolerance towards those who choose alternative service has yet been overcome.
Cooperation with state bodies was deemed important for the improvement of the law “On Alternative Service” and its implementation.