Cyprus, Southern or Greek Cyprus

1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in the 1960 Constitution.

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1961 Military Service Law. [4]

military service

All men aged between 18 and 50 are liable for military service. [6] [7]

The length of military service is 26 months. [4] [8]

At the end of military service regular reservist training, lasting for from several days to several weeks, is compulsory up to the age of 50 and up to the age of 65 for officers. Reserve units may be called up periodically without advance notice to test the mobilization system. [6] [8] [11]

postponement and exemption

Nothing is known about any postponement regulations.

The police and priests are exempt, so are members of the Armenian, Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Marionite churches. [6] [8]

All ministers, monks, and deacons belonging to officially recognised religions are exempt. [7]

recruitment

Just how the recruitment is carried out is not known.

There is one call-up a year, in June. [11]

2 Conscientious objection

legal right

In 1992 Cyprus passed a new law providing for "unarmed military service" for conscientious objectors (Law 2/92 from 9 January 1992). [5] [7] [8]

According to this law religious, ethical, moral, humanitarian, philosophical and political motives are accepted as grounds for transfer to unarmed military service. [4] [8]

It is only possible to seek transfer to unarmed service in peacetime. In time of emergency or general mobilisation this right is suspended. [5] [7] [8]

The government of Cyprus - both former President Vassiliou and now President Clerides - seeks to justify its poor provision for COs by referring to the Turkish military occupation of the northern part of the island. [7]

right for whom

Those called up for military service must first enlist before applying for unarmed military service. [7] [8]

procedure and practice

Applications for unarmed military service must be sent to the military authorities. [4]

It is not known how far the application procedure actually works as there are no known cases of people applying for unarmed military service. [7] [8]

substitute service

No substitute service is available, only unarmed military service. Two types of unarmed service are available: one lasting 42 months, not requiring the wearing of uniform and performed outside the military camps; the other, lasting 34 months, served in uniform within a military area but without the use of weapons.

Moreover, objectors would still thereafter be liable for supplementary service for the same length of time as reservist exercises. [4] [5] [7] [8]

As stated above, there are no known cases of people applying for unarmed military service, but there are known cases of people refusing both military and unarmed military service.

Before 1992 those refusing to perform military service (mainly Jehovah's Witnesses) got fined and/or sent to prison for two years. After serving their sentences they were liable to be called up again and to face repeated sentencing. [6]

Despite the 1992 law, COs are still being sent to prison - for from two months to 15 months. Once released, they are liable to further call-up and therefore further imprisonment if they disobey. [7]

In 1996 the sentences passed were as severe as before. At least 18 Jehovah's Witnesses COs were imprisoned in 1996. Those called up for the first time received 26-month sentences. Reservists who refused to undergo reservist training received sentences up to 8 months' imprisonment. [10]

The way Cyprus deals with objectors is well illustrated by the case of Theocharis Theokli Theocharidis. In 1992 he was 53 and had poor sight, high blood pressure and a bad heart condition. He declined to undergo reservist military training, but his application for exemption on health grounds was not accepted. He served a two-month prison sentence in mid-1991, was fined later in the year, and given a three-month suspended prison sentence in January 1992. [7]

3 Draft evasion and desertion

penalties

No information available.

practice

Control on draft evasion seems to be strict. Completion of military service is a criteria for admittance to higher education institutes. Sixteen-year-old youths may be prevented from leaving Cyprus if they are thought to be avoiding military service. [6] [11]

6 Annual statistics

The armed forces comprise 10,000 troops, which is 1,18 percent of the population. Every year about 5,600 young men reach conscription age. There are 8,700 conscripts in the armed forces. [12]

Sources

[1] Rabl, A. 1993. 'A lovers fight against chauvinism and militarism in a divided country - Cyprus', in: Peace News, London. [2] Amnesty International 1993. Urgent Action: Salih Askerogul. Amnesty International, London. [3] War Resisters' International 1993. Update on North Cyprus and Turkey. WRI, London. [4] Schmid, G. 1994. Wehr- und Zivildienst in Europäischen Ländern, Informationen, Analysen, Unterrichtbausteine. Wochenschau Verlag, Schwalbach. [5] Silvestri, A. 1993. Conscientious objection to military service: a regional human right? Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales, Geneva. [6] War Resisters' International 1990. Country report. WRI, London 1990. [7] War Resisters' International 1994. Issues of conscience and military service. WRI, London. [8] Amnesty International 1994. Cyprus: summary of Amnesty International's Human Rights Concerns. AI, London. [9] Refugee Review Tribunal 1994. Decision and reasons for decision in application for asylum. RRT, Melbourne, Australia. [10] Amnesty International 1997. Out of the margins, the right to conscientious objection in Europe. AI, London. [11] US Library of Congress 1991. Cyprus - a country study. Area Handbooks, State Department, Washington DC. [12] Institute for Strategic Studies 1997. Military Balance 1997/98. ISS, London.