Closing in on draft dodgers

THE DEFENCE Ministry has not shelved the proposal for a reduction in military service but before it can be done, the National Guard must reorganise and tackle the issue of draft dodgers, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas said yesterday.
Speaking at a news conference to mark two years in office under the current government where he also talked about new equipment acquisitions, Papacostas said the draft for the modernisation of the army was already being processed by the legal service.
The first phase is due to be implemented in November and will focus on increased manning, better trained senior staff and improved equipment maintenance.
“This will allow better and more effective control and make the best use of human resources and infrastructure in the armed forces,” he said. “It will also improve the working conditions of permanent staff and the welfare of conscripts and finally and more importantly we will be able, quickly and decisively to address, within our possibilities, any sudden action by the enemy.”
The improvements should allow the government to fulfil its 2008 election promise to reduce the length of service to 19 months.
“This matter has not been shelved,” said Papacostas. “I agree with reducing the length of service and I listen to the desire of the Cypriot people for this, and it will be accomplished by tackling draft dodging.”
Some 20 per cent of all conscripts avoid military service, the majority of whom use psychiatric recommendations.
As part of its clampdown on draft dodgers who use these grounds to avoid serving, Papacostas said part of the plan was to stop giving permanent exemptions to such applicants.
Currently affected conscripts receive two six-month exemptions followed by a permanent exemption 12 months later, if in doctors’ opinions they have not recovered.
Under the new regime, Papacostas said, those claiming psychological problems would be monitored until the age of 30, receiving only temporary exemptions until that time. This means that if they recover, they could still be called up.
Some conscripts can also be signed over for alternative service outside the army even if they are classed ‘unfit for military service’.
However the alternative service system has never gotten off the ground as there is no monitoring, and most conscripts failed to show as there were no legal consequences.
Papacostas said that moves are under way to involve the police so those who fail to show can be prosecuted.
Other changes in the pipeline include the assignment of a ‘go-to’ contact for conscripts, open on a 24-hour basis, and also a 24-hour confidential hotline for psychological support for soldiers.
Turning to the issue of weapons and equipment, Papacostas said the army expected 400 new military vehicles of all types, three new helicopters for search and rescue purposes and a new tanks squadron. These would cover operational needs of the army for the moment, he said.
“These achievements are all the more important because they are being implemented in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis,” said Papacostas.

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