PARENTS OF conscripts who serve in the National Guard feel their sons are being victimised both by draft dodgers and by the army itself, which they say is piling on more tasks, cutting leave, and which also drains family finances.
The greater public acceptance of those being exempted from the army on psychological grounds has resulted in more and more conscripts evading service. Figures suggest the number is one in five.
Now parents of those who are serving have grouped into the Movement of Parents of Army Conscripts.
The newly-formed parent action group has a rapidly growing membership and pledges to take dynamic action in promoting conscripts’ rights.
“Getting an exemption from the army is now considered a normal decision, and the way some boys who get exemptions behave towards conscripts is provocative,” said the president of the group, which wants to remain anonymous for fear the army might victimize their sons.
The group; president said soldiers get daily phone calls from draft dodgers who mock them, saying such things as: “I am at a café, or I am with my girlfriend in Mykonos and you are stuck in the army!’.
“We also got reports that some army exempts get state benefits and stand outside army camps flaunting their cheques to soldiers to make fun of them,” the group’s president, who is a mother, said.
“Many parents fear that if they openly stand up against the policy of the Ministry of Defense they may unwillingly harm their sons. But if all of us stand up together, we may prevent that,” she said.
She said this type of behavior as resulted in conscripts being demoralised.
“This is a very bad situation that is getting out of control. As parents we face big problems to convince our sons to stay in the army. They feel as if they are idiots for doing so, as if society is taking advantage of them and that we are allowing that to happen,” she added.
“The fact that increasing numbers of boys get exemptions from the army means that those conscripts who stay in, have a much harder job to do. The amount of tasks remains the same, and fewer soldiers have to cover for the absentees. So they get more service time and less exits, which is not fair,” she added.
The group president said the numbers of exemptions this year was said to be anything from 600 to 1,000.
“The National Guard holds the exact numbers, but for their own reasons, cannot release them. What is certain is that this year the number is much higher than last year, and if compared with the numbers from two-three years ago then we can understand the severity of this phenomenon,” she said.
The group aims are to reduce conscription, immediately put an end to army exemptions; and seek more financial support for soldiers.
“We got pre-election promises from all candidates and now feel duped,” said the president. Referring to the group’s aim to seek more money for conscripts, she said this was particularly significant as some families have difficulty making ends meet because of the high cost of supporting a soldier in the army.
“The middle to lower income families face huge financial problems. Some families have to stop sending their other children to afternoon lessons in order to cover the cost of their soldier. In one case, a single mother told us that she doesn’t have enough food to feed her children, because her oldest son is in the army,” she said.
Soldiers are given a monthly stipend of around €100, but cost parents at least €500 to see them through the month in addition to shelling out for extra uniforms and underwear.
“Five hundred may not seem like a big amount, but some parents cannot afford it and as a result their sons experience discrimination constantly,” she said.
“When others order delivery food, these boys have to pretend that they are not hungry; and when others go out for a drink when they are out, they have to pretend they are tired, because they don’t have money,” she added.
nFor more information on the group contact 99297269, or e-mail [email protected]
