Moldovan pacifists indignant at deplorable conditions of National Army soldiers

Pacifists from the R. of Moldova are indignant at the deplorable situation of the National Army soldiers, telling a press conference, on Thursday, November 16, that in this year year, recruitment campaign has been ceased because of lack of clothes and shoes for recruits. The head of the “Pacifists without Borders” International Organization, Anatol Gutu, declared that community activities in which soldiers are involved, as snow removal, building objects, sweeping streets, collecting leaves, are illegal and that they violate the principles of military service. Gutu asserts that the army is equipped very poorly and that persons responsible for taking care of young men involved in military service neglect these obligations. In context, the source affirms that the R. of Moldova does not need a National Army. It could better be transformed into a well equipped Company in which the soldiers would be provided with necessary goods, and would be well fed. In his opinion, what occurs now in the National Army is a crime against society. The International Organization “Pacifists without Borders”, the Organization of Young Pacifists and the Pacifist Association of Moldova express their indignation at the amendments to the Law on military and civil service, these modifications targeting those who would chose the last option. Thus, the representatives of these organizations assert that the time provided for submitting requests to satisfy the civil service is to be reduced from 2 months to 10 days, and the term of the service has been increased by half a year. Moreover, recruits with higher education will exercise the service 18 months and not 3 as in term service. At the same time, young men who work in the agricultural sector and do not have labor cards are ignored by the law. According to the cited sources, the named bill does not identify recruitment commissions, which have to be different for both categories. At the moment, the commission is composed of 2 representatives of the civil society and 7 military men, the decision being approved by the majority of votes, which contravenes international norms concerning the civil service. Organizations acting in the field told the media that they will reserve the right to appeal to international bodies in case the bill becomes a law.