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Spring 2005.P65 The Reporter The Center on Conscience & War for Conscience’ Sake Volume 62 Spring 2005 Number 1 provision for selective conscientious objection. Movement for the Civil-ization From a very early age, children are prepared for and im- of Israeli Society mersed in a society totally committed to the expectation of military service. A New Profile report “ Child Recruitment By Mary Miller in Israel” (July 2004) lays it out in detail. The message of In the spring of 2005, I was privileged to be part of expected and necessary military service permeates all fac- a fact-finding delegation to Israel/Palestine with the Epis- ets of the educational system and is supported by public copal Church’s Peace Commission. Our agenda was to advertisements, the ubiquity of uniformed and armed per- meet with, and listen to, Israelis and Palestinians actively sonnel in public places and the expectations of compliant engaged in peace-making efforts and human rights moni- adults. Most young people enlist for active duty right after toring. One of these groups, New Profile, describes itself high school graduation. After the initial active duty service, most briefly and clearly as a “Movement for the Civil-ization they are put on reserve status and serve as called up on a of Israeli Society.” So the hyphen in “Civil-zation” is not a regular basis for shorter periods of time well into their adult typo -- it’s on purpose. ” New Profile is a group of feminist years. women and men who are convinced that they need not live in a militarized society, endlessly mobilized and prepared It is in the armed forces that bonds of friendship as warriors, that “Israel is capable of a determined peace and networks for ordinary life are forged; and jobs, further politics.” They have taken up the very specific tasks of education, advancement and privilege are based on these education and support for conscientious objectors, their connections. A decision to opt out of this system has sig- parents and partners. New Profile’s work is done in col- nificant consequences for the rest of a person’s life. laborative efforts with other civil society organizations, by exhibits in community centers, presentations at conferences, One regular pattern for objectors is to refuse to work with youth groups, media appearances and publica- perform service in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to tions, and counseling. be sentenced to a month in military prison,to be released and ordered again to report for service, and to repeat the The majority of all non-Arab Israeli citizens are re- process. A number of objectors have served multiple prison quired to do military duty although a significant percentage terms. New Profile follows these resisters, provides sup- are excused on various grounds. Very few conscientious port to them through contact with them during the process objector claims are granted. There are some who have been and with their families while they are in prison and by send- granted exemptions and do ing letters to them and to officials with power to change the Also Inside: civilian alternative service. system. There are no signs of change visible at the moment, Most of the growing consci- although in one or two cases conscientious objection seems News Briefs............... 2 entious resistance to military to have had a hearing during trial proceedings. service is against service in the Occupied Palestian Ter- The members of New Profile with whom our group Center News...............3 ritories specifically ”selec- met were very clear that in their view Israel’s occupation of tive refusal” rather than uni- Palestine is “killing the soul of Israel.” versal objection. There, as (continued on page 5 - Movement) War & Environment......4 here in the U.S., is no legal Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 1 Spring 2005 News Briefs CO Sentenced to Prison Total objector sentenced to Areg Hovhanesyan, a Jehovah’s Witness, Board of Directors 197 days in prison has been sentenced to 4 years imprison- Jim Feldman, Sec. ment on 16 February 2005 for refusing to At-Large On 17 May 2005, a District Court in perform military service. The sentenced was Anita Cole handed down by a court in Stepan- akert, At-Large Finland sentenced total objector Aleksi Riikonen to 197 days in prison, for re- the capital of the unrecognised Nagorno- Phil Jones Karabakh Republic (part of the former So- Church of the Brethren fusing to perform alternative service. He had declared his refusal of alternative ser- viet Union). Hovhanesyan told the court Shannon McManimon that he would be prepared to do an alter- Pax Christi vice in August 2003. Currently, substitute service for con- native military service. However, such a ser- David Miller vice does not exist in Nagorno-Karabakh, Mennonite Central Committtee scientious objectors lasts 395 days, more than twice the length of military and so he was sentenced according to Ar- Mary Miller, Treas. ticle 327 Part 3 of the Nagorno-Karabakh Episcopal Church service (180 days). Because of interna- tional pressure, the Finnish Ministry of Criminal Code. Jonathan K. Ogle, Chair Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Labour is currently preparing a new law (War Resisters League) on substitute service which would shorten Irving Ruderman Jewish Peace Fellowship the service to 330 days, still much longer than the military service.In addition ac- Jean Martensen At-Large cording to the current legislation, mem- 13 Arrests at Trial of Conscien- bers of the religious community of tious Objector Mehmet Tarhan Staff Jehovah's Witnesses are exempted from J.E. McNeil military service, while other pacifist COs Turkey: 13 antimilitarists and con- Executive Director have to perform alternative service. scientious objectors were arrested in Sivas Bill Galvin Aleksi Riikonen declared in his trial: "I following the trial of conscientious objec- Counseling Coordinator am not a pacifist myself, but I think it is tor Mehmet Tarhan, who has been in prison Elizabeth Sprague intolerable that the Finnish conscription awaiting trial. The trial began early in the Outreach Coordinator system grants this kind of privilege be- morning, and Mehmet Tarhan clearly Theo Sitther cause of membership in a certain religious showed signs of physical abuse -- he had Lobbyist group."(War Resisters International) bruises all over his body, and could not walk Tim Verni-Lau well because of the ongoing abuse Mehmet BVS Volunteer Indonesia Plans MilitaryDraft Tarhan's lawyer asked for Mehmet Tarhan Marcus Kroll to be acquitted, but the judge postponed Legal Intern JAKARTA - The Indonesian government plans to draft younger citizens for military the trial to 9 June. After the trial, the police Daniel O’Connor arrested three conscientious objectors.They Legal Intern service and avoidance of the compulsory service will be punishable by two years are currently held at the police station in The Reporter for Conscience’ in jail. House of Representative’s mem- Sivas. It is feared that they will be brought Sake is a publication of the to the recruitment office, and from there to Center on Conscience & War. ber Joko Susilo told Kayto News a hear- ing on a bill on military service is set for their military units and to military prison. 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW War Resisters' International is again con- Washington, DC 20009 next week during which the government Tel: 202-483-2220 will “socialize” the plan to parliamentar- sidering sending an international delegation Fax: 202-483-1246 for the trial. Email ians to seek approval. [email protected] wwwCenteronconscience.org (Kayto News) (War Resisters International) Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 2 Spring 2005 Center News Ian Yarett Leaves CCW CCW Gets New Legal Intern Ian Yarett, an intern at the Center on Conscience & Daniel O’Connor is the new fall law clerk at the War , has finished his internship for the summer. Center. He is a graduate of the George Washington Uni- versity with a degree in international affairs. Currently, he is Ian was in charge of designing and organizing the a third year part-time student at the American University Center’s mailings, keeping the order book up to date, and Washington College of Law. “My main focus is in interna- making sure there was always plenty of copies of our infor- tional law with a specific interest in human rights issues. I mation pamphlets in stock. He was also trained on coun- joined the Center on Conscience & War because of the seling calls. Ian was a great addition the CCW staff. incredible bias and discrimination that is held toward con- Ian will be attending Swarthmore College in the fall and scientious objectors in this country. Sadly, many people we wish him the best of luck ! consider conscientious objectors cowards and their actions treasonous. However, some of the most courageous and honorable people in the world are those who choose to stand up for their beliefs, even if it means that they will be — persecuted. From the pacifist who has always protested MORE RECRUITERS ABUSE violence, to the soldier who is overcome by the death and destruction that war brings, conscientious objectors are The Center and the GI Rights Hotline have brave men and women who should be respected and re- received an increasing number of calls vered. They embody the greatest virtues of humankind in about military recruiters who have sched- compassion, courage, and love. It is their human right to oppose war and choose not to participate in killing. I joined uled appointments with young people and the Center on Conscience & War to assist in providing told them that they MUST come to the legal advice and defending the rights of these brave men appointment or they will be arrested. and women.” THIS IS A LIE!!! If you encounter anyone who is having this experience, you should The Center on Conscience & War is grateful to make sure they know that they do not have have Daniel, and appreciates his volunteering.
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