Conscription, eligibility, penalties for desertion. [NIC1978]

In September 1983, the government of Nicaragua passed the Law for Patriotic Military Service (Decree 1337), which required males between the ages of 17 and 40 to register for the draft, and made men aged 18 to 25 subject to immediate recruitment for two years compulsory military service. [ Amnesty International, Conscientious Objection to Military Service, (London: Amnesty International, February 1988), pp. 5,8.] There is no alternative to military service for males, and conscientious objection is not recognized by the government. [ Ibid., pp. 11, 13.] Failure to register or to report for military service when called up can result in up to four years imprisonment. [ Amnesty International, Conscientious Objection to Military Service, p. 18. ] In November 1987, Pax Christi International was aware of six cases of people imprisoned for conscientious objection. [ Pax Christi International, Human Rights in Central America, (Antwerp: Pax Christi International, 1988), p. 128.] There is an "informal understanding between the government and the evangelical association CEPAD [Comité Evangélico Pro-Ayuda al Desarrollo] that ministers, seminarists, and members of traditional "peace churches" such as Mennonites and Jehovah's Witnesses will not be called into the reserves or be drafted." [ Americas Watch, Human Rights in Nicaragua: August 1987 to August 1988, (New York: Americas Watch Report, 1988), p. 102. Also, Pax Christi International, Human Rights in Central America, p. 128.]

According to the Catholic Institute for International Relations, abrogations of this agreement have occurred, including one incident when a few Sandinista Army officers mistreated five Mennonite church members who refused to take up arms. In addition to verbal and mild physical abuse, "the five resistors were threatened...with loss of their ration cards by the departmental FSLN delegate in Boaca." [ Americas Watch, Human Rights in Nicaragua: August 1987 to August 1988, p. 102.] Other possible sanctions which can be imposed on peasants refusing to join militias and reserve battalions include the denial of loans, and the suspicion of contra collaboration. [ Latin American Newsletters, Ltd., "Co-ops at Centre of Contra War", Latin America Regional Reports, Mexico and Central America.] Americas Watch alleges that forced recruitment "often leads to underage recruitment", [ Americas Watch, Human Rights in Nicaragua: August 1987 to August 1988, p. 101.] and the non-government Permanent Commission for Human Rights in Nicaragua also reports the forced conscription of individuals who are unfit for service due to age or physical illness. [ The Permanent Commission for Human Rights publishes cases in its monthly bulletin, CPDH.]

Please find an attached section from Americas Watch, Human Rights in Nicaragua, August 1987 to August 1988 (New York: Americas Watch, 1988) which discusses the incarceration and escape of a deserter sentenced to three years for going AWOL from the Sandinista army.

Nicaragua has scheduled national elections for 25 February 1990. The government has made a number of concessions to encourage maximum participation of the population in the election process. Among these was the cessation of conscription. On 3 August 1989, the government of Nicaragua announced that beginning 1 September 1989, conscription would be suspended until the national elections in February. [ "Nicaragua to halt conscription until national vote in February", The Globe and Mail, 4 August 1989 (attached).]