1) The United Nations report Conscientious Objection to Military Service (1985) states that there is no conscription in Lebanon. The same source states that this information was obtained from the Lebanese government. [United Nations, Conscientious Objection to Military Service (New York: United Nations, 1985), p. 20.] The 1988 Amnesty Report adds that there are several government and non-governmental forces competing for control of territory. The South Lebanon Army (SLA) is mentioned as one of the four main militias controlling territory in 1987. [Amnesty International, Amnesty Report 1988 (London: Amnesty International, 1988), p. 245.] (Although called an "Army", the SLA has no affiliation with the Lebanese Army, the military arm of the Lebanese government.) Since these militias have what Amnesty International calls "certain governmental attributes" they appear to be operating outside of the legal norms of the officially recognized government of Lebanon. [Ibid.] The SLA is allied with the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli Intelligence Forces in controlling the Israeli-created "security zone" in south Lebanon. [, Fear of Torture/Legal Concern: Lebanon, (London, Amnesty International, 1987), p. 1.]

A source contacted through the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, Mr. Badri Hamadi, states that the situation in South Lebanon is such that there exist "appealing inducements", mainly for reasons of financial and personal security, to enlist in the various militias. South Lebanon is a very poor region and the militias are one of the only sources of employment. In addition, under the anarchic conditions prevailing in Lebanon, the carrying of a firearm which comes with militia membership produces personal security and prestige. Should the voluntary approach to recruitment fail, however, this source added that some "convincing arm twisting" is used. This information was corroborated by Dr. Nassif Hitti, another commentator on the situation in Lebanon. An academic source familiar with recent events in the region corroborated the information provided by the Arab League but adds that in some cases the SLA is known to have imposed a levy of a certain number of men upon a village. Failure to provide the requested manpower results in threats regarding the safety of the villagers. This activity is definitely more prevalent in the Shia areas of South Lebanon, because Christian villages cooperate for ideological reasons.

An article in The New York Times, dated 28 May 1989, reports that for the first time since Israel created its so-called "security zone" following the Lebanon war, Israel has encountered opposition from Christian villagers in the area. The villagers were reported out on a general strike to protest the tactics used by the Israelis and the South Lebanon Army during recruitment. [Ihsan A. Hijazi, "Christian-Israeli Rift in Lebanon "Security Zone", The New York Times, 28 May 1989.] From the article, it appears that the two armed forces were rounding up young men who had earlier refused to be recruited. These men were then allegedly taken to SLA camps. The article further mentions that the SLA militia deported many inhabitants from Sunni Muslim villages in the area because of their refusal to join the SLA. Several sources state that the SLA has been recruiting Shiite Moslems and Druzeeven though it is a predominantly Christian forcein an effort to broaden the ethnic base of the Militia. [Op. cit., Fear of Torture; and Revolutionary and Dissident Movements (Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK, 1988), p. 213; and "Christian commander has built up nucleus of a national army" Globe and Mail 28 July 1982, p. P1.]

With regard to the forced recruitment of females into the South Lebanon Army, Dr. Hitti states that it is a reasonable assumption that women may be serving in a non-military capacity. This would include administrative duties. According to Dr. Hitti, if you live in an area controlled by a militia and they need a particular service from you, they will coerce you into providing that service. Dr. Hitti further mentions that he would be surprised if some sort of incarceration for those refusing to join the militia does not occur. An article in The Ottawa Citizen, dated 3 August 1989, mentions that the SLA has kidnapped the brothers or sisters of militiamen in order to put pressure on other members of the family and incarcerated these people a jail called Khaim. (However, those kidnapped would presumably be Shia muslims, since the article is discussing the Shia hostages in Lebanon whose release is offered by Israel, the allies of the SLA, in return for the release of Western and Israeli hostages being held in Lebanon.)

The source contacted through the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, Mr. Badri Hamadi, provides more specific information on the possibility of forced recruitment of females to serve as armed combatants in the SLA. He claims that if the women were a Christian, it is indeed a very good possibility that she might serve as a combatant. In essence, anyone who wears a uniform and carries a firearm is a combatant in Lebanon. A young woman who is politically active can be a target for recruitment, a process which, if resisted, can lead to a long process of provocations and "grudges". Incarceration for resisting recruitment is, however, not a common occurrence according to Mr. Hamadi. The information provided by Hamadi and Hitti can not be corroborated in published sources at the present time by the IRBDC.
ATTACHMENTS

Hijazi, Ihsan. "Christian-Israeli Rift in Lebanon "Security Zone", The New York Times. 29 May 1989.

Robert Fisk, "Western hostages are long way from freedom", The Ottawa Citizen, 3 August 1989.