Document #1227183
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The March 1990 Law on Civilian Service of
the Czech and Slovak Republic (CSR) provided for a civilian
alternative to compulsory military service. According to Amnesty
International, alternative service was available to "all those
whose religious beliefs or moral convictions hinder them from
performing active military service" (Jan. 1991, 8). The law stated
that alternative service could be performed with a variety of
institutions in the health and social service sectors, as well as
in the area of environmental protection and disaster relief (ibid.,
8-9). The duration of alternative service set out in the law was 27
months, 50 per cent longer than regular military service. (ibid.,
9; RFE/RL 7 Feb. 1992, 49).
The new provisions for alternative service
applied to those carrying out their compulsory military service, as
well as to new draftees (RFE/RL 7 Feb. 1992, 49). In 1990, 14,000
conscripts ended their service early and opted for alternative
service, and a "considerable portion" of new recruits also applied
for the option (ibid.). According to one report, in practice many
of those approved for alternative service did not serve at all
because of a shortage of positions for such service in the civilian
sector (ibid.). Consequently, a new draft law on alternative
service was introduced to the CSK parliament in October 1991. The
new law included a provision that recruits would have to apply for
conscientious objector status either before or within 30 days of
commencing their regular military service (ibid.).
In June 1993, the Czech parliament reduced
the period of alternative service to 18 months, in accordance with
a reduction in compulsory military service approved at the same
time (CTK 15 June 1993; Mlada Fronta Dnes 16 June 1993).
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Amnesty International. January 1991.
Conscientious Objection to Military Service. (AI Index: POL
31/01/91) London: Amnesty International.
CTK [Prague, in English]. 15 June 1993.
"Military Service To Be Reduced." (FBIS-EEU-93-115 17 June 1993, p.
12)
Mlada Fronta Dnes [Prague, in
Czech]. 16 June 1993. "Civilian Service in Military To Be Reduced."
(FBIS-EEU-93-119 23 June 1993, p. 11)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL). 7 February 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich].
Vol. 1, No. 6. Jan Obrman. "The Czechoslovak Armed Forces: The
Reform Continues."
Amnesty International. January 1991.
Conscientious Objection to Military Service. (AI Index: POL
31/01/91) London: Amnesty International, pp. 1, 8-9.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL). 7 February 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich].
Vol. 1, No. 6. Jan Obrman. "The Czechoslovak Armed Forces: The
Reform Continues," pp. 48-49.