ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Thursday debated a final community service bill under which conscripts, due to conscientious objection, moral or religious reasons, would not serve a six-month military service but eight
months in community service in certain companies or institutions.
ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Thursday debated a
final community service bill under which conscripts, due to
conscientious objection, moral or religious reasons, would not
serve a six-month military service but eight months in community
service in certain companies or institutions. #L#
Benches of Libra and the Croatian Peasants' Party endorsed the
bill, while the strongest opposition party, the Croatian
Democratic Union, was against it. Luka Bebic said on its behalf the
number of young men opting for community service had jumped
dramatically since its introduction, which he said might undermine
Croatia's defence system in the future.
Libra's Jozo Rados confirmed the figure had gone up 30 times between
1999 and May 2002, saying this was a positive more forward for
Croatia.
"Croatia is in a more favourable security situation which will be
even better, and we don't have to force people to serve in the army,
while the country's defence is not even strongly linked to the
number of soldiers," he said.
(hina) ha sb