DUSHANBE, April 29, 2014, Asia-Plus — Parliamentarians representing the Communist Party (CPT) in the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of the parliament will not support amendments proposed by the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) to the country’s law on conscription and military service, CPT leader Shodi Shabdolov, who is also member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, one of the main problems facing the Tajik national army is “dedovshchina” (the often brutal hazing of new recruits by older soldiers).
MP Shabdolov proposes to cut back the length of regular service from current two years to just a year. CPT leader believes shorter terms of service will help eradicate “dedovshchina” and stem corruption among recruitment officials.
“It is necessary to change the conscription process radically,” said Shabdolov. “It is necessary to draft educated men and those who do not want to serve in the army could sign up for a one-year alternative service. They could work in construction, social and agrarian sectors.”
CPT leader does not agree with IRP’s proposal to impose payments on persons who does not want to serve in the army. “If the government determines the rate of these payments at 50,000 somoni, who will be able to buy out of the army? Only children of so-called new masters of life,” Shabdolov noted.
We will recall that parliamentarians Muhiddin Kabiri and Saidumar Husaini, who represent the IRP in Majlisi Namoyandagon, have drafted amendments to the country’s law on the conscription and military service.
“These amendments will allow cardinally changing the procedure of conscription and service in the army and blocking the way to the negative phenomena such as shanghaiing and bribe giving,” MP Husaini told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, the amendments will also promote strengthening of social protection of military personnel and pave the way for formation of the professional army in Tajikistan.
“We, in particular, suggest that at least average medium-sized wage should be paid to draftees,” Husaini said, noting that payments made by young men, who do not want to serve in the army, could be source for paying wages to draftees. “The rate of these payments must be determined by the government,” the parliamentarian said.
“Besides, we propose to set up a special national army support foundation, to which the mentioned payments and donations will be transferred,” Husaini noted.
He further added that they also suggested that persons who did not undergo involuntary service should not have the right to join the public service.
