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| Welcome to the website of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection.
We are happy to see you as guest, please step in and have a look. For the latest developments concerning
conscientious objection in Europe, check our News page. You find the latest issue of our Newsletter "The right to refuse to kill" when you click here. (For older copies see our section "Newsletter") |
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 Greek Section of Amnesty InternationalAssociation
of Greek Conscientious ObjectorsInitiative for
Conscientious Objection in Cyprus (north)European Bureau
for Conscientious ObjectionWar Resisters'
InternationalTo the Embassy of Turkish Republic, Athens Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, Athens Prime Minister of Greece, Athens Athens, 11 April 2008 Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to recognise international standards on the right to conscientious objection Representatives of conscientious objection and human rights organisations from several European countries, meeting in Athens over the weekend, call for Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to recognise the right to conscientious objection according to European and international standards. The representatives remind the governments of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey that the right to conscientious objection has been recognised by several international institutions, among others the United Nations[1] and the Council of Europe[2]. More specifically, in a decision on two individual complaints from South Korea, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled in 2007 that not to provide for the right to conscientious objection is a violation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion[3]. In detail:  Although Greece provides in its law 3421/2005 for the right to conscientious objection, the law itself
and its implementation do not meet international standards. The Ministry of Defence and not a civilian authority
decides on applications for conscientious objection, an application is only possible within strict time limits,
and thus not for serving soldiers or reservists, and the alternative service of conscientious objectors is almost
twice the length of military service, which is punitive. In addition, in recent years the majority of non-religious
conscientious objectors have been rejected by the Ministry of Defence, and several conscientious objectors still
face prosecutionThe situation
regarding the right to conscientious objection is very different in the two parts of Cyprus. While the Republic
of Cyprus recognises the right to conscientious objection for conscripts, an application has to be made to the
Ministry of Defence, and not to a civilian authority. The right is also not available to serving conscripts or
professional soldiers. In the northern part of Cyprus the right to conscientious objection is not recognised at
all. All military matters are directly controlled by the Turkish military.Turkey too does not recognise
the right to conscientious objection. Conscientious objectors face a life in illegality and/or repeated imprisonment.
Conscientious objector Halil Savda has been arrested again on 27 March 2008, after having been released on 28 July
2007, following the completion of a sentence of six months of imprisonment on charges of continued disobedience. He now has to serve an
outstanding prison sentence of 15.5 months on charges of desertion, and will also face a new trial on new charges
of desertion.The repeated punishment of conscientious objectors in Turkey violates Article 14 paragraph 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: "No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country"[4]. Furthermore, the European Court of Human Rights decided in January 2006 in the case of CO Osman Murat Ülke that the Turkish practice of repeated imprisonment amounts to a “civil death”and a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights[5]. Although the details differ from country to country, all three countries are “united” in their violation of the right to conscientious objection, and in their refusal to accept the freedom of conscience according to European and international standards. We, representatives from conscientious objection and human rights organisations from European countries, including Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, therefore call on these governments to finally comply with those human rights treaties all three countries are part of, and to finally recognise the right to conscientious objection according to those standards, without any “buts”and restrictions. Signatories: Greek Section of Amnesty International, Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors, Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus (north), European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, War Resisters' International. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] United Nations Commission on Human Rights (1998), Resolution 1998/77: Conscientious Objection to Military Service and subsequent resolutions in 2000, 2002 and 2004 [2] Council of Europe (1987), Recommendation No. R (87) 8 of the Committee of Ministers [3] Human Rights Committee, CCPR/C/88/D/1321-1322/2004, 23 January 2007 [4] Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: Opinion No 36/1999 (TURKEY), Opinion No 24/2003 (ISRAEL). See also Human Rights Committee: General Comment No 32, CCPR/C/GC/32, 23 August 2007 [5] AFFAIRE ÜLKE v. TURQUIE, Requête no 39437/98, 24 January 2006 |
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| FaxTo: M. Lluís
Maria de PUIG President of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly Plaza de la Marina Espanola 8, 28071, Madrid, Spain Tel: +34 91 538 1000 / Fax: +34 91 538 1015 Subject: Investigation of reports of intimidation and ill-treatment 17 April 2008 Dear Mr. President, I would like to bring to your attention the following press release which EBCO issued after the alleged intimidation and ill-treatment of Turkish conscientious objector Ismail Saygi. We urge you to launch an immediate investigation into this case and make the findings public. Thank you in advance. Yours sincerely, Alexia Tsouni Secretary General European Bureau for Conscientious Objection FAX To: Mr. José LELLOPresident of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly 3, Place du Petit Sablon, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 513 2865 / Fax: +32 2 514 1847 Subject: Investigation of reports of intimidation and ill-treatment 17 April 2008 Dear Mr. President, I would like to bring to your attention the following press release which EBCO issued after the alleged intimidation and ill-treatment of Turkish conscientious objector Ismail Saygi. We urge you to launch an immediate investigation into this case and make the findings public. Thank you in advance. Yours sincerely, Alexia Tsouni Secretary General European Bureau for Conscientious Objection PRESS RELEASEArrest and intimidation of Turkish conscientious objectors 16 April 2008 The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) held its annual meeting in Athens on 12 April with representatives of 14 European countries: Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Macedonia. The assembly protested against the arrest of the Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda in Istanbul on 27 March during a solidarity meeting for the imprisoned objector Ismail Saygi. “We expect a respectful treatment of the young Turkish human rights defender and the respect of his conscientious conviction which forbids his participation in military service”, explained EBCO’s President Gerd GREUNE. Halil Savda already spent several months in military prison, and has been sentenced repeatedly on charges of "persistent disobedience" or "desertion". Furthermore the assembly expressed its outrage about reports that the young conscript Ismail Saygi has been badly treated and beaten while detained in his military unit and was so much intimidated that he withdrew his declaration as conscientious objector. “The Turkish authorities and international bodies like the Council of Europe and NATO should investigate these cases”, said EBCO’s President. It is not acceptable that a 19 year old youngster is arrested and forced to give up his right to the freedom of conscience by military force. |
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| TURKEY: Conscientious objector Halil Savda arrested again Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda was arrested again on 27 March 2008, during a solidarity demonstration for imprisoned conscientious objector Ismail Saygi. Halil Savda read a statement in the name of the Solidarity Initiative for Saygi, saying: "Based on our own painful experiences we worry about the possibility that Saygi will be targeted by the random pressures and restrictions, disciplinary punishments and torture that conscientious objectors are exposed to in military prisons." Soon after, he was taken into custody by police, because of an outstanding arrest warrant on charges of desertion. Halil Savda already spent several months in military prison, and has been sentenced repeatedly on charges of "persistent disobedience" or "desertion". (see further messages on this site below) |
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| Turkish Conscientious Objector Arrested Conscientious objector Ismail Saygi, who was taken into custody on 16 March, has been arrested. Aftter serving seven months of his military service, Ismail Saygi declared on 15 November 2006 that he wanted to become a conscientious objector. He was taken into custody on Sunday, 16 March, and has now been arrested in Istanbul. Because he was registered as a deserter, an arrest warrant had been issued against him in his absence. Saygi was first handed over to the military police in Üsküdar, and then, after appearing in front of a military prosecutor, taken to Maltepe military prison in Istanbul. Saygi is expected to be transferred to a military prison in Sarikamis, in the east of Turkey. An Initiative for Solidarity with Ismail Saygi has been formed starting public actions on 19 March at Galatasaray Highschool in Taksim, central Istanbul, to show solidarity with conscientious objection and to start a support campaign. Bianet News, 19 March 2008 |
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| Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO Representative to the Council of Europe has written an article in French language on the development of conscientious objection and alternative service in Germany which you can find at this link. |
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CO situation in Russia
Remark: 2006 was the last year of the military service term with 24 months. The reduction of the term of the military service as well as of the civil service is planned for 2007-2008. In 2007 the term consists of 18 months, from 2008 it is expected to be of 12 months. The same regards to the alternative civil service. 2004-2007 – 42 months; 2007 – 31,5 months, from 2008 it is expected to be of 21 months. Table of the situation of military service and conscientious objection in the Council of Europe member states
Source: Andrey Kalikh, Moscow |
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| Visitors in Brussels Conscientious objectors from Latin America were visiting for the first time EBCO in Brussels on 7 November 2007. Luis Venegas Navarrete, Coordinator of the Red Chilena de Objecion de Consciencia had visited our member organisation Association “Comunita Papagiiovanni XXII” in Italy to start at tour in Europe to support the new CO law under way in Chile. There are still quite a number of issues that are not satisfying the conscientious objectors in Chile such as the control over the alternative service by the Defence Ministry and the installation of committees to investigate the conscience reasons of objectors. A first law was proposing tat Cos should be exempted from service as “inapt” this has been rejected by the human rights groups in Chile. Former defence minister and in 2006 elected President from Chile Michelle Bachelet has started a number of attempts to recognise the right of conscientious objection by law and it looks as if this is becoming a conflict issue between the civilian government and the army. But it looks better than in Columbia, where Milena Romero and Lukas Pardo were coming from, by invitation of the Flemish peace organisation Aktievredesbelasting (VRAK) in Belgium. Columbia is under control of the army and the paramilitary troops and in full civil war. Young men are often “kidnapped” by the army in Bogota or other cities if they cannot show their military service ID. From 35000 conscripts each year some 5800 do not serve the 18-24 months in the army. Though the exemptions from military service are numerous they remain often unknown. Gerd Greune proposed to use EU institutions in Santiago and Bogota and delegations from the European Parliament for active support in campaigning and awareness raising. A Spanish translation of the Council of Europe booklet on CO and the model behind it might be a good tool for discussion as well. We will stay in touch for our joint objectives! |
From left to right: Lukas Pardo - Milena Romero (Columbia)
- Carla Goffi |
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| The International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the Movement for the Abolition of War organized a conference "Peace History: encouragements and warnings" at the Imperial War Museum in London. Topics ranged from biographical lectures about early peace champions of the 19th century (Hodgson Pratt, Bertha von Suttner) to an illustrated lecture on the history of art working for peace. EBCO board member Guido GrØnewald illustrated with slides the history of conscientious objection in Europe. |
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| EBCO Meeting in Speyer October 6, 2007 Participants from Belgium, France, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Greece, Germany and Catalunia participated at the annual meeting of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection in the German town of Speyer on October 6 for a one day meeting. EBCO supports the international solidarity campaign for Cos in Turkey and will prepare a similar campaign for Russia in 2008. Friedhelm Schneider from the Protestant Church organisation supporting Cos in Germany gave a lecture on the war and peace history of Speyer which highlighted particularly the German French war relations over the centuries. |
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| EBCO Study tour to Belgrade 15-17 July 2007 Report by Hans Dijkman (EBCO Secretary General) Before going into details of our visit to Belgrade I want to remember how a first EBCO-meeting took place in Belgrade from 14 – 16 September 2001. Just after the dramatic events in New York. EBCO-board members met with conscientious objectors from Balkan countries like Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia. At that time it was for my wife and me a great and encouraging experience to meet with young people promoting non violence from countries who were engaged in a devastating war only a few years before. The situation about conscientious objection was at that time in Yugoslavia very poor. There were - according to the law - possibilities to refuse military service on conscientious grounds, but no chances to use these in practice. I remember we warned the very motivated conscientious objectors not to expect changes to occur very soon, as it had taken a long time in other countries to make progress. Now, within 6 years , there are 30.000 Conscientious Objectors doing an alternative service in Serbia - where no one speaks about Yugoslavia any more. According to the Ministry of Defence 60% of all conscripts want to be recognised as Conscientious Objector. Belgrade seems a different town now compared with the beginning of the present century. Streets and buildings renovated, parks green, lots of people walking around and in restaurants and on terraces. Symbols of a growing economy. The improvements in matters of conscientious objection came together with other changes in Serbia. But they did not come automatically. A lot of work was done there and sacrifices made. Of course: improvements are possible as I will describe further. But in general Belgrade is an encouraging example that changes are possible. The Serbian conscientious objectors, especially those who started the EBCO-Balkan in Belgrade and continue to the present day, deserve our respect and admiration. And also those from outside, like the Catalan government and the city and university of Barcelona, who stimulated these developments. And it also proves that EBCO can be a supporting organisation. |
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| Participation. Friedhelm from Germany, Alexia, Despina and Georgos from Greece, Vesselin from Bulgaria were welcomed by Petar on the airport or the railway station. General description of the history on Conscientious Objection during recent years. Petar Milisevic gave us this description on Sunday-afternoon, in the EBCO-Balkan office. We were impressed by a lot of materials for information, posters, etc. He explained that EBCO-Balkan was able to spread flyers to all the recruitment centres in Serbia. Refusals to take part in the army took place during the Balkan-war. There is no information about numbers from the Ministry of Defence. From 1991 – 2000 around 50 persons applied for the status of conscientious objector. For instance also in Slovenia. But not for pacifists reasons, but they did not want to serve “for the Serbs”. Around 2001 there were COs non-combatant in the army. They served – intentionally – under very hard conditions for 24 month (army-soldiers 12 month). A campaign started in 2001. In 2003 there were about 500 declared COs. The campaign got the support of the media. In 2003 came a Decree wherein the right to conscientious objectors was recognized. It was the time when Serbia entered the Council of Europe. In 2005 a second decree replaced the first one. One of the conditions for Serbia to enter the Council of Europe was a law on conscientious objection. (A decree is a measure from the government, a government decision. A law is a rule that is mostly proposed by the government and accepted in parliament. A law takes more time but cannot easily be changed. A decree can be changed any time). According to the present law on conscientious objection a non-military service is guaranteed, but not expressly outside the army. This law gives possibilities to all kinds of interpretations. The decision on accepting conscientious objectors is taken in the military recruitment centres by doctors, military persons, sometimes a theologist and others. In the present situation this committee does not consider the arguments for refusing, but controls the procedure, for instance if someone is convicted for a violent criminal act. Petar told us the story of someone who had a little dog. In a certain area of the town where he lived it was obliged to have a muzzle (mouth-tie) for dogs. His dog had not. So he got a fine. For this reason he was not accepted as conscientious objector. The story came on the front-page of almost all newspapers. When a conscientious objector receives the refusal of the “first degree committee” he can complain to the second degree committee, also under the Ministry of Defence command. This complaint can not postpone his army service. So practically they can not efficiently complain. In the present situation the conscientious objectors have the following rights/duties: 40 hours work
a weekright on 13 free
days reasonable conditions
for health care.The aims of EBCO-Balkan are to come to a law on conscientious objection with the following changes: de-militarisation
of the organisation of civilian service. In the present moment the Ministry of Defence decides where you do you
civilian service, the conscientious objector is regarded as being in the service of this Ministry.Change to the
Ministry of Youth – as the Ministry of Social Affairs does not want to be responsible for this organisation.same duration
military service and alternative period.There is a normal contact with the Ministry of Defence and EBCO-Balkan is often in a process of dealing and making compromises. The procedure for recognition starts with an application from the conscripted. They have to do it within 8 days after receiving the call-up papers. (When someone is out of town or for other reasons did not receive these papers, he may try to ask for new call-up papers.). Students get normally a postponement for their military service until they are 27 years old, the same for the alternative service. Conscientious objectors do civilian service in the town where they live. They are supposed to stay at home. They “earn” 5 ˆ and get 10-15 ˆ travel expenses a month. .There are still some 25.000 persons outside Serbia who still have to do a military or alternative service. EBCO-Balkan wants an ombudsman for all conscripts and demands the possibility to refuse military service also for soldiers within the army. As for total objection: Petar does not know any case. Petar himself gives legal advice. EBCO-Balkan cannot afford a lawyer service. As described before Petar did his civilian service in the University of Belgrade. Abolishment of conscription is planned by the military for 2010. The coming law on conscientious objection is considered as dealing with a transition period. Monday At ten o’clock we had a meeting with Lt.Colonel Zivic Zoran. Representing the Sector Human Resources of the Ministry of Defence. He explained that there momentarily are 2 ways for conscripts: a. service with arms b. service without arms in civilian service. Since 2003 conscientious objection is a possibility. In the beginning the organisation of the alternative service was with small diseases, but now without problems. It was not easy to find the huge number of institutions necessary to place the conscientious objectors. Some small offices wanted huge numbers. A library wanted 10 librarians, but only 2 had finished the relevant studies. The Ministry of Defence makes the decision which organisation is accepted. Private companies or enterprises cannot host conscientious objectors, only offices and institutions in the public sector. Question is also how conscientious objectors are seen in these organisations. Their social status has to be accepted. The Ministry of Defence wants to improve that status. From 2003 – June 2007 there were 50.000 recruits. From this group 30.000 finished social service. At present there are some 10.000 conscripts doing alternative service. About 3,5 % were not accepted. Those who did not appear for alternative service are seen as someone who did not follow orders or did criminal acts. Some 5,4 % did not meet the conditions and could not apply successfully. About 7 % made a request but withdraw it. Now Serbia is in a process of new legal reforms with a new law on the army, a new defence law and a new law on military duty. This law on military duty will regulate the right for conscientious objection. The next step will be the professional army in 2010. After a question about this “social status” of the conscientious objector the Ministry spokesman says that the alternative service offers a better status, because the conscript can stay at home. There are 1220 institutions now on a list of institutions that can host conscientious objectors. Overview of the procedure to become conscientious objector: 1. young man receives the message that he is conscripted, and will be called up in the future. In this message it is already written that he can make the choice for conscientious objection. 2. Conscript receives a call up from the recruitment centre. He now has 8 days to declare himself a conscientious objector. 3. Recruitment centre receives information from relevant institutions about the background of the recruit. 4. Minister of Defence makes a decision for acceptance and address to go to and length of alternative service. 5. Message of acceptance(or non-acceptance) is sent to recruit. 6. Recruit receives the call up for his alternative service. 7. The recruit goes to the institution and to the specific person who is responsible for him. Legally he remains under the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence. If for instance the conscientious objector damages something during his work the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the loss. In a new law this responsibility may change to the Ministry of Socials Affairs and Labour. We as delegates from EBCO make clear that - notwithstanding how much progress is already made - the present situation does not meet the standards of the Council of Europe. To meet these standards there has to be: equal length of
military service and alternative service.a procedure for
recognition of conscientious objection outside the armya civilian service
outside the influence of the armyreasonable conditions,
for instance payment, during the alternative service. Forcing someone to work without payment is in fact slavery.in conflicts between
the conscientious objector and the institution he is working for an independent institution has to mediate. The
conscientious objector should not depend on one-sided decisions of the Ministry of Defence.After this meeting we are quickly transported to another place in town where we meet Mr Zarko Korac. He is a lively and somewhat older member of the Social Democratic fraction in the parliament. He explains that the army is in the process of downsizing from about 100.000 to about 35.000 man. So the army has no problem with conscientious objection. So now is the right moment for a new law about this. Opposition will be there from the right wing in Parliament, with about 1/3 of all seats. Even within a professional army the right on conscientious objection should be recognised. EBCO-Balkan should come forward with proposals for texts that are suitable for a new law on conscientious objection. The church in Serbia is generally on the conservative side. The meeting with Mr Korac is relatively short. We move now to the university where we attend a meeting of representatives of Serbian Youth organisations. Vesselin explains his work as EBCO-representation within the European Youth Forum. The persons present are interested in the situation about conscientious objection in other European countries, but at the same time indicate that they have also their own agenda for this meeting. In the evening we sit under a cool and very quiet place at the Belgrade University. We have a good dinner with a journalist who is especially interested in the relationship between the army and the young generation. He interviews Friedhelm about the situation of conscientious objection in Germany and me about the change to a professional army in the Netherlands. Tuesday. In the afternoon we visit two young parliamentarians of the Democratic Party within the Parliamentary building. They support the possibility to refuse military service on conscientious grounds. We have a discussion on things like Nato-membership, the Kosovo-problem, “terrorism as global threat “ etc. They attended a gathering of the NATO Parliamentary Council, and see NATO-membership as inevitable for Serbia. In the Kosovo matter they make it clear that violence is no option for them. However they feel that the present proposals are a humiliation for Serbia. That “terrorism is a global threat” is absolutely sure for them – what may have to do with the Kosovo problem. After our 4 hour stay in the air-conditioning we come out and the heat is overwhelming. Temperature has come up to almost 40 degree Celsius. In the beginning of the evening we bring Vesselin to the railway station. According to Vesselin: inside the station it’s hot, inside the train it’s hell. But he came home safely. That evening Petar, Strechko and I sit at the Danube river. It is peaceful and quite. Strechko explains to me how the 1st world war started through the attack of a Serb on the crown prince of the Austrian/Hungarian empire. It struck me the first day of our stay in Belgrade to see a graveyard of English and Italian soldiers from this war. Wars came back several times since then. But the Danube is there to give way to water. And not to blood. Let’s forget about the old times. There are new times coming. |
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| Here you can open the latest issue of the EBCO Bulletin „The Right to Refuse to Kill" (pdf-file). |
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| June 2007CYPRUS A new conscription law was voted in Cyprus introducing a 34-month alternative service (30 months for those who were exempted due to “health problems”, comparing to 25-month military service has been adopted by the Cyprus Council of Ministers in June. It is estimated that the last 5 years 25% of conscripts (18 years old Greek-Cypriots) don't serve at all. This means Greece remains the most discriminative and punitive place for Cos by far even in the expanded EU (23 months alternative service instead of 12 months military service). The Greek Association of COs issued a public statement on the new law previous week which was published in the cypriot newspaper Politis (the entire text). Alexia Tsouni (EBCO / AI Athens) ================== Cabinet proposes amendment to National Guard law Nicosia, Jun 20 (CNA) – Cyprus' Council of Ministers has decided to amend the law governing military service in the Republic’s armed forces, the National Guard, in an effort to ensure equal treatment for all male Cypriot citizens who are drafted in for a two-year service. The proposed bill, to go to the House for consideration, provides for the drafting of Maronites, Latins and Armenians – who belong to the Greek Cypriot community, as of 2008 for compulsory military service. The bill also deals with the military service of those who declare themselves to be conscientious objectors, and recommends amendments to the existing legislation. The government bill also proposes alternative compulsory service for those who say they are facing health problems and cannot serve in the military but are considered capable of serving in alternative services. Furthermore, the government proposes amendments to the military service of males who come from large families. It provides for reduced (14 months instead of 25) military service for the third male in a family, provided that the two older siblings have served a full term. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. Source: The Hague Embassy |
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| May 2007“15th May Conference
on Conscientious Objection in Athens” The Greek Daily „Eleftherotypia“ published an article on 15 May 2007 (the international conscientious objection day) which has been translated into English by our Greek friends. EBCO has been participating at a national conference. Petar Milicevic from EBCO Balkan gave his lecture on the situation for conscientious objectors in Serbia. download pdf-file (Greek / English) - download doc-file (Greek / English) |
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| Maria Antonietta Macchiocchi Maria Antonietta Macchiocchi former Member of European Parliament has died on April 15 in Rome. Born on 23 July 1922 on Liri Island in Italy, growing up in a antifascist family, she had been in dispute with the different left and communist movements in Italy all her life long, being excluded in 1977 from the Communist Party of Italy after being their deputy for more than a decade. In the European Parliament as candidate for the Radical Party she fought for the rights of women but is engaging herself around the world wherever dissidents have to be defended. On 7 February 1983 she is the first to pass a resolution by the European Parliament on the right of conscientious objection. Two years before Sam Biesemans, then President of EBCO and Gerd Greune met her in Paris to talk about the need for a European recognition of the right to refuse to kill. As a Professor at the University Paris VIII Vincennes and the Sorbonne she was publishing regularly in the Corriere della sera and Le Monde in these years. The Macchiocchi Resolution in 1983 had a strong impact on the liberation of Greek conscientious objectors massively arrested until the 80s. The resolution introduced by Maria Antonietta Macchiocchi, then member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, was also strongly supported by the liberal Simone Veil, President of the European Parliament. EBCO gave its first press conference in Strasbourg on the occasion of the plenary vote. The text she introduced to the European Parliament was short and clear: The Parliament 1. Recalls that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental right; 2. Notes that protection of freedom of conscience implies the right to refuse to carry out armed military service and to withdraw from such service on grounds of conscience; 3. Points out that no court or commission can penetrate the conscience of an individual and that a declaration setting out the individual's motives must therefore suffice in the vast majority of cases to secure the status of conscientious objector Maria Antonietta Macchiocchi has contributed with her life to a more humanistic world and to the right to revolt against injustice and hypocracy. EBCO is full of gratitude for her commitment to the right to refuse to kill. |
Maria Antonietta Macchiocchi |
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| Flash # 11 2007: TURKEY: Conscientious objector Halil Savda sentenced for a second time within two weeks - to a total of 21.5 months in prison On April 12 the Corlu military court sentenced conscientious objector Halil Savda to a further six months imprisonment, bringing his total prison time up to 21.5 months. Already on 15 March 2007, Halil Savda had been sentenced to 15 ½ months imprisonment on charges of desertion and disobeying orders – by the same court that now sentenced him again for disobeying orders. In accordance with Turkish practice, the court did not go into the reasoning for the sentence - the reasons why the court thought it possible to sentence Halil Savda for the second time for what has to be considered as one and the same offence will only be known when the written judgement will be available. More information on Halil Savda’s case see below You can write letters to Halil in English or Turkish Halil Savda 5. Kolordu Komutanligi, Askeri Cezaevi Corlu – Tekirdag Turkey Send your letter of protest to the General Staff of the Turkish Military: Fax +90-312-4250813 |
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| Flash # 10 2007: Belarusian Soldier Affected by Army Bullying Sent to Mental Hospital Belarusian newspapers wrote about beating up a private Dzmitry Vasilkou in February. The incident took place in the Military Academy near Minsk. Warrant officer Shutau forced Vasilkou to clean snow, and to put it mildly, overplayed in his "can-do" spirit. Military commandment had to admit that fact. A beaten-up and bloodstained guy who was running away from his commander through the wood in direction of a road, was picked up by a driver near the border of the city in the urban district Uruchcha. In a month after the incident private Vasilkou was sent to the place of service again. Doctors haven’t understood whether his nose had been broken or not. Dzmitry was visited by relatives, and he continued his service in the Military Academy. On Monday, April 2, letters from Vasilkou were received by an editorial office of the “Komsomolskaya Pravda v Belarusi”. The return address is Navinki settlement, the Republican Clinic Mental Hospital. It was easy to enter the division of the hospital where Dzmitry had been placed. We rang the door and a young nurse went out. She was surprised somebody visits Vasilkou. The “patient” went out in a few minutes. He had hospital pyjamas and a quilted jacket on. He was sleepy and phlegmatic. His slow speech, cloudy eyes and tardiness showed that he had been given some powerful medicines. Vasilkou was allowed to talk to the newspaper correspondent in a special room in presence of a nurse’s aide. His story was rather intricate. “First I was taken to an antiaircraft defense unit, but couldn’t carry out my duties because of problems with breathing. When I started bleeding, I demanded to be operated, and I was taken here. The administration of the military academy sent me here, to the 25th division of the hospital. It was on March 19, but on the next day I was returned to the military unit. Then I was sent to the 24th division. I was told I would be subject to an operation. When I arrived, I understood it is not true. I demanded my nose to be treated as I had been promised, and the officer who took me here told that the warrant officer would treat me. I haven’t signed any papers. I was taken here and left. I do not know what they are treating me from. I remember only one medicine, Cyclodol. When I asked the doctor what medicines they give me, he just asked: “What for do you need that?!” They are to keep me here for a month, and then I will undergo a medical review board to determine my fit-for-duty status. I do not want to leave the army with a diagnosis of a mentally ill person”. Neither mother nor brothers know that Dzmitry Vasilkou stays in the Republican clinic Mental Hospital. In order not to go out of his mind, from time to time Dzmitry stops his ears with cottonwool and prays to an icon he carries on his neck. Dzmitry Kurankou, senior investigator of Minsk inter-garrison military prosecutor’s office: “I cannot give any information on this case. There is a secret of investigation. - Why Vasilkou was placed to the Republican Mental Hospital? - He is undergoing a medical examination. The results are to be taken in consideration in the investigation. “He could never insult or hurt anybody” Dzmitry Vasilkou finished a basic school in Tsemnalessa Drybin district. “We remember him as a very calm and composed boy”, told the headmaster Tatsyana Sakratarava on the phone. “The family of Vasilkous was resettlers from Chernobyl zone. Dzmitry was studing in the same form with his younger brother, as he had some problems with studies. But as far as his conduct is concerned, he was an absolutely positive boy. He never had any problems in that. He couldn’t ever insult or offend teachers or pupils. He never failed to fulfil anything, never lied, he was very independent. After school he went to Mahilyou to study in a forest management college. As far as I know, he graduated from it and became a forester. Source: http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/04/05/soldat |
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| Flash # 9 2007: OPEN LETTER OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR MICHALIS MARAGAKIS Mr. President of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Prime Minister Mr. Minister of the National Defence Messrs. Military Judges Being deeply sad and distressed for the long-lasting discomfort, the intimidations, the ill-treatment and the torture, during his detention, of the conscientious objector Halil Savda as well as for his continuing prosecutions for the same action with different indictments, I appeal to you to show the proper attention and to contribute decisively to the recognition of the rights of the jailed conscientious objector who is facing court-martial on Thursday the15th of March. You, having the responsibility of governing your country, know better than all of us that today the whole world suffers from the death, the sorrow, the pain and the destructions that the wars cause as well as from the violations of basic human rights and freedoms. The human dignity is trampled on, the right to live has been replaced by the right to kill, our labours are wasted in endless armaments, peoples that can live a better tomorrow are divided and we live in the uncertainty and in the fear of the future and the future of our children. In this reality of immense pain that unfolds worldwide, you have the luck a young man, an active citizen and a worthy compatriot of you, to find the courage and the strength to raise his stature and to speak out to all of us that another way also exists, another choice for a better tomorrow. And off course he is not alone! Hundreds of active citizens in Greece and in Turkey, hundreds of thousands in the whole world, we walk the same way and stand by him shaping the conditions for a peaceful world of tomorrow. This debt towards our peoples and their future led me 20 years ago to refuse to serve any military mechanism of violence and war and as a result I stayed 20 months in the Greek military prisons, asking for fair legislative regulation of our right to deny the war with the death and the destruction it spreads around. Thus today as an active citizen, as a father of five children that I want them to live without wars but also as a teacher who wants none of his students to live the horror of the war, I feel that I share this beautiful struggle with my Turkish brother, fighter conscientious objector Halil Savda. A struggle of searching the genuine peace and prosperity of our two peoples, with mutual understanding and collaboration, which leads to our fraternization, far away from the self-destructing increase of armaments, the militarization of our society, the balances of terror, the uncertain future. Aren’t we both really justified, considering what happened or what is happening today in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and the Middle East? I ask you, therefore, in the name of peace and friendship of our two peoples, to leave my friend conscientious objector Halil Savda free to act as his heart and his conscience commands, and to institute, as soon as possible, the necessary legislative regulations for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection. Your country needs such worthy and brave citizens and the recognition of the right to conscientious objection will be a really big step so that your people finds itself linked with the values and the objectives of all the other European peoples, with which they will share the future. Conscientious Objector Michalis Maragakis March, the 12th 2007 |
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 EBCO’s President Gerd Greune participatedat a talkshow in Berlin on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Central Board for the Right and the Protection of Conscientious Objection. On the podium: Juergen Kohlheim, Chairman of the Cologne Administration Court / Renate Schmidt MP, former Federal Minister for Youth – Maybritt Illner, Moderator – Martin Morgner, former Bausoldat in east Germany / Margot Käßmann, Bishop and Chairperson of the Central Board of COs / Gerd Greune, EBCO President.  The ceremony
and talkshow took place in the Friedrichstadtkirche . Vice-President of the German Bundestag Dr. Wolfgang Thierse
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| 500 PARTICIPANTS AT HISTORIC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
IN ISTANBUL 27-28 JANUARY 2007 EBCO supported and co-sponsored the first international conference in Istanbul on 27-28 January 2007 at Bilgi University in Istanbul and was present with some 20 Delegates from all over Europe. The EBCO bulletin "The Right to refuse to Kill" is documenting statements from EBCO participants. EBCO's general assembly also took place on 26 January in Istanbul with participants from Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Germany, Belgium, France, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Macedonia and UK. EBCO will continue its campaign to recognize the right of conscientious objection to military service. MEP Joost Lagendijk, who participated at this conference by invitation of EBCO, reminded in his statement that the work to introduce appropriate legislation for conscientious objection in Turkey will be more difficult than in other countries in Europe due to the special role of the army in this country. He suggested to accept proposals for an alternative service in Turkey. It has been already a huge step forward that this conference could take place without interference by the local authorities. An EBCO delegation also visited the office of the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in Istanbul to search support for Cos in countries where the Orthodox Church plays an important role.  |
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| FLASH #6 2007: “ONE OUT OF FOUR GREEK RECRUITS NEVER ACCOMPLISHES MILITARY SERVICE” The beginning of 2007 saw the emergence of a huge scandal in Greece, resulting in the wider-Greek society being informed of a fact that “1 out of 4 recruits never actually accomplishes his military service”. The scandal began after a secret internal monitoring system recorded a lieutenant colonel removing important papers from offices of his colleagues. These papers contained information on how important and famous persons (politicians, artists, etc.) had managed to skip their military service by using fake excuses. In the wake of the scandal, members of the Greek C.O. were invited on to TV talk shows to express their opinion about the case. The president of the Greek C.O. Lazaros Petromelidis spoke about the Greek CO Association's demand to abolish military service. Significantly, the scandal signalled the first voices of mainstream Greek media discussing the relevance of compulsive military service in modern-day Greece. Association of Greek COs English Newsletter February 2007 |
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| FLASH #5 2007: Halil Savda: Ill treatment at the Disciplinary Ward of the 8th Mechanized Brigade After the Military Prosecutor had sent Halil Savda back to the military unit again in order to be tried without custody, on 26 January 2007, Friday, Halil Savda was subject to ill treatment at the Disciplinary Ward of the 8th Mechanized Brigade. At the ward, a sergeant major who was the disciplinary officer, two guardians and an officer pushed Halil to the wall face-on, kicked his legs apart and began hitting him. Having kept kicking Halil on the floor where he fell while yelling ?you are a traitor, you are a terrorist,? the authorities tried to silence Halil from crying out by shoving a dirty gag in his mouth. Because of the blows he received, Halil Savda's face is swollen and his lips cracked and bled. Later these same authorities wanted to search Halil and kept harrassing him during the search as well and demanded him to take his clothes off. To prevent them from harrassing him further, Halil stripped to his underwear. After putting his clothes back on, Halil was taken to a room with nothing to sit or sleep. Halil was kept here for 3 days, forced to sleep on the cement and was not even given a blanket. Halil Savda held a 5-day huger strike in protest of this inhumane treatment until he met with his lawyer. The commander of the Disciplinary Ward came in on Monday and intervened in the situation. Halil stated that his condition has improved. Halil Savda's judicial process has now taken on an indefinite state and has been left to the arbitrary and the subjective policies of the Çorlu Military Prosecutor. Suna Co-kun (Halil's Lawyer) |
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| FLASH #3 2007: Conscientious Objector Halil SAVDA victim of Legal Loophole in Turkey Conscientious objector Halil Savda was released from military prison on 25 January by the Corlu Martial Court only to be recruited instead to the barracks again. He's tried with "disobedience to orders with intention of avoiding military duty". Legal loophole prevents a definitive result. Savda was arrested on December 7 on the case where he's tried with "disobedience to orders with intention of avoiding military duty totally or partially" as defined on article 88 of the Martial Penal Code. (see below) Upon his release, he was taken to the army barracks in Gelibolu. Authorities use this legal loophole to pressure the conscientious objectors. It's probable that Savda will face disciplinary punishment again in the barracks for disobeying the orders. A European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on January 24 2006 condemned the Turkish government for lack of legal arrangements for objectors to military service, which is compulsory by law for every Turkish male citizen over 18 years of age. |
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| FLASH #4 2007: New Turkish Platform on conscientious objection Objecting to military service in Turkey is an offence and, as recent experiences have shown, one in which civilians who have not yet been recruited can face charges and sentences at military tribunals. 15 democratic organizations and political parties have united in recent months to launch a Conscientious Objection Platform to defend the rights of those who reject compulsory military service.The platform demands the lifting of legislation that restricts anti-militarism and defines it as a punishable offence of "discouraging the people from military service". Laws under which conscientious objectors can be prosecuted include "insistence of disobeying orders" offering various terms of imprisonment under martial criminal law articles 87 and 88.(E?) |
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| FLASH #2: A military court in Corlu (Turkey) decided on 22nd December that conscientious objector Halil Savda shall stay in prison and set the next trial session for 15 January 2007. His Address: 5. Kolordu Komutanligi, Askeri Cezaevi, Corlu – Tekirdag, Turkey |
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| FLASH #1: Hadas Amit, 19, a pacifist woman conscientious objector from Israel was sentenced on 18 December 2006 to 14 days in prison for refusing military service and released on 29 December. |
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| Our Mission EBCO's principal aim is to promote conscientious objection to a military service as a fundamental human right. This includes the proper national legislation as well as international binding guidelines. EBCO It serves as a network and umbrella organization for national CO-organizations all over Europe. Currently, more than thirty organizations from more than twenty countries participate. Besides exchanging information and experience, keeping members, politicians and interested people updated are our main tasks. Another focus lies on lobbying European institutions in favor of the right to conscientious objection. EBCO has consultative status with the Council of Europe (please click here for contact information of our delegate) and also works together with the European Parliament. In addition, EBCO is a member of the European Youthforum. |
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| Contact Information The International Secretariat, EBCO's headquarters, is located in Brussels, at the premises of our partner organization IFIAS. Gerd Greune, President of EBCO and President of IFIAS is working there. You can reach the International Secretariat from Monday through Friday under following address. Below you can also find the contact information our representative to the Council of Europe and our account information. EBCO International Secretariat Telephone: +32
(2) 215 79 08Fax: +32 (2) 245 62 97Postal address: 81a Avenue Jan
Stobbaerts, B-1030 Brussels, BelgiumVisiting Address: 61 Rue Henri
Stacquet, B-1030 Brussels, BelgiumElectronic mail: Info and Webmaster:
ebco@ebco-beoc.orgHow to find
us in Brussels:
click here for access map
(.pdf) |
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| EBCO Delegate to the Council of EuropeRepresentative: Friedhelm SchneiderTelephone: +49 (0) 62 32 6 71
50Fax: +49 (0) 62 32 67 15 67Address: Große Himmelsgasse
3, D-67346 Speyer, GermanyElectronic mail: ebco@ebco-beoc.orgAccount InformationOwner and account
number: EBCO Account 001-1076165-26Bank and location: FORTIS BANQUE
BruxellesIBAN: BE59 0011 0761 6526BIC: GEBABEBB |
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