Army’s new plan for uniform service falls short of expectations

Critics also say the plan was prepared without taking into consideration the political decisions of the civilian authority. Retired military judge Ümit Kardaş stressed that political authorities should decide the function of the military and establish its principles and only after that should such a program be prepared.

“For domestic security there is still an army unit called the gendarmerie. Using gendarmerie forces is very outdated. Instead there should be rural police. But this decision should be made by the political authorities,” he told Today’s Zaman.

He also pointed out that Turkey has been developing its relations with its neighbors but that they are still considered threats by the military.

“This mentality should also change. Then the technological needs of the army should be determined. The conscripts are also working as waiters in military bases and as drivers for retired generals. Is this really necessary? Once the principles regarding the scope of the army have been determined, then decisions can be made about the compulsory military service,” he emphasized.

He added that asking everyone to join the military for nine months will not create a professional army, only a standard approach to conscription.

Currently the compulsory military service is 15 months for men who have not graduated from university. University graduates must either serve as privates for six months or as reserve officers for one year. Turkish citizens living abroad can pay an exemption fee and serve for just 28 days. Today’s Zaman columnist Lale Kemal, an expert on military affairs, stresses that the TSK’s unified military service proposal contradicts the agenda of the civilian authority.

She said that the army did not work with the government, Parliament or professional associations for the young men, such as trade chambers, in preparing its proposal. “Such an attitude is an indication of their desire to continue with their military tutelage,” she argued Kemal also emphasized that a unified compulsory military service would not allow exemptions for police officers.

“Another issue that has to be addressed is what the meaning of military service is. Working as a driver, cook or barber? Our Constitution also indicates that service to the country can be either in the public sector or in the military, but despite this the army is making military service the only way to serve the country,” she said, adding that working as a police officer should be considered to be serving the country, but that the military does not want make any exceptions for police officers.

“Minister of Interior Beşir Atalay announced that police would be exempt from military service, but Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner denied that. This also shows that while they were preparing this suggestion they did not consult with the civilian authority,” Kemal pointed out. Another issue neglected in the military’s proposal is the position of conscientious objectors. Despite the decisions by the European Court of Human Rights and international agreements that Turkey has been signed, conscientious objection is not recognized in Turkey.

Oğuz Sönmez, from the Conscience Objection for Peace Platform, noted that Turkey has failed to live up to its responsibilities in this respect. “There are discussions about a professional army, but the situation of conscientious objectors is not mentioned much during these discussions. We think even if Turkey recognizes this right, the duration of public service in lieu of military service will be longer than compulsory military service,” Sönmez said.

State Minister Egemen Bağış, Turkey’s chief EU negotiator, said only seven countries in the European Union have compulsory military service and that even they recognize the right of conscientious objection. “Instead of having an amateur army with 1 million men, it is more reasonable to have a professional army with fewer men,” he said. Bağış added that it is wrong to use young men who have only received a couple of months of training to fight terrorism in southeastern Anatolia. “In particular, those soldiers who are on duty in southeastern Anatolia should receive the best possible training and be equipped very well. They should consider their duty a professional job,” he said.