PRESS RELEASE

London, 28 November 2002

1 DECEMBER: PRISONERS FOR PEACE DAY
War Resisters' International calls for letters to prisoners for peace
/ Thousands of conscientious objectors in prison world-wide

Since 1956 1 December is celebrated as Prisoners for Peace Day. War Resisters' International, the international network of pacifist organisations with affiliates in more than 40 countries, calls for letters of support to imprisoned peace activists and conscientious objectors. This year, WRI's "Prisoners for Peace Honour Roll" includes imprisoned conscientious objectors peace activists from Armenia, Turkmenistan, Israel, Finland, among others, and peace activists from even more countries. In total, more than 1,500 peace activists are in prison world-wide - the majority in South Korea.

In 2002, WRI focusses on the situation of conscientious objectors in the Caucasus and Central Asia. WRI expands into new territory urgently needed, as conscientious objectors in this region end up in prison regularly, or try to find other ways to avoid being drafted into the military.

The former Soviet Union states in the Caucasus and Central Asia region received new attention after 11 September not that much by the public or the peace movement, but certainly from the side of the Allied Forcesin the war on terrorism. Now, most of the Central Asian states have a US military presence, which is not only used to fight the war on terrorismagainst Afghanistan, but also marks an important step in achieving US control over the region. On top of that, Russia was given a free hand to fight its own war on terrorismin Chechnya a war going on for years, without much public protest.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, new independent states have been created in the Caucasus and Central Asia region: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These states most of them can hardly be called democracies face many problems, among them socio-economic difficulties, human rights violations, and corruption. Many people have become victims of daily violence and armed conflicts. In the past decade, millions of people have suffered the tragic effects of ethnic, religious, nationalist, racially inspired and gang-related warfare waged in the South Caucasus region. Most countries in the region have very bad human rights records. Civil society, where it exists, is struggling to survive.

Although the concept of conscientious objection is not well known in the region, draft evasion, desertion, and conscientious objection are on the rise. This is partly due to very bad conditions in the military - not only economically, but also the tradition of 'Dedovshina', which is an extreme form of violence and harassment of young soldiers by older soldiers and superiors. As a result, conscripts avoid joining the army and are forcibly recruited. In many cases, they flee from their military units and become deserters, wanted by the government. In Georgia alone more than 200 people are imprisoned because of desertion or draft evasion.

None of the countries in the region recognizes the right to conscientious objection. Those who refuse to serve in the military become objects of persecution and corruption - in Armenia conscientious objectors are usually sentenced to 18 months to 2 years imprisonment.

The public is unaware of the current state of affairs in the military. Military units are closed and inaccessible for monitoring and public control. More important, the concept of conscientious objection in itself is not very known. While hundreds desert from the army - either because they are unable or unwilling to bear the situation in the army any longer, or because they don't want to bear arms - there are only very few outspoken conscientious objectors, most of whom belong to religious minorities.

War Resisters' International wants to work with local groups in order to promote the concept of conscientious objection to military service - both, as a fundamental human right, and as an alternative to militarism. We are convinced that if work on conscientious objection is promoted in this region, many who presently desert or evade the draft might consider open conscientious objection.

For more information:
Andreas Speck, War Resisters' International, tel +44-20-72784040, mobile +44-7887-585721

Prisoners for Peace on the internet:
English:  http://www.wri-irg.org/news/2002/pfp02-en.htm
German:  http://www.wri-irg.org/de/pfp02-de.htm
French:  http://www.wri-irg.org/fr/pfp02-fr.htm
Spanish (list only):  http://www.wri-irg.org/es/pfp02-es.htm
War Resisters' International
5 Caledonian Road * London N1 9DX * BRITAIN
tel.: +44-20-7278 4040 * fax: +44-20-7278 0444
email:  info@wri-irg.org *  http://www.wri-irg.org