Students continue protests as government defends military draft law

By Asbarez | Thursday, 09 November 2017

University students protest against the law on military service

University students protest against the law on military service

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

For the past three days students from university students in Yerevan have been staging demonstrations protesting a new law passed by parliament that would eliminate deferment from Armenia’s mandatory military service for students attending university, essentially calling for all males to enlist in the military at the age of 18.

The student protesters argue that without the determents currently in place it would become harder to go to college and “become scientists or scholar.”

Prime Minister Karen Karepetyan meets with leaders of student protests against new law on military draft on Nov. 9

Prime Minister Karen Karepetyan meets with leaders of student protests against new law on military draft on Nov. 9

On Thursday, several organizers of the student protests met with Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, who was accompanied by Armenia defense and education ministers, Vigen Sargsyan and Levon Mkrtrchyan, who had already met with student leaders a day before.

Much to the dismay of the students, Karapetyan was steadfast in defending the measure, which the government argues only impacts a small percentage—15 percent—of students who receive scholarships to study at state universities. Students who pay for higher education already are drafted at 18.

The prime minister also told the students to offer amendments that may be considered at the time of implementing the measure.

“The opposite side did not share our view. Therefore, we will continue our struggle,” one of the protest leaders told more than a 100 fellow students rallying outside the prime minister’s office in Yerevan, reported Azatutyun.am. Another leader urged the students to continue the boycott that began on Tuesday.

On Nov. 8, Armenia's education minister, Levon Mkrtchyan, met with protesting students

On Nov. 8, Armenia’s education minister, Levon Mkrtchyan, met with protesting students

Mkrtchyan, the education minister, gave the students a similar explanation when he met with them on Wednesday.

“When it comes to serving the homeland, no citizen of the Republic of Armenia will have privileges,” Mkrtchyan told several organizers, according to Azatutyun.am. He argued that more than 85 percent of male students attending state-run universities are already drafted for military service at 18.

“There is quite strong political support behind [the bill] … I don’t think that this bill is subject to withdrawal,” added Mkrtchyan.

Should there be a larger discussion about—the elephant in the room—what has given impetus to this bill?

Will children of government officials also enlist at 18 or will they use their parents’ positions to avoid military service? And, is emigration of young people from Armenia impacting service in Armenia’s Armed Forces?


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