Military Service is an important aspect of citizenship in most countries but also feared and avoided by many. Scare stories after scare stories reveal how as soon as many male overseas Cypriots touch down in either Ercan or Larnaca, they are met first not by relatives but by military men in uniform. The scene is enough to put many off coming to Cyprus but with hundreds of thousands of Cypriots living abroad now and with a diaspora growing into the third and fourth generations, is it not time to lift this military embargo overseas Cypriots? Diaspora Cypriots are routinely informed that they can pay an exemption fee as if this is a solution, but is it really plausible to expect a diaspora Cypriot to give thousands of pounds to the government of a foreign country regardless of their financial situation? Furthermore, considering how much revenue diaspora Cypriots bring to Cyprus and complaints of isolation in the north, is it not counter-productive to create obstacles for their return? 

MILITARY SERVICE

According to legislation in both the Republic and the north of Cyprus military service is automatic if one or more of your parent/s or grand parent/s were Greek or Turkish Cypriot by birth. Although the definitions of both are debatable, in both the north and the Republic, it makes no difference whether you possess citizenship for either the Republic of Cyprus or the internationally non-recognised TRNC.

In the north of Cyprus all Turkish Cypriot males are expected to do military service by joining a 2,000 man Defense Force. Exemption for military service costs £3000 but still involves a 15 day involuntary draft. In the areas of the Republic Military service in the Republic of Cyprus is mandatory for all Greek Cypriot males but recently this has been extended to Cyprus’ Latin, Maronite and Armenian minorities. The minimum obligatory service period is 25 months. All male visitors to the island of military age (16 and over) who have a father of Cypriot extraction are required to obtain an exit visa from a Defense Ministry office. After that, ex-soldiers are considered reservists and are required to participate in military exercises for a few days every year.  

THE NEED FOR MILITARY SERVICE

On the necessity for military service, historian and philosopher Margaret Levi argues that: “…governments often evoke political obligation as one basis for compliance, few issues permit observation of both the decisions that produce government policies and citizen choices in the face of government demands. Military Service satisfies both criteria. Military service is an important obligation of democratic citizenship, at least male citizenship. Noncompliance with this obligation has implications for the efficacy of government.” Levi goes on to say that noncompliance may have “singular motivation” which can be seen as a political statement or worse a rebellion as military service is an important aspect of state-citizen relationship.  

A CITIZENSHIP ISSUE?

However, if military service is indeed an obligation of democratic citizenship, then one is compelled to ask, are the diasporic Cypriots citizens? First, many diaspora Cypriots have never been naturalised according to the standard procedure as citizens, as the grand parents of many second and third generation UK Cypriots left Cyprus during the British colonial period.  Consequently many do not possess citizenship for both the Republic of Cyprus and TRNC. To grant citizenship automatically to an individual has not made an application, and whose grand parents left Cyprus before its independence is a tad bizarre. Considering that Cypriots in the UK are now entering their third and fourth generation, when is the cut off point for automatically awarding citizenship? Secondly, despite this law of regarding anybody who has an inch of ‘Cypriot blood’ a citizen, many diaspora Cypriots do not speak either Greek or Turkish and may have very few ties to Cyprus. Is it really plausible to expect them to break past the language barrier and willingly arrive at Ercan to do their military service? Third, if Diaspora Cypriots are considered automatically citizens of the Republic or the TRNC by virtue of their parents or grand parents whether they like it or not, then it is only fitting to ask, why they cannot vote and stand for election in both and enjoy other benefits of citizenship such as student loans for universities or grants.   

ANOMALITIES…

With no room for flexibility the very regimental military service law as you can imagine produces somewhat comical results at times. In one case, a half Greek Cypriot half Turkish Cypriot was unfortunate enough to be called up for military service on both sides of the Green Line, surely a security risk… Others abnormalities have included a British man who happens to be a quatre Turkish Cypriot (by definition of his surname) who upon arriving at Ercan with his family was swiftly summoned to meet a military officer to converse in a language he does not understand. In another case a 72 year old who had lived in Britain nearly all of his life was called up and deemed fit to carry our military service. For many overseas Cypriots too, the call for military service can disrupt lives. A British Cypriot working full time in the UK can expect anything from 21 to 28 days holiday a year. Is it plausible to expect them to spend half of it training in a military camp? Furthermore, considering the cost of living in Britain and recent economic problems here, are UK Cypriots so filthy rich that they can afford to suddenly hand over £3000 of their money to reduce their military service? For Turkish Cypriots living in Turkey, this fee is even more extortionate. Naturally, there are many UK Cypriots that when faced with this, travel and spend their time and money elsewhere and this does not benefit Cyprus. 

TIME TO CONSIDER COMMUNITY SERVICE

In both the north and the Republic legislation should be realistic. Exemptions should be made for the elderly. Can we really expect the elderly to do a 7 cross country mile run at the crack of dawn? And authorities should not under estimate the intelligence of the elderly by trying to fleece them. Retirement to Cyprus should be encouraged for the economic benefits it will bring he island.

However, for those younger Cypriots wishing to return indefinitely or begin a new life in Cyprus, it is fair to expect them to be treated as all other citizens. Alternatives should also be introduced but this should reflect the needs of the local economy and sills of the individual.  In Germany citizens have for years had the option of doing "civilian service" (Zivildienst) instead of military service. Many other countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Italy also provide this option. The option is not only a more realistic alternative to military service but a good way to deal with conscientious objection. From an economic point of view, civilian service or community service is an important way to build social structures in any country. According to one article by the Guardian: “More than 90,000 young men choose the community service option every year, and 80% of them end up in hospitals, doing essential work such as driving ambulances. Doing valuable work for the local economy, while gaining life experiences some of the services provided by those in civilian service include taking the elderly for walks, working in nursing homes, reading literature to children, teaching English or doing office work at a government department. In Denmark, community service involves dealing with pollution and natural disasters and road and sewage canal building. Unheard of in the north, in the Republic of Cyprus community service exists for conscientious objectors however the service is hardly an example as it is commonly seen as punitive. I believe community service should not be treated as punitive but as a respectable and useful alternative to military service and a means to building the state’s infrastructure.