Prison for conscientious objectors

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 13

Prison for conscientious objectors

The Norwegian Government has put itself in an embarrassing situation with Amnesty International. Although rightly considered a leading nation in the struggle for human rights, Norway has “prisoners of conscience.” These are conscientious objectors who refuse all forms of military or alternative service. At present two men are serving 90Hov Since 1947, about 150 objectors have spent up to three months in Norwegian jails; 15 have been classed “prisoners of conscience” by Amnesty International. One prisoner, Rune Berg, a 32-year-old lawyer, has just halted a 42-day hunger strike. In jail, he has been served notice of the possibility of further imprisonment on his release. Pacifism is generally accepted as the only true form of conscientious objection. Pacifists must prove they hold the religious, ethical, moral, or humanitarian beliefs that oppose violence. Rune Berg is a "circumstantial objector,” which is unrecognised by Norwegian authority. Basically, circumstancial objectors reason that armed force can be justified only under limited circumstances, and often disagree with the defence or foreign policies

of the State. Berg calls himself a nuclear pacifist. “As Norway is a N.A.T.O. member.and N.A.T.O. has threatened a first strike of nuclear weapons, there will be no Norway to defend in the resulting nuclear holocaust,” he argues. Norway, one of 77 nations with conscription, has called up men aged over 18 — and liable for service until aged 44 — since 1947. Nazi Germany’s occupation of Norway in April, 1940, caused the country to become extremely de-fence-minded. About 10 per cent of the national Budget is earmarked for defence. Recruits serve 12 months in the army and 15 months in the navy or air force, with refresher training. The military authorities, supported by Right-wing newspapers and politicians, fear that the growing number of defaulters — about 2500 annually — will affect the annual intake of 30,000 conscripts. Norway has repeatedly informed Amnesty International that its practice of jailing selected conscientious objectors “satisfies national law” and that “this is amongst the most liberal in western nations.” Indeed, a U.N.E.S.C.O. report dated June, 1983 (“Question of conscientious objection to military

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service”) provides some odd international comparisons. Bulgaria, China, Hungary, and Luxemburg have no provision for conscientious objection and no alternative service. Nor has Iran, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, the Soviet Union, and many other countries. In some countries the penalty for refusing to do military service in wartime is death. Belgian and Spanish conscripts refusing all forms of national service can be jailed for three years, while in Switzerland “insubordinate persons” can be jailed for three years. A total of 591 Swiss objectors were convicted in 1981. In the same report the New Zealand Government’s statement is firm: “There is no conscription (repeal of the National Military Service Act in 1973.”) About 2000 Norwegians elect to do civilian service each year, lasting 16 months. They are paid SNZ7 daily (the same as conscripts) most working in health or social institutions. But they stress that this is not what they want. In time of conflict they will defend Norway, but not in a military role. “I accepted the emptying of

ROSS BROWN

in Oslo

rubbish bins in an asylum as a community service,” said one objector, a university student. “It taught me nothing about working for peace.” In late September, the Minister of Justice, Mra Mona Rokke, opened a preparatory school for civilian service personnel from the north, west, and central regions of Norway. Outside, conscientious objectors staged a protest against a school which will mainly afford them instruction in duties relevant to civilian service. “We demand a genuine Peace School,” said Trygve Mollan, head delegate of Civilian Service personnel. “This means courses in disarmament, in the causes of conflict, and in ‘structural violence,’ situations like hunger, poverty, political, and economic oppression that

result in a loss of life equal to that of war. “We want to work for peace by serving abroad in developing nations. Or in an international catastrophe and relief corps, alongside people from Eastern Europe, that could move in after a flood or earthquake.” Norway has a 122-mile border with the Soviet Union in the far north. In the same spacious area is the Kola peninsula of tundra and stunted birches, and the world’s largest fortress, comprising 70 per cent of the Soviet’s ballistic missile submarines, hundreds of aircraft and tanks, and amphibious and artillery brigades. “Even with N.A.T.O.’s help Norway, with its elongated coastline, would be impossible to defend,” Trygve Mollan says. “In the case of occupation, civilian service personnel could respond with passive resistance, like Ghandi and Lech Walesa.

“We should also be trained in civil resistance. Norwegians should not need reminding of the many effective sabotage operations by partisans against the Germans in the Second World War.” Civilian service personnel are highly resentful of State lethargy. A site for a prep-school for south and east personnel has lain idle for five years. In 1962, a Parliamentary resolution decided that money paid by employers to the State for the work of civilian service personnel should go to U.N.1.C.E.F.; now totalling SNZS.4 million, this has apparently ended up in the State coffers. Meanwhile, on October 28 Amnesty International will hold a campaign involving television and house collections. About SNZ2O million will aid prisoners of conscience in 40 lands. But not in Norway, where the Government maintains there are no prisoners of conscience.