“I said it many times and I repeat that the issue of draft dodging is a social problem and we have to realise that,” Papacostas said. “Personally I am not concerned they are officers’ children.”
He said he was worried about draft dodging in general and said they planned measures that he hoped would stop this “cancer that plagues the National Guard.
“Our aim is to uproot this phenomenon,” Papacostas said.
It is said that around one in five youths are draft dodgers.
And it appears its quite common among athletes.
According to the minister, 79 athletes competing in team or individual sports were draft dodgers.
“When I saw the number 79 I was in shock,” Papacostas said.
By the end of the month there will be a comprehensive plan on how to tackle the issue of draft dodging by athletes, the minister added.
He said the health cards issued to athletes’ will from now on include their psychological evaluation – something that had not been done in the past allowing many athletes to cite psychological problems and dodge the army.
“If someone has a psychological problem he cannot obtain an athlete’s identity card, irrespective of the sport they compete in,” Papacostas said.
Those who managed to get out of doing their service or got a postponement will have to go through a special medical board, which will be appointed in the next few days that will re-examine their case.
There has been a huge backlash against draft dodgers recently. The Defence Ministry even went so far as to accuse a leading psychiatrist known for his anti-army views, of facilitating evaders and reported him to the Medical Association.
Similarly a group of conscripts’ parents have formed into a movement to clamp down on draft dodgers who say taunt their serving sons for getting away with not doing their military service.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=47626
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It seems GR could hardly find a several thousand volunteers for his war plans.
