MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile limits compulsory military service

Chile drastically reformed the selection and recruiting system limiting compulsory military service to the needs of the Chilean Armed Forces.

However automatic military registration remains so that when any of the services does not complete its recruiting target voluntarily, it can resort to a random transparent drawing system.

On signing the bill Chilean Defence Minister Jaime Ravinet praised the advances in the recruiting system which for voluntary recruits establishes the Armed Forces must ensure a minimum level of education, job training for once the service is completed, and a slight increase in pay.

The bill also creates the Soldier's Assistance Office which will oversee the servicemen's rights. There have been repeated claims in the Chilean Armed Forces of officers' abuses with recruits.

Mr. Ravinet regretted that Congress did not approve the figure of "conscious objector", which "we consider a necessary addition to the bill but we expect to have it reconsidered in the near future".

Voluntary conscripts will in the future be paid the equivalent of 50 US dollars per month plus the right to complete basic secondary education and learn a trade.