With 39 votes against, he was left out of the Public Order Law, the social service for peace that replaced compulsory military service, but Humberto de la Calle managed to “save” the proposal that would modify the Constitution.
Colombia News.
In the midst of a tight vote, the plenary session of the Senate eliminated the article of the Total Peace Bill, in which social service was proposed as a new alternative to compulsory military service, but the proposal fell through in the Senate debate , although in that same room, this Tuesday another constitutional alternative was given life.
One of the issues that “today are the young people from the lower strata of the country”, those who compulsorily perform military service; while those who have the economic possibility will be able to pay the passbook without having to go to the service.
Fear that has caused a stir, for many it is not fair with some “are forced into the field of war.”
That is why some of the alternatives that were proposed as a service was that young people carry out social work such as environmental pedagogy, digital literacy, work with populations that are victims of the armed conflict in rural or urban areas.
Given this, the senator for the Democratic Center, María Fernanda Cabal, referred to the topic where she narrates the reality of the military forces today.
“There is a personnel deficit in all the armed forces and this is covered by compulsory military service; some go to the Police, the Navy and others to the Colombian Army, and even within these same social service is provided, but it is a monkey that has the left, “said Cabal.
In addition, Cabal added that “a service is being rendered that is not wielding a weapon for war.”
I had the honor of serving in the military while my father was president, but I am convinced that it must be reformed or ended. It is not fair that only young people from low strata have to lend it while the high strata evade it by paying or inventing a cheap excuse.
– Esteban Santos (@ EstebanSantos10) October 25, 2022
While from the side of the bench in support of the national government, they were betting on that change of compulsory military service for social work.
This Monday the project was discussed in the Senate and there the point of the progressive substitution of said service sank, but there is another decision that does not leave that proposal out.
‘Saved’ the proposal
TIMEreports this Tuesday night, that «the Senate approved, in second debate, a project that intends to eliminate, “gradually”, compulsory military service”.
Now the six debates in the House of Representatives remain.
However, they indicate that what has been approved so far, “is a constitutional reform promoted by Senator Humberto de la Calle and the representative to the Chamber Daniel Carvalho.”
This proposal, “does not speak of ending the service as such, but with its mandatory nature.”
With this proposal, would modify article 216 of the Political Constitutionwhich would read as follows: «The public force will be made up exclusively of the Military Forces and the National Police. Compulsory military service will only be allowed in cases of foreign war or internal commotion.
