Citizens against mandatory military service in Croatia: 'We will not fight for someone else's profit'

(Patria) - Stop mandatory military service, we are not going to the army, we will not fight for someone else's profit.

These are the main messages of citizens gathered today on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb who oppose the reintroduction of mandatory military service.

The organizer of the rally - the Center for Economic Education - stated that military service is unfair and unnecessary, and that Croatia can achieve its security goals without forced conscription.

- The majority of citizens, as well as the majority of parliamentary representatives, have not and will never serve in the military. This is due to the age and gender structure of the population, as well as the Ministry of Defence, which actually seeks 4,000 recruits annually, every tenth conscript.

Croatia was defended by volunteers in the Homeland War. There was no general mobilization - the organizers stated.

They also add that the Constitution prohibits imposing obligations based on gender.

- The Constitution prohibits introducing military obligations for citizens based on their gender, just as it would be forbidden to introduce an obligation for women to serve (or "basic training" to serve) as kindergarten teachers - added the organizers of today's rally.