SWEDEN REINSTATES MILITARY CONSCRIPTION|瑞典恢復徵兵 朝野政黨.民間皆支持

Sweden is reinstating the military draft - for men and women - because of dwindling volunteers and growing concerns over the region security. Next year, 4,000 men and women will be called for military service in Sweden. The government hopes that the nine- to 12-month stints will lead them to join the reserves or become full-time members of the military. Why is a neutral country labelled as the oasis of social democratic harmony bringing back the draft? The reason comes down to one word: Russia This is a NATO amphibious landing exercise carried out on a Swedish beach. Sweden is a neutral country and not a NATO member, but since 1994 it has become a so-called 'peace partner.' In recent years it has been more active in participation in NATO and EU military operations, and also as a leader with the EU northern defense group. leader countries. In 2010, Sweden announced the halt of conscription, to promote a fully professional military. At present, however, including the land, sea and air forces and reserve forces, the total defense strength is less than 52,000 people. According to local media reports, there is a serious lack of around 1,000 personnel, such as squad leaders, and basic personnel. The reserve forces also lacks 7,000 people. The military threat from eastern Europe is the reason why the Swedish government has decided to resume conscription. ==PETER HULTQVIST Swedish Minister of Defence== This is a signal that Sweden is prepared to increase its military capability. It is a part of the strategy and it is the ambition that we very clearly and consistently have. I also think that it is in line with the ambition that the Parliament expressed when we took the last defence strategic decision to increase the military capability until 2020, but also pave the way for an increased military capacity beyond." It is estimated that Sweden will have nearly 120,000 young men and women each year, who reach the statutory age of 16 for military service. The current national population of this age is over 3.3 million. However, the resumption of the conscription in July, will target those born in 1999, including volunteers and lottery conscripts. From 13,000 will be picked and will serve for around one year. Then the military will encourage them to sign on as volunteers or as reservists. In Sweden, previously conscription was for men only, when it is restored, gender equality will give both men and women the opportunity. A Swedish public opinion survey shows that more than 70 percent of people and even the opposition party support the resumption of conscription. Next year is an election year, one of the reasons that the ruling party felt confident in implementing the change. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR 北歐的瑞典，因近年來 俄羅斯 不斷在 波羅的海，以及東歐地區 有軍事動作，加上 全募兵制 推動7年來 並不順利，因此決定，7月開始 恢復徵兵，這個決定 也獲得 朝野政黨 和民間支持。 這是北大西洋公約組織，在瑞典海灘進行的兩棲登陸演習。身為中立國的瑞典雖然不是北約會員，但從1994年開始，就成為所謂的和平夥伴。近年來更積極參與北約和歐盟的軍事行動，也是歐盟北歐戰鬥群的領導國家。 2010年，瑞典宣佈停止徵兵，推動全募兵制。目前包括陸海空三軍和後備部隊，總兵力不到52000人。據北歐當地媒體報導，瑞典軍方嚴重缺人，例如班長等級的基層幹部，就有1000個職缺，後備部隊的人數也比計畫的少了7000人。當然，來自東歐的軍事威脅，更是促使瑞典政府決定恢復徵兵制的原因。 ==瑞典國防部長 胡特克維斯特== 這是瑞典要提升軍力的信號，是長久以來國家戰略的一部份。這也符合國會的意見，也就是在2020年之前完成提升軍力，並讓三軍戰力持續下去。 據估計，瑞典每年會有將近12萬名男女青年，達到法定的16歲兵役年齡，目前全國的役齡人口超過330萬。不過7月恢復徵兵之後，會先針對1999年出生者，包括服志願役和被抽籤抽中的，挑出大約1萬3000人接受軍事訓練。其中義務役士兵將要服役1年，到時候軍方會鼓勵他們簽志願役，或是納編為後備部隊。 值得注意的是，瑞典以往的徵兵只針對男性，今年將要恢復的徵兵，則是強調兩性平等，男生女生都有機會。對此，瑞典的民意調查顯示，超過七成的民眾支持恢復徵兵，連在野黨也不反對。這也是在明年大選前，執政黨可以放心改變制度的原因之一。 記者 綜合報導