Cyprus National Guard and Abusive Treatment for Non Greek Speaking Conscripts
Training in the Cypriot Army otherwise known as the Cyprus National Guard has been referred to by many as Hell on Earth. But for non Greek speaking conscripts, hell is a major understatement.
It is unusual for non Greek speaking conscripts to finish their tour of duty in the Cyprus National Guard. Many conscripts commit suicide due to the extreme mental and physical abuse. Most are discharged due to being hospitalized too many times for life threatening injuries inflicted upon them by their commanders and/or fellow conscripts for not following orders. Orders are always barked in Greek and there is no tolerance for disobedience or delay.
The penalties for not following orders are often taken out on the entire platoon which gives plenty of incentive to the rest of the platoon to get even with the conscript that failed.
It is not uncommon for these non Greek speaking conscripts to suffer broken ribs, broken cheek bones, broken limbs, mutilated genitals, or even death. Most injuries are the result of being struck by rifle butts, night sticks or other hard objects.
When a conscript is hospitalized for injuries sustained during training, they are returned to duty after they are determined to be medically fit for service. After a conscript has been hospitalized in for the tenth time during their training, the conscript may be discharged early.
Time spent in the hospital is not simply time off or a way to pass time and avoid duty. For each week spent in the hospital out of service, one month is added to the conscripts required twenty six months.
Human rights violations have been reported to the UN countless times over the past few years. The European Court of Human Rights has given the clear message that the Cyprus is in violation of the EU declaration of human rights.
The camp where the worst abuses have been found is the KEN camp in Paphos.
Originally Posted by swoosh
