“Let’s go to the reserve, it’s cool!” Phrase will conclude with Georgians used as target practice.

We all remember a commercial shown by numerous national television channels before the 2008 August war in which a tank violating traffic rules outruns a car. The young driver of the car is fascinated by the capabilities of the tank. Another young person climbs out of the tank and calls to him with a shout, “Come to the reserve, it’s cool!” In the two years following the August war, new militarist video clips are expected. The government is currently amending the laws concerning reserve service and the calls for militarism have increased in President Saakashvili’s speeches.

Experts criticize amendments made to the law of reserve service and talk about potential dangers. According to the new provisions, men between the ages of 27 and 40 shall report to the reserve every year for a required 45 days. Leading the way for this change is the Ministry of Defense. It was brought forth to parliament by the assistant Defense Committee Director, Samson Kutateladze. According to him, the population needs to be prepared when 20 percent of Georgia’s territory is lost. Human Rights Advocates are discussing possible ulterior motives for the amendments.

According to the Executive Director of the Human Rights Center, Ucha Ninuashvili, the 2008 August war clearly demonstrated that the reserve mechanism doesn’t work and the reservists were simply used as target practice.

“For two years, the military-reserve service has practically been halted. Amending the law with such speed, in my opinion, can only be an action motivated by completely different purposes and plans and not because of concern about state security,” states Ucha Nanuashvili. He added that the new requirements of the law can be used as “repression tools” by the government. For example, the government could possibly call people with opposing views to the government up for the service, “This will be a direct attack and an opportunity to avoid any protest rally or activity and prepare the soil for political repression. This is why militarism is being used.

The initiation of the reserve service topic can be connected to money laundering. “Nobody would be able to control money in this direction. It’s possible that one of the explanations for all this is to conceal government spending,” said Ucha Nanuashvili, “another hidden motive could be connected to the armed forces that Saakashvili discussed on July 28; every village shall have a group that ensures its own security. It may be possible that these armed forces will be used to legalize an “entourage” used for exploitation by the government.” Armed, militant groups may be given a mandate to conduct official operations during protest rallies. Therefore, the reserve service would become an additional structure for the army and police, the aim of which would be to suppress political opposition.”

These possibilities remind Ucha Nanuashvili of the nineties, when armed citizens were running in the streets. He can’t understand why government repeats the same statement, “There is an army which can ensure the state security, there are military structures obliged to protect the country, and not some vague forces that Saakashvili talks about.”

Deputy, Samson Kutateladze, considers that the amendment to the law should not have caused such uproar. According to him, amending the law is a continual process. “There are some changes made every year. It’s a normal working process. We hope that the law will be perfected by fall.”

Military expert, Irakli Sesiashvili, talks about the shortcomings of the bill. According to him, there were more problems in the beginning: “the faults are in its content, systematic problems on one side and legal on the other. It never mentioned the type of the reserve. In some instances, the articles of the law contradicted one another and the other laws of Georgia. For example, the new bill determines the operating period of legal acts, which regulate certain relations, but doesn’t determine the organ issuing the acts and terms of issuance. According to article 13, the relevant commission can adjourn the term when there are no preconditions of adjournment established. Moreover, the bill states that this right is reserved to President; the citizen has a right to present notification about his health situation, but it’s obscure as to what, since there is absolutely no connection determined between health conditions and military reserve service. According to this bill, alternative military servants will be called up to the military reserve service during a war which contradicts international norms.”

Irakli Sesiashvili can’t comprehend how can a sick person, or one who takes care of family member who’s invalid and unable to work, teachers or doctors from the villages and citizens studying abroad could be called up for military service.

Citizens abroad for study or work will supposedly be called up for reserve service. The payment issue is not determined yet. According to the bill, during the reserve service, the employed citizen will receive his usual salary. This is sure to cause discontent among employers, considering that apart from this, a citizen can still use his or her 24 day vacation. Because of this, the employer might prefer to hire women than men under 40 and therefore this amendment will promote sex discrimination.

The amendment to the Law on Reserve Service was issued by third and ultimate hearing. The other amendments are planned for fall.