Dutch soldiers' union liquidated
Mission accomplished?
The Netherlands has finally abolished compulsory military service. And the country's unique Union of Conscripted Soldiers (VVDM) has dissolved itself. But has it really accomplished all its Ron Blom raised the following points at last month's "liquidation congress." AT THE END OF THE SIXTIES AND BEGINNING of the seventies, one in three Dutch boys carried out obligatory military service. It was only a question of time before the anti-authoritarian trend in society would catch on in the military apparatus, one of the strongholds of "the establishment" which youth and "the movement" was revolting against. In other words, the whole concept of "socialisation of the armed forces" in this country is integrally linked to the radicalisation of youth.
Conservative as they are, the armed forces are not immune to change. Technological and other advances since the 1880s had effectively transformed the armed forces from an organization of "armed men" to an organization of "manned arms"
By the mid-60s, the officer core was already abandoning it's role as "absolute ruler" in favour of a "co-ordinator" role. Nevertheless, the ideological climate in the army remained conservative. It was against Conscripted Soldiers (Vereniging van Dienstplichtige Militairen. VVDM). was born in 1966. And 20 years later, military service has Cadre or militia army?
Debate in the anti-militarist movement has tended to contrast two models of armed forces — the conscript army (France, Germany and, until recently, the Netherlands) and the all-professional army (Britain, the USA, Canada). In fact, it makes more sense to analyse armed forces on a cadre-militia continuum, depending on the relative weight of professional and conscripted soldiers.
In the midst of the seventies the Dutch parliament established the Mommersteeg committee, in order to evaluate the desirability of a volunteer-only army. The VVDM reacted by proposing the "civilianising" of Holland's armed forces.
Ultimately, the General Staff combined the advantages of an professional army (reliability) and compulsory military service (guaranteed recruitment, low costs). They started the transition to a semi-volunteer army. In key units, the percentage of conscripts was decreased gradually, and the proportion of protessional soldiers in the ower ranks was increased, mainly through short term contracts. These "KKV" contracts proved attractive to a number of unemployed young men, and, increasingly, women.
In 1983-4 Deputy Defence Minister Hoekzema proposed that conscripts* length of military service and salary should vary, according to their function and education. These proposals (which were not implemented, for technical reasons) would have made certain groups of conscripts (those in and technically qualified functions) quasi-volunteers. Professional army
Military strategy in Western Europe has changed since the Communist bogey in the East disappeared. Military strategy has changed. Some of the countries that used to belong to the enemy Warsaw Pact, are now pushing to become member of NATO.
Belgium has already reduced the size of its armed forces, and suspended compulsory military service. France and Spain will probably follow, and even Germany is discussing such a move.
But this is not the disarmament we hoped for. In reality, efforts are being made to streamline existing armies, in order to operate faster and better in a new inter-
Netherlands * national context. This is the rationale behind the formation of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force, the "improvement" in the organisation of UN military operations, and the development of the Eurocorps). In Holland we have seen the formation of the elite Luchtmobiele (air-mobile) Brigade.
Meanwhile, the world has not become more stable. Only recently, a war took place on European territory, in the former Yugoslavia. Military reaction, in the form of quick intervention forces, demands a high grade of flexibility in the dispatching of troops. Military service is an obstacle here, because conscripts in most countries can refuse to be dispatched outside of Europe. A number of Dutch conscripts had already exercised this constitutional right during the Gulf War of 1991. Top generals expect that professional soldiers will show greater self-sacrifice. Rights under threat?
It is still not clear whether the professionalisation of the army will include attacks on the rights which professional soldiers now enjoy as a result of the past struggles of the (conscript) soldiers movement. The media abroad focuses on our right to grow our hair long, but Dutch soldiers main such right, of course, is the right to a (union) organization inside the military apparatus.
Among the professional military there is already a tendency towards of a more conservative climate of opinion than exists in Dutch society as a whole. It is hard to say what this will mean in the long run. This does not mean that the probability of a military coup is increasing. After all, compulsory military service did not prevent coups d'état in Allende's Chile (1973) or in NATO member states like Greece and Turkey.
The fact is that so long there is a class society, where different groups with a strong division in access to wealth and property, governments will need armed power of some kind. Their basic problem, however is that the army, which exists to protect the rich and
October 1996#281 23
• £2.50/$4. Cheque payable to P. Rousset, IIRE, Postbus 53290, 1007 Amsterdam, Netherlands.or Y Blwych
Coch, PO Box 431, Cardiff CF1 9YA, Britain. No Eurocheques please! The bank charges are incredible.
* Netherlands powerful, recruits the vast majority of its soldiers from the lower social classes. Armies need to be rigid and autoritarian to ensure that those soldiers will remain loyal and, if necessary, will kill and be prepared to be killed in the interests of the ruling class. Dutch courage?
After the fall of Srebrenica ("defended" by Dutch UN troops), strategists began asking if the Dutch army was't "too civilianised" to act in real combat situations. "Our boys" had apparently become so soft that they lacked "courage" and "honour" Retired general Loos argued that rules on soldiers' working-hours have become too generous. The First Army Corps introduced (then withdrew) stricter rules regarding uniform and personal appearance. The hierarchy argued that "deviating Dutch standards" would encounter incomprehension and disapproval from our partners in international military interventions. So no more free choice of hair-style, no more chains, bracelets or ornaments. Complicated transition
Professional soldiers with short BBT or FE contacts will be recruited to replace the conscripts. These BBT/FE-ers will soon constitute one third of the land forces.
Many BBT-ers complain of bad information given about what they can expect. Even Lieutenant-Colonel F. Matser, head of the Armed Forces Professional Personel Selection Department admits that the BBTers need "more control and guidance." According to Matser, the new professional army has more obscene behaviour, minor crimes,
To enhance the quality of the new professional soldier, the land forces are already now experimenting with military education in schools. Juveniles from 16 years on will be able to follow a special "green" education as a preparation for a career in the army. To enhance attractiveness of the military profession, the Ministry of Detense has joined hands with TV-producer John de Mol, to create a popular television series aimed at the youth. Most of the adventures of the Red Berets of "Charlie Company" will take place abroad. If a second Srebrenica makes it politically unpopular to deploy Dutch troops abroad, the Ministry of Defense will be able to counterattack through its editorial staff.
For twenty years we have fought for the socialisation of the armed forces. What is happening now sounds more like the militarisation of society. "Civilianising" and power relations
According to the VVDM 1982 Action
, "military service is organised in an unjust way. [But this] is a consequence of the way in which it is organised, not of the principle as such. The conduct of the VVDM [before 1982] has established that conscripts, in a very tangible way, introduce developments, that are taking place in civilian society into the army... The moment an army consisting of volunteers is created, this influence of society on the armv would disap. pear. Volunteers are much more dependent on the military hierarchy, and will not speak out so quickly. A number of favorable developments that have taken place in the army in recent years would be turned back if we took the path [of professionalisation].
Because of the great isolation of volunteers from civilian society and their greater dependence on the military apparatus, there is an obvious danger that they can be deployed more easily against strikes or extra-parliamentary actions here in the Nether-
Over the years, for a number of reasons, progressive organizations became less and less concerned with the threat of introduction of an army completely consisting of volunteers. And, as a result of the power relations in society and the armed forces, the conditions of compulsory military service became more and more unfair.
As a result, the VVDM almost had no choice but to concentrate our activities on the direct interests of conscripts. The possibility of a drastically shortened service period was not interesting to the defense staff. Nor could we find support for this idea in civil society, nor, indeed, even within the VVDM. As a result, we began to call for the total abolition of military service, as soon as possible, and for compensation for the few conscripts that would serve in the transitional period.
Military service has now been abolished. The VVDM has made itself superfluous. Some people might conclude that the first real soldiers union in the world has accomplished its goal. But have we?
The VVDM has certainly accomplished many things, including abolition of the duty to salute higher ranking officers at all times, free head-dress, and amelioration of labour conditions. But have we realised our goal, formulated at our founding conference in 1966, of "the creation of a more agreeable existence for the soldier"? Isn't this a legitimate goal for the new volunteers, with their BBT (short term) contracts?. Or do we measure our success or failure in terms of "civilianising the army," the goal we adopted several years later, under the influence of the youth radicalisation?
Perhaps the VVDM has won a short-term victory, while failing to achieve our longterm goal, the civilianising of the army. Maybe this is a task which the other unions of military personnel will continue.
One thing that will make this difficult is the relatively short period of service, and therefore the high turnover of military personnel in the lower ranks.
One thing is certain. There is a limit to the concessions and reforms the generals can afford. What rulers and commanders expect from soldiers is, in the final analysis, contrary to the interests of those in the lowest ranks. This contradiction means that the ruling class and its generals must keep enforcing and extending discipline in the lower ranks. Conflicts inside the armed forces will continue. And it is as important as it ever was for soldiers to continue to ask that most subversive of questions: "Why?" *
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION drug and alcohol use and gambling than the
Do the workers have a country?
old conscripts army. These problems concern a small minority, but affect the team spirit
For the moment, solutions are being sought in the appontment of more corporals and sergeants, and more supervision of soldiers outside their working hours. In short, more discipline.
24 International Viewpoint by José Iriarte "Bikila"