Compulsory Military Service
Conscription was abolished in 1990. In that year the civil war with the contras came to an end with the signing of the peace accords. The new government abolished military service immediately after winning the 1990 elections.
Before 1979, under the Somoza dictatorship, conscription was provided for in the constitution but not implemented in practice. Traditionally Somoza's National Guard was an elite force whose membership often passed from father to son. In the late 1970s the Somoza government began to use forced recruitment and press ganging young men in order to replace deserters and casualties. Young people in particular got recruited. According to one report 40 percent of the National Guard recruits were recruited when they were under 15.
In the late 1970s all young people were suspected of sympathizing with the Sandinista opposition and repression was severe. In some areas the National Guard searched every house for teenage boys, took them outside and shot them, presumably to prevent their joining the FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberaci--n Nacional - Sandinist National Liberation Front).
In 1979 the Somoza dictatorship was overthrown by the FSLN. During the guerrilla war against the Somoza government the FSLN did not run short of voluntary recruits. While in government the FSLN initially depended on voluntary enlistment to build up the army. However the FSLN program included both the eventual abolition of the national army, and plans for "obligatory service" to fill the ranks of "people's militias" to protect the country from "reactionary forces... and from Yankee imperialism".
Conscription was introduced in 1983 by the FSLN government because the threat of contra attacks from Honduras was becoming too grave to be dealt with by a volunteer army, which meant compulsory military service needed to be introduced. In 1983 the Patriotic Military Service Law was passed.
The FSLN military service law was based on the historical legacy of Sandino's army, on the government platform (points 1, 12) and on the Fundamental Statute of the Republic (art. 24) promulgated on July 20, 1979. These stipulated that the new army "will be formed by a minimum of permanent cadres and by Nicaraguans able to give obligatory military service, with the goal of lessening the costs which defense generates and setting aside said financial resources for the economic and social development of the country."
Military service was a public law which, according to Humberto Ortega, was functioning at full capacity within four years' time. It defined "the institutionalization of the military service which the reservists and militia have been doing voluntarily since the revolution." Both active and reserve duty were contained in the law: active duty implied direct and continuous service in some branch of the Ministry of Defense, while reserve duty included only military training and readiness. All Nicaraguan males between 18 and 40 years of age are obliged to serve active or reserve duty. Military service for women was voluntary, but women between the ages of 18 and 40 may request to serve.
Military service was for a two year period and can be reduced or prolonged by six months under the law. In time of war or emergency, the time can be extended. Nicaraguan males between 18 and 25 years of age were called up first to perform active duty. They were designated "military personnel", and their food, clothing, medical attention plus a monthly stipend were given to them. In the case of family necessity, the stipend may be increased. If they were working when called up, their job would be guaranteed after their service commitment. Once their active duty was finished, they were automatically incorporated into the reserves.
Reservists who did not already have training received military instruction. Each year the defense minister presented the government with the number of reservists who participated in military training. The situation in the country determined whether or not these reservists were called to active service.
Registration, technical military preparation and other organizational tasks were decentralized according to the current regionalization of the country. The first step was registration. Once this was fulfilled, a document was issued to each registrant. This document had to be shown in order to obtain work in state or private businesses or factories, to register for schools, universities, etc., to obtain a passport or a visa, or to carry out any legal transactions.
In peace times, there were various exemptions for military service: different illnesses, being the sole support of one's family or being in the last year of high school or college. In times of war, the only exception to military service was proven mental or physical incapacity. (What was not clear in the law was if the "state of emergency" in the 1980s was considered "time of war.")
The penalties fell under two categories: fine or imprisonment. For those who did not register, the penalty is 3 months to 2 years in prison; for those who failed to keep appointments or medical examinations, between 1 and 6 months; for those who were registered and failed to show up if called for duty, between 2 and 4 years.
Fines were charged if documents are destroyed or lost. In time of war, reservists who were called to active duty and do not show up were considered deserters and judged by military law.
The law stipulated that the MPS continued to function according to the current rules and regulations, even though the majority of those who were in the MPS were called upon first for active or reserve duty.
The first registration period was carried out during the month of October for all Nicaraguan males between 17 and 22 years of age. It was estimated that there are 200,000 youths in this age bracket but of that number only some 15,000 would be selected for active duty at this time.
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