Security & Strategic Review - March 2013 (ISSN 1741-4202)

PERU | Compulsory military service. The military high command announced on 22 March that if a recruitment drive to be held in April does not result in the necessary intake of new army personnel, it will resort to the new legislation approved last December, which provides for a compulsory draft by lottery of males aged 18-25. The legislation exempts parents and university students, and allows those who do not wish to enlist to get away with a fine of US$700. It establishes a starting salary for soldiers of US$100 a month,  rising to US$146 — considerably lower than the legal minimum salary of US$283. This has been criticised by the opposition as doubly discriminating against the poor, who can neither afford the fine nor a university education.