Ministry of Defense responds to intentional tattooing to avoid military service

The Ministry of National Defense believes that some citizens deliberately tattoo their bodies before the military service examination to avoid performing military service, thereby abandoning their rights and obligations to the Fatherland; the authorities need to intervene and seriously consider handling this case to ensure the strictness and fairness of the law.

The National Assembly's Committee for Petitions and Supervision has forwarded voters' petitions to the Ministry of National Defense to adjust regulations to avoid taking advantage of tattoos and tattooed letters to evade military service.

Citizens with tattoos or tattoos that can be removed can still be considered for military service - PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Accordingly, voters believe that the regulations on tattoos and tattooed letters when reviewing the selection criteria and calling citizens to serve in the army are not appropriate because in reality, some citizens have taken advantage of this regulation to intentionally tattoo their bodies before the examination to avoid performing military service, causing public discontent. Therefore, it is recommended that the competent authorities should study and adjust accordingly.

Responding to voters' opinions, the Ministry of National Defense said that the content related to tattoos and tattoo letters of citizens joining the army is specifically regulated in Clause 9, Article 5 of Joint Circular No. 50/2016 dated April 15, 2016 of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security .

Specifically, current regulations on tattoos and tattoo letters of citizens enlisted to serve in the army only apply to tattoos and tattoo letters under the skin (changing skin pigmentation, cannot be erased) expressing political and moral ideology such as tattoos and tattoo letters with content opposing the regime, dividing the nation, being horrifying, bizarre, sexually stimulating, violent; tattoos and tattoo letters that are offensive in exposed positions, tattoos and tattoo letters that cover a large area of ​​the body and tattoos and tattoo letters that are not suitable for the cultural environment in the army, the performance of duties and the image of etiquette and manners of revolutionary soldiers.

"Citizens with tattoos or tattoos that do not fall into the above cases or can be removed will still be considered for selection to serve in the military," the Ministry of National Defense emphasized.

The Ministry of National Defense believes that performing military service is the sacred duty of every citizen to the Fatherland. The fact that some citizens deliberately tattoo their bodies before the examination to avoid performing military service is a self-abandonment of their rights and obligations to the Fatherland, demonstrating the degradation of political ideology and moral qualities.

These cases do not meet the standards to serve in the army; at the same time, local Party committees, authorities and functional agencies need to seriously consider and handle them to ensure the strictness and fairness of the law.

"In order to promptly prevent acts of taking advantage of and evading military service every year, the Ministry of National Defense has directed to draw lessons and provide detailed and specific instructions on tattoos and tattoo letters when selecting and calling citizens to join the army, contributing to limiting acts of citizens taking advantage to evade military service," the Ministry of National Defense informed.

The Ministry of National Defense will direct competent authorities to continue to research and fully evaluate related policies and impacts; coordinate with relevant ministries, branches and localities to research and propose amendments, supplements and improvements to the law on military service to ensure scientific, strict and practical compliance.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-quoc-phong-tra-loi-ve-viec-co-y-xam-hinh-de-tron-nghia-vu-quan-su-185250710144449335.htm