Campaigners fighting to get military conscription outlawed in Bermuda hope to address a London-based inquiry into the British Overseas Territories.

Larry Marshall Sr., spokesman for Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD), has written to the British Parliament to seek permission to do so.

In the letter, copied to The Royal Gazette, he said: "I would like to state that as a Bermudian, I am embarrassed and ashamed to have to appeal to you in London due to my own countrymen's ignorance, intransigence and arrogance concerning this issue."

Mr. Marshall complained that the battle against conscription has fallen on deaf ears when it comes to politicians on the Island, where polls have suggested the majority of voters back the policy compelling some young men to serve with the Regiment.

He has asked the British parliament to launch an independent board of inquiry to examine conscription in Bermuda, providing anonymity for those who fear reprisals.

He also asked British politicians to "put pressure on the present Government to end this madness at once, seeing as they lack the backbone and conscience to do so by themselves."

Fourteen members of BAD have initiated court action against the Governor, Deputy Governor and Attorney General, branding the draft as akin to slavery.

Among the allegations made in the legal papers are that the ballot choosing conscripts is gender-biased and a breach of human rights, and that the Governor has not made reasonable efforts to recruit volunteers before filling the Regiment with conscripts.

They hope a court ruling in their favour will lead to conscription as a whole being abolished, and have vowed to go all the way to the European Court of Justice if necessary. A date for the hearing is yet to be set.

In his letter to the House of Commons in London, which will host the inquiry into the British Overseas Territories later this month, Mr. Marshall listed a string of further allegations including that:

l BAD has been "inundated" with calls from conscripts and their parents reporting physical and emotional abuse at Warwick Camp.

l Conscripts are not allowed to use the bathroom at night during Boot Camp and end up urinating in bags and bottles as a result.

• A disproportionate number of young black men are drafted while there is a disproportionate number of white officers.

• That more than 40 black conscripts have been incarcerated at Westgate for rebelling against conscription since 2000.

• That "innumerable" others have been subjected to shackles and handcuffs in "third world" cells at Warwick Camp.

"Young men should not be afraid to sign (the petition)," said Mr. Marshall, who hopes to take the petition to London to present to British MPs if his request to address the inquiry into the British Overseas Territories is granted.

The Regiment, the Minister of Public Safety and Government House all declined to comment on BAD's letter.

Acting Governor Mark Capaes said it would be in appropriate to comment in view of the litigation.