Minister of Public Safety, Senator David Burch, urged members of the group Bermudians Against the Draft not to sully the Bermuda Regiment’s reputation.

The group believe that mandatory military service breeches their right to freedom, under the Human Rights Act, and that it is gender biased because it only affects young men. They have launched a court battle to get conscription outlawed in Bermuda.

Last night, Sen. Burch praised the group for deciding to tackle the issue in the courts instead of simply refusing to show up and serve in the Regiment.

The former Regiment commander said: “What I do disagree with is what appears to be the campaign of misinformation to justify their position.

“Some of the accusations they have made against the regiment are blatant lies.”

Sen. Burch said that no one had from the group had been locked up.

He said that Regimental Police had contacted a member who has evaded his duty for two years prior to signing the writ and another member who has failed to show up at the St. John Ambulance Brigade, where he had opted to serve time in lieu of joining the Regiment.

Last night Larry Marshall, who is leading the 13 men in their court battle, said Sen. Burch was incorrect and that two men who had no previous history with the Regiment had been contacted over the weekend.

He added that Regimental Police had shown up at the home of one of young man yesterday.

He said: “He is misrepresenting the truth because he is talking about two individuals who have past history with the Regiment not the two who were contacted over the weekend.”

In the report on ZBM last night Sen. Burch said that the group should not try and tarnish the reputation of an institution which had served the Island for over 30 years and added that the majority of Bermudians supported the draft.

Mr. Marshall questioned the claim and said the politician had no evidence to substantiate it.

He said: “There has been no referendum or poll taken in print or electronic media.

“The poll we do have shows that the majority of young men in the Regiment now are there unwillingly, there is only a seven percent volunteer rate.”

The group are challenging the conscription law for the other 93 percent of the regiment as well as themselves, Mr. Marshall said.