Students of South Africa's English-language universities are planning a national campaign to oppose the government's harsh new measures against conscientious objectors to the draft.

Those measures part of the Defense Department of Act now being debated in the South African Parliament would set prison sentences up to eight years for young men who refused to serve in the military on political or religious grounds.

The National Union of South African Students which represents student organizations at tour of the country's five English language universities, has pledged to tight the measure which one union leader called a further attempt to stifle opposition to military service.

Church leaders, civil rights groups, and student organizations have also criticized the measure.

At present, all white men in South Africa face two years of military service, unless they receive exemptions on health grounds. After that they must serve two weeks a year for the next 12 years.

There is no draft for people classified by the government as not being white. The Chronicle of Higher Education