Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenia's Ombudsman Calls On To Form Independent Commission To Inves

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenia's Ombudsman Calls On To Form Independent Commission To Inves

    ARMENIA'S OMBUDSMAN CALLS ON TO FORM INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE MARCH 1 CLASHES IN YEREVAN

    ARKA
    April 28, 2008

    YEREVAN, April 28. /ARKA/. Armenia's Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan has
    made a special report calling on to form an independent commission
    to investigate the March 1 clashes in Yerevan.

    Since February 20 rallies, sit-ins and student walkouts had been held
    by the opposition led by Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosian
    in the center of Yerevan. The initiators and protesters accused
    ex-President Kocharian's ally and Serge Sargsian of rigging the
    presidential election on February 19.

    The clashes began on March 1-2 when authorities used force to clear
    Freedom Square of thousands of demonstrators who had camped there
    for the past 10 days. Over 100 people were charged after the bloody
    clashes.

    The Human Right Defender believes the February 19 polls have
    influenced the system of individual rights, as well as social-economic,
    political and human rights. In this connection, Harutyunyan considers
    it necessary to assume public control over the authorities and the
    strong opposition. According to him, in this case, the opposition
    will not have to go to streets, as they will be able to openly voice
    their opinion.

    Harutyunyan calls on to amend the electoral code and change
    the voting procedure. He believes objective electronic media and
    pluralism are necessary preconditions for freedom of speech. In his
    report, the Ombudsman attaches importance to amendments to media
    regulations. Harutyunyan suggests forming a media coordinating body,
    involving both authorities and opposition.

    He calls on to lift restrictions on human rights and amend the
    disputable law on rallies.

    The Ombudsman believes extremism causes social polarization. "We need
    to preclude causes instead of struggling against their aftermath,"
    he says.

    "The most dangerous and unreasonable thing we can do now is to pretend
    effecting reforms."
Working...
X