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news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 22 2011
Hard-hitting report on European official's Armenia trip
Sat 22 January 2011 05:45 GMT | 7:45 Local Time
The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner focused on political
and media freedom and human rights in the army during a trip to
Armenia.
Thomas Hammarberg visited Yerevan from 18 to 21 January, where he met
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
Justice Minister Hrair Tovmasyan, other officials, opposition
politicians, including former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and
rights activists.
The events of March 2008, when at least 10 people were killed in the
violent dispersal of protests at perceived fraud in the presidential
elections, freedom of expression and the media, and human rights in
the army were the main themes of the visit, Thomas Hammarberg's office
said in a press release yesterday.
"The effects of the tragic events of March 2008 can still be felt in
Armenian society. A major problem is the continuing lack of clarity as
regards the responsibility for the 10 deaths which occurred during the
demonstrations. The commissioner urged that the responsibility for
these deaths be established; this presupposes a thorough, impartial
and credible analysis of the methods used by the police as well as the
command responsibility. The commissioner has recommended concrete
measures to address the needs of the families of the victims," the
press release said.
Thomas Hammarberg raised the cases of prisoners from the opposition
Armenian National Congress, which organized election protests.
"The Armenian National Congress indicated to the commissioner that
nine persons affiliated with them remain imprisoned, most of them in
connection with the events of March 2008. The commissioner discussed
this issue with the Armenian authorities," his office said.
The commissioner clearly thought that much remained to be done to
prevent a possible repeat of the March 2008 events.
"The ad hoc parliamentary inquiry committee, which was established to
examine the March 2008 events and identify ways to prevent the
recurrence of a similar tragedy, formulated certain recommendations of
a systemic nature. Moreover, the OSCE/ODIHR Trial Monitoring Report
identified several shortcomings in the conduct of the trials related
to the March 2008 events. A thorough follow-up of the recommendations
made by the ad hoc parliamentary inquiry committee and by OSCE/ODIHR
should be ensured, in particular with regard to ongoing reform of the
police (including the use of force by the police), ensuring that the
judiciary is independent and competent, and guaranteeing the right to
liberty and to a fair trial. In addition, the legislation and practice
on freedom of assembly should be brought fully in line with
international human rights principles," the press release continued.
Thomas Hammarberg raised concern about A1+ television, station which
lost its broadcast licence in 2002.
"The commissioner discussed the case of A1+ television, which had been
the subject of a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights where
the court had found a violation of the right of freedom of expression.
During a recent competition for a broadcasting licence, the bid of A1+
was once again rejected; the reasoning given in the decision of the
National Commission on Radio and Television was that the documentation
which had been submitted by A1+ contained fraudulent documents. The
commissioner stressed the importance of ensuring that the media
environment in Armenia is sufficiently diverse and pluralistic. He
noted the work to amend the law 'On television and radio' and trusts
that the question of the independence and pluralistic membership of
the regulatory authorities will be addressed."
On the army, the press release said: "The commissioner also had the
opportunity to look into the human rights situation in the army. He
expressed particular concern regarding non-combat deaths,
ill-treatment and hazing, and highlighted the importance of conducting
effective investigations into these cases with the aim of identifying
and punishing those responsible. The commissioner encouraged the
ongoing reforms taking place in the armed forces, including in
relation to disciplinary procedures and the establishment of effective
complaint mechanisms. He also addressed the issue of the right to
conscientious objection during his visit and understands that the
Armenian authorities are in the process of developing the legislation
in this area. The objective should be to establish a genuinely
civilian service."
The commissioner is to publish a full report in the coming months.
News.Az
From: A. Papazian
Jan 22 2011
Hard-hitting report on European official's Armenia trip
Sat 22 January 2011 05:45 GMT | 7:45 Local Time
The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner focused on political
and media freedom and human rights in the army during a trip to
Armenia.
Thomas Hammarberg visited Yerevan from 18 to 21 January, where he met
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan,
Justice Minister Hrair Tovmasyan, other officials, opposition
politicians, including former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and
rights activists.
The events of March 2008, when at least 10 people were killed in the
violent dispersal of protests at perceived fraud in the presidential
elections, freedom of expression and the media, and human rights in
the army were the main themes of the visit, Thomas Hammarberg's office
said in a press release yesterday.
"The effects of the tragic events of March 2008 can still be felt in
Armenian society. A major problem is the continuing lack of clarity as
regards the responsibility for the 10 deaths which occurred during the
demonstrations. The commissioner urged that the responsibility for
these deaths be established; this presupposes a thorough, impartial
and credible analysis of the methods used by the police as well as the
command responsibility. The commissioner has recommended concrete
measures to address the needs of the families of the victims," the
press release said.
Thomas Hammarberg raised the cases of prisoners from the opposition
Armenian National Congress, which organized election protests.
"The Armenian National Congress indicated to the commissioner that
nine persons affiliated with them remain imprisoned, most of them in
connection with the events of March 2008. The commissioner discussed
this issue with the Armenian authorities," his office said.
The commissioner clearly thought that much remained to be done to
prevent a possible repeat of the March 2008 events.
"The ad hoc parliamentary inquiry committee, which was established to
examine the March 2008 events and identify ways to prevent the
recurrence of a similar tragedy, formulated certain recommendations of
a systemic nature. Moreover, the OSCE/ODIHR Trial Monitoring Report
identified several shortcomings in the conduct of the trials related
to the March 2008 events. A thorough follow-up of the recommendations
made by the ad hoc parliamentary inquiry committee and by OSCE/ODIHR
should be ensured, in particular with regard to ongoing reform of the
police (including the use of force by the police), ensuring that the
judiciary is independent and competent, and guaranteeing the right to
liberty and to a fair trial. In addition, the legislation and practice
on freedom of assembly should be brought fully in line with
international human rights principles," the press release continued.
Thomas Hammarberg raised concern about A1+ television, station which
lost its broadcast licence in 2002.
"The commissioner discussed the case of A1+ television, which had been
the subject of a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights where
the court had found a violation of the right of freedom of expression.
During a recent competition for a broadcasting licence, the bid of A1+
was once again rejected; the reasoning given in the decision of the
National Commission on Radio and Television was that the documentation
which had been submitted by A1+ contained fraudulent documents. The
commissioner stressed the importance of ensuring that the media
environment in Armenia is sufficiently diverse and pluralistic. He
noted the work to amend the law 'On television and radio' and trusts
that the question of the independence and pluralistic membership of
the regulatory authorities will be addressed."
On the army, the press release said: "The commissioner also had the
opportunity to look into the human rights situation in the army. He
expressed particular concern regarding non-combat deaths,
ill-treatment and hazing, and highlighted the importance of conducting
effective investigations into these cases with the aim of identifying
and punishing those responsible. The commissioner encouraged the
ongoing reforms taking place in the armed forces, including in
relation to disciplinary procedures and the establishment of effective
complaint mechanisms. He also addressed the issue of the right to
conscientious objection during his visit and understands that the
Armenian authorities are in the process of developing the legislation
in this area. The objective should be to establish a genuinely
civilian service."
The commissioner is to publish a full report in the coming months.
News.Az
From: A. Papazian