FOR WHOM MARGAR "TOLLS"
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments23217.html
11:37:34 - 05/09/2011
The arrest of the Chief of Traffic Police, Margar Ohanyan, is presented
as evidence to ongoing reforms in the police. Haylur, the news program
on the public channel, televised Serzh Sargsyan's meeting with the
Police staff a few months ago where he declared stronger commitment
to Police reforms.
In reality, the presentation of Margar Ohanyan's arrest as evidence to
Police reforms is not convincing. It could be presented as evidence
to fight on corruption, though it would not be convincing either but
would at least sound more conceptual.
The point is that if Serzh Sargsyan is really committed to police
reforms, the scandalous reshuffle should have taken place a few
months ago. The point is not the necessity to arrest not only Ohanyan
but other high-ranking officials. Though, perhaps, in case of an
indiscriminate attitude to everyone in the system, it would be hard
to imagine that the most corrupt is Ohanyan, while the others commit
less abuse.
If the point is real police reforms, then it is of no importance
whether other members of police leadership commit any crime or abuse.
They must be sacked regardless of all because under their leadership,
the style of work of the police shows that these people are far from
modern thinking and it is impossible to build a modern police, one
that inspires sense of safety in citizens with them at the wheel.
For instance, if the Chief of Police states that the society deserves
the police it has, then he has to immediately resign because a Police
Chief with such thinking is unable to fulfill immediate and fast
reforms in the system. Certainly, Alik Sargsyan must not be alone to
do so. His deputies and all the other high ranking police officials
must be sacked too.
The leadership and staff of the police must resign. Without surgery,
it will be impossible to carry out reforms and acquire a favorable
image in a short term.
With all this absent, the description of Margar Ohanyan's arrest as
evidence to police reforms means lack of awareness of public moods,
perceptions and existing problems, or a presumption that the society
lacks this understanding. Meanwhile the society does understand
everything. Moreover, now it understands everything even better
than before.
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am News
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments23217.html
11:37:34 - 05/09/2011
The arrest of the Chief of Traffic Police, Margar Ohanyan, is presented
as evidence to ongoing reforms in the police. Haylur, the news program
on the public channel, televised Serzh Sargsyan's meeting with the
Police staff a few months ago where he declared stronger commitment
to Police reforms.
In reality, the presentation of Margar Ohanyan's arrest as evidence to
Police reforms is not convincing. It could be presented as evidence
to fight on corruption, though it would not be convincing either but
would at least sound more conceptual.
The point is that if Serzh Sargsyan is really committed to police
reforms, the scandalous reshuffle should have taken place a few
months ago. The point is not the necessity to arrest not only Ohanyan
but other high-ranking officials. Though, perhaps, in case of an
indiscriminate attitude to everyone in the system, it would be hard
to imagine that the most corrupt is Ohanyan, while the others commit
less abuse.
If the point is real police reforms, then it is of no importance
whether other members of police leadership commit any crime or abuse.
They must be sacked regardless of all because under their leadership,
the style of work of the police shows that these people are far from
modern thinking and it is impossible to build a modern police, one
that inspires sense of safety in citizens with them at the wheel.
For instance, if the Chief of Police states that the society deserves
the police it has, then he has to immediately resign because a Police
Chief with such thinking is unable to fulfill immediate and fast
reforms in the system. Certainly, Alik Sargsyan must not be alone to
do so. His deputies and all the other high ranking police officials
must be sacked too.
The leadership and staff of the police must resign. Without surgery,
it will be impossible to carry out reforms and acquire a favorable
image in a short term.
With all this absent, the description of Margar Ohanyan's arrest as
evidence to police reforms means lack of awareness of public moods,
perceptions and existing problems, or a presumption that the society
lacks this understanding. Meanwhile the society does understand
everything. Moreover, now it understands everything even better
than before.