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ARMY'S PROBLEMS DEBATED - "SOLDIERS SEEN AS A RESOURCE, NOT A VALUE"
Mаry Mamyan
HETQ
14:23, September 14, 2011
A roundtable discussion devoted to the ongoing problems within the
ranks of the Armenian military took place today in Yerevan.
In attendance were mothers of soldiers who have died in non-combat
situations, representatives from the Office of the Human Rights
Defender, military analysts and various civic organizations.
Artur Sakounts, President of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor
Office, said that it was time that the discussion of the problems
plaguing the Armenian army was transferred from the street to the
discussion table where they can be seriously assessed head on.
"We can no longer tolerate the continuance of such human rights
violations," Sakounts said referring to the deaths of soldiers in
non-combat situations.
He also singled out corruption within the ranks of military officials
as leading to a situation where business interests outweigh those of
the army.
Attorney Seda Safaryan and Moushegh Shushanyan spoke about the
challenges they must overcome when litigating for the rights of
soldiers who have died in suspicious circumstances.
They said that often cannot visit the crime scene to conduct
independent investigations and are refused information pertinent to
such cases.
Richard Giragosian, who heads the Regional Studies Center, argues
that each soldier in the Armenian Army must be protected and that
the issue is of national, not mere political, import.
He called on the government to display the necessary political will
to resolve the issue.
Attorney Vahe Grigoryan raised the possibility of creating a
professional army that would also have to accept females.
Grigoryan said that the army must be politically neutral, which is
not the case today.
"During election periods, members of the military are always used
for political purposes. Soldiers are seen as a resource and not a
time-honoured value."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Mаry Mamyan
HETQ
14:23, September 14, 2011
A roundtable discussion devoted to the ongoing problems within the
ranks of the Armenian military took place today in Yerevan.
In attendance were mothers of soldiers who have died in non-combat
situations, representatives from the Office of the Human Rights
Defender, military analysts and various civic organizations.
Artur Sakounts, President of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor
Office, said that it was time that the discussion of the problems
plaguing the Armenian army was transferred from the street to the
discussion table where they can be seriously assessed head on.
"We can no longer tolerate the continuance of such human rights
violations," Sakounts said referring to the deaths of soldiers in
non-combat situations.
He also singled out corruption within the ranks of military officials
as leading to a situation where business interests outweigh those of
the army.
Attorney Seda Safaryan and Moushegh Shushanyan spoke about the
challenges they must overcome when litigating for the rights of
soldiers who have died in suspicious circumstances.
They said that often cannot visit the crime scene to conduct
independent investigations and are refused information pertinent to
such cases.
Richard Giragosian, who heads the Regional Studies Center, argues
that each soldier in the Armenian Army must be protected and that
the issue is of national, not mere political, import.
He called on the government to display the necessary political will
to resolve the issue.
Attorney Vahe Grigoryan raised the possibility of creating a
professional army that would also have to accept females.
Grigoryan said that the army must be politically neutral, which is
not the case today.
"During election periods, members of the military are always used
for political purposes. Soldiers are seen as a resource and not a
time-honoured value."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress