Tweet
WHO WILL RESIGN FIRST?
JAMES HAKOBYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country27852.html
Published: 15:53:05 - 25/10/2012
4 inmates of Nubarashen prison have gone on hunger protest against
the treatment they undergo, and one of them has even cut his finger
and sent it to the editorial office of Henaran News Website to attract
the attention of the press and the Prosecutor General's Office.
The issue of penitentiaries remains urgent. Besides the inhuman
conditions there is also a serious issue of internal relations and
treatment of inmates.
The government officials admit these things but the situation does
not change even after establishment of cooperation with European
organizations and civil society monitoring groups which visit prisons
and observe the situation. In the long run, the situation remains
worrying.
One can only imagine what a person has experienced and what kind of
treatment he has undergone to cut his own finger and send it to press.
When the famous video of the Georgian prison appeared during the
Georgian parliamentary election, Georgia went on protest, young
people took to streets, and some officials, including ministers,
resigned. In Armenia some people announced "here you are, Saakashvili
and his reforms".
Now this is an opportunity for them to leave alone Saakashvili and
think for Armenia, the situation in prisons. We have not had similar
videos though few people will doubt that similar cases happen but are
not made known to the public. However, even if there is no violence,
it does not mean that there is no inhuman, contemptuous, indifferent
treatment of inmates which is any milder than physical violence.
Hence, in Armenia there are just as many reasons for some relevant
officials to resign as in Georgia. And there are also as many reasons
for indignation as in Georgia. Who will resign for the inmate's cut
finger? And not only the finger but also the phenomenon.
Recently the minister of justice Hrair Tovmasyan and the head of the
department of penitentiaries and ex-minister of home affairs Haik
Harutyunyan have visited the site of the new prison currently under
construction. According to official announcements, it will comply
with international standards. The international standards require
the resignation of a relevant high-ranking official whenever there
is a scandal involving an inmate who cuts his finger out of despair.
Who will resign, Hrair Tovmasyan who assures that the public
administration system will have been improved considerably after
the completion of judicial reforms or the head of department of
penitentiaries Haik Harutyunyan who was the chief of police on 1
March 2008?
Who will be dismissed by Serzh Sargsyan if nobody volunteers to resign?
When Hrair Tovmasyan was appointed, everyone had positive expectations
and he was perceived as evidence of real change in Armenia. The
minister focused on the "innocent" aspects of the system, such as
notary and civilian registry. Meanwhile, the steps relating to the
world of penitentiaries seem to be too slow, and every wasted day
may ruin the destiny of a person.
It was also clear that Hrair Tovmasyan would hardly succeed in this
regard as long as Haik Harutyunyan, the ex-chief of police, one of
the fossilized symbols of the system, is the head of the department
of penitentiaries.
One of them must leave. Certainly, Haik Harutyunyan is not the only
hindrance to Hrait Tovmasyan's success, and it is not true that
Tovmasyan's failure is due to such obstacles, while Tovmasyan is
someone impeccable. Not, of course. But as long as Haik Harutyunyan
is there, Tovmasyan will not succeed, even if he wants that very much.
So, first Harutyunyan must be removed from Tovmasyan's way. Second,
rigid and stiff requirements should be set for the outcome of
Tovmasyan's activities.
JAMES HAKOBYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/country27852.html
Published: 15:53:05 - 25/10/2012
4 inmates of Nubarashen prison have gone on hunger protest against
the treatment they undergo, and one of them has even cut his finger
and sent it to the editorial office of Henaran News Website to attract
the attention of the press and the Prosecutor General's Office.
The issue of penitentiaries remains urgent. Besides the inhuman
conditions there is also a serious issue of internal relations and
treatment of inmates.
The government officials admit these things but the situation does
not change even after establishment of cooperation with European
organizations and civil society monitoring groups which visit prisons
and observe the situation. In the long run, the situation remains
worrying.
One can only imagine what a person has experienced and what kind of
treatment he has undergone to cut his own finger and send it to press.
When the famous video of the Georgian prison appeared during the
Georgian parliamentary election, Georgia went on protest, young
people took to streets, and some officials, including ministers,
resigned. In Armenia some people announced "here you are, Saakashvili
and his reforms".
Now this is an opportunity for them to leave alone Saakashvili and
think for Armenia, the situation in prisons. We have not had similar
videos though few people will doubt that similar cases happen but are
not made known to the public. However, even if there is no violence,
it does not mean that there is no inhuman, contemptuous, indifferent
treatment of inmates which is any milder than physical violence.
Hence, in Armenia there are just as many reasons for some relevant
officials to resign as in Georgia. And there are also as many reasons
for indignation as in Georgia. Who will resign for the inmate's cut
finger? And not only the finger but also the phenomenon.
Recently the minister of justice Hrair Tovmasyan and the head of the
department of penitentiaries and ex-minister of home affairs Haik
Harutyunyan have visited the site of the new prison currently under
construction. According to official announcements, it will comply
with international standards. The international standards require
the resignation of a relevant high-ranking official whenever there
is a scandal involving an inmate who cuts his finger out of despair.
Who will resign, Hrair Tovmasyan who assures that the public
administration system will have been improved considerably after
the completion of judicial reforms or the head of department of
penitentiaries Haik Harutyunyan who was the chief of police on 1
March 2008?
Who will be dismissed by Serzh Sargsyan if nobody volunteers to resign?
When Hrair Tovmasyan was appointed, everyone had positive expectations
and he was perceived as evidence of real change in Armenia. The
minister focused on the "innocent" aspects of the system, such as
notary and civilian registry. Meanwhile, the steps relating to the
world of penitentiaries seem to be too slow, and every wasted day
may ruin the destiny of a person.
It was also clear that Hrair Tovmasyan would hardly succeed in this
regard as long as Haik Harutyunyan, the ex-chief of police, one of
the fossilized symbols of the system, is the head of the department
of penitentiaries.
One of them must leave. Certainly, Haik Harutyunyan is not the only
hindrance to Hrait Tovmasyan's success, and it is not true that
Tovmasyan's failure is due to such obstacles, while Tovmasyan is
someone impeccable. Not, of course. But as long as Haik Harutyunyan
is there, Tovmasyan will not succeed, even if he wants that very much.
So, first Harutyunyan must be removed from Tovmasyan's way. Second,
rigid and stiff requirements should be set for the outcome of
Tovmasyan's activities.