0 8000 12 11

Today, the Army without Murderers Initiatives commenced its protest at the RA Government Building, moved towards the general prosecutor’s office, then to the RA Presidential Residence, before they returned to the government building.

Despite the persistence of the policemen and their attempts to disperse the action, the mothers of the deceased soldiers and the human rights activists held up posters at the presidential residence with phrases like ‘Army-Slaughterhouse,’ ‘I don’t have a son for a cannibal army,’ ‘Undeclared war against the Armenian Soldier,’ ‘Stop violence, etc..  The parents of the deceased soldiers chanted ‘Ser-zhik Murderer, Ser-zhik Murderer, come out on the balcony, you promised to uncover, soldier blood  shedders, godless people, come out…’
Human rights activist Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, noted in a conversation with Lragir that these actions of protest will be continuous. Their goal is to change the situation in the army, and to once again raise the issue before the authorities that the murders in the Armenian Army should be stopped immediately.

Today the RA Deputy Minister of Defense, Vladimir Gasparyan talked to the parents of the deceased soldiers during the protest: ‘God is the witness that I am working, I will not resign,’ he said.

Artur Sakunts said that Vladimir Gasparyan’s meeting with the parents of the deceased soldiers, as well as the behavior and civility of the policemen testified that they were all clearly instructed, with a clear understanding  that the situation is indeed rather serious. However, the human rights activist found it difficult to predict whether this would turn into concrete actions.

‘After all, we are requiring the investigative bodies and MoD to correct the situation. When we have a clear reassurance from MoD, the Office of the Military Prosecutor, and the Military Police, then the situation will be different,’ said Artur Sakunts.

As to whether the number of murders has increased in recent years, Artur Sakunts noted that obviously the increase cannot be compared to the period immediately following the establishment of the ceasefire, because the army was still in the process of formation at that time. Compared to those years, there are some changes, but if compared to the recent years, for instance, in 2010 the number of victims was more than in 2009.

‘I don’t want us to get into statistics because the issue is not the number being smaller or larger; the problem is that such cases should absolutely never occur. Besides, how did it happen that the number of deaths while performing in front-line duty is less than in peaceful situations?’

According to Artur Sakunts, previously most casualties referred to victims of enemy fire, now murders are presented as suicides, and the responsibility still falls on the commanders.  What kind of situation can force a person to commit a suicide?

‘Unfortunately, there is some distrust over the desire and willingness to change the situation. Of course, during discussions they say that they are concerned, but being concerned is not enough; concrete steps are needed to exclude such cases from the army,’ said the activist. He added that they do not want to be reconciled to the existing situation and that the public attention towards the problem has to grow.

After all, according to Sakunts, public indifference should be overcome, in other words,  phrases like ‘the army is ours,’ ‘Armed Forces are our most important agency, our life’ should become a reality instead of a formality.’

The next action by the initiative will be a round table at Congress Hotel with representatives of MoD, NGOs and members of the NA Committee.

Source: www.lragir.am