Human Rights Activist: Army Is Designed To Serve People’S Rather Tha

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST: ARMY IS DESIGNED TO SERVE PEOPLE’S RATHER THAN REGIME’S INTERESTS

arminfo
Tuesday, April 10, 18:41

Armed forces are designed to serve the interests of people rather
than authorities, but in Armenia the regime uses them as a weapon
for retaining its power, human rights activist Artak Zeynalyan said
during a conference on the problems of the army on Tuesday.

“After the events of Mar 2008 the authorities hurried to amend the
legislation so as to make their actions legal. The use of armed forces
after the events was a gross violation of human rights. I appealed
to several courts against the president’s decree, but none of them
agreed to take up the case,” Zeynalyan said.

“Armenia’s Constitution says that armed forces can be used only in
three cases: an armed attack on the country, the treat of an attack
and a war and should not interfere in public affairs. So, President
Kocharyan exceeded his authority when imposing the martial law on
Mar 1 2008,” Zeynalyan said.