WHAT HAS HAYKAZ BAGHMANYAN DONE SO FAR?
Interview with Arthur Sakunts, chairman of Helsinki Citizens Assembly
Vanadzor Office, on recent reshuffle in the army
Henrik Muradyan was appointed military commissioner of Armenia. By
another decree, the term of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of
the Armed Forces, lieutenant general Haykaz Baghmanyan was extended
for five years. Are these formal changes?
These changes have no grounds, no purpose and no logic. Let’s take
Haykaz Baghmanyan, for example. What has he done so far to extend
his term for another five years? In general, we think that military
commissioners should not be under the ministry of defense but be
part of a state civil agency to fulfill the orders of the army. As
to the civil control, it should be ensured through the establishment
of the institute of military ombudsman. Otherwise, all these changes
of individuals won’t solve any issue: we will keep having complaints
relating to the levy, as we are having now.
What shortcomings of spring conscription have you detected?
During this spring draft the order of the minister of defense changed.
The category “fit for non-combat military service” has been replaced
with “fit for military service with restrictions”. But it is not
clear with restrictions are meant. The list of diseases has changed
without providing a justification. In other words, rules are being
changed during the game. The list of diseases must be defined by law
because it deals with human rights but during the next conscription
there can be another order with a view to meeting the needs of the
system rather than protecting the human rights of conscripts. The
system is not changing and it is not willing to change.
The ministry of defense also dwelt on middlemen who accept money to
arrange so that young men are stated ineligible for military service.
Two representatives of the ministry of defense have already been held
responsible. Do you think radical changes are possible?
We have received complaints from Goris about a subjective approach
applied to postponement of military service. There are complaints that
healthy young men are stated “ineligible for military service”. In
our country, the law is not applied equally for everyone. The law is
not applied to “their” relatives and friends and they are not punished.
Such selective approach does not dispel our doubts.
Is a generation change necessary in the Armed Forces?
In general, the Armed Forces need radical change. The Armed Forces
are based on authoritarian principles. I have said many times that the
Armed Forces should be professional. The state should have a program.
This program should have been worked out between 2000 – 2006 period
because in 2006 young men born after 1988 were recruited. Five years
would have been enough for setting up a professional army but a
program based on soldier’s dignity was needed. The army should be
controllable. Professional army implies a high level of control and
transparency.
The content of the system is determined by thinking and approaches of
those who form the system. So, here we have the issue of mentality
of those engaged in defense policies, which is directly related to
the essence of the political system. The political forces conduct
a policy which is not based on human values but on consumption,
which results in emigration. The armed forces are also affected by
these policies resulting in non-combat deaths, violence etc. which
eventually makes people opt for emigration.
Siranuysh Papyan 11:01 14/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/30162