ARMY DEATHS: “SUICIDES” IN THE RANKS RENEW CALLS FOR MILITARY REFORM
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
17.10.11 | 12:39
As society learns of three deaths last week in the Armenian Army,
calls for reformed are again raised. Already, families worry whether
their sons might survive two years of conscription in the present
poor conditions in which death at the hands of a comrade is more a
risk than death from an enemy. Three incidents last week have caused
concerns to amplify.
On October 13, a private died at an Ijevan military unit after
reportedly mishandling his own weapon. A day before that a soldier
at another military unit in Armenia was said to have shot himself,
while three days earlier a conscript committed suicide in Karabakh,
as was reported officially.
Incidents in the army in most cases are qualified as suicides, although
relatives of soldiers who die in peacetime believe that their sons are
killed or driven to committing suicide. These beliefs are confirmed by
the presence of traces of violence on the bodies of many dead soldiers.
A number of groups have been set up on online social networks
to demand the resignation of the army leadership, in particular
the defense minister and the chief of general staff. However, army
chiefs avoid talking about it with the public, refusing to give even
the statistics of what the dynamics of incidents is, whether it is
increasing or decreasing as years pass.
Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan says the number is decreasing,
simply the level of awareness of the population is increasing. Human
rights activists argue that the manners in the army are becoming more
violent and the number of deaths grows.
In order to ward off accusations army chiefs often launch
counterattacks, accusing those who talk about problems in the army
of complicity in a “conspiracy” against Armenia funded from abroad.
As the press service of Armenia’s Ministry of Defense reported,
Deputy Minister, Lieutenant-General Vladimir Gasparyan together with
the leadership of the Military Police and Investigation Service on
October 14 received relatives of soldiers who died while serving
in the armed forces. Earlier that day the relatives demonstrated in
front of the president’s palace.
Then, in an interview with the Zinuzh (Armed Forces) TV program
Gasparyan said: “Those who are engaged in it [speaking about
shortcomings in the army] are people without a homeland, without
morals, without dignity.” In fact, the senior military blamed the
entire society, the parents whose sons serve in the army, of spying
for other states.
“A couple of days ago I read a demand of one of these groups about
providing some information about the army. My dear, your customers
have given you the task to find out information about our military?
Maybe I should read out the whole list?” said Gasparyan, in a sarcastic
response to the concerned citizen.
Earlier, an initiative group called “Real Army” requested that Minister
of Defense Seyran Ohanyan should provide the following information for
the period from May 12, 1994 to September 30, 2011: lists of deceased,
missing and abused military personnel, lists of servicemen made liable
for violations of the charter, murders, other crimes, the number of
demobilized due to health condition, data on the military service
of the sons of high-ranking officials, lists of organizations that
supply the armed forces with foodstuffs, medicines, clothing, etc.
It is unlikely that the minister will answer these questions, because
despite the existence of salutatory public control, the army continues
to remain one of the most closed spheres in Armenia.
On October 10, Armenian Defense Minister Ohanyan met with Military
Prosecutor Kostanyan and Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan. An agreement was
reached to set up a working group to encourage discipline in the army,
reduce and prevent crime. The group is supposed to propose legislative
amendments to this effect. The need for a stricter punishment for a
number of crimes was emphasized.