ARMY MUSTN'T BE TURNED TO INSTRUMENT
Support A1+!''It is very important to preserve the suffrage of people'', Chairman of the NA Permanent Commission of Defense Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security Mher Shahgeldyan stated when speaking of the necessity to fix the military's suffrage in the Election Code.
It is not a secret that in our country a soldier is considered to be not a voter but an instrument in the hands of the authorities – an extra instrument used for the securing additional voted in their favor. However Mher Shahgeldyan does not think that 40 thousand people can be deprived of the right to vote. According to him the present situation when the army participates in national elections and does not participate in the elections of the local self-government is an admissible principle to be inserted in the Election Code. ''Participation of the military in republican elections only offers the opportunity to avoid advantage in the constituencies where the military units are situated, since they are located irregularly at the territory of the republic.” Shahgeldyan noted that in some countries the army takes part in the election, in the others – does not. However the balance should be preserved, first, from the point of view of influence exerted and second, one should not forget that the servicemen are citizens and can enjoy their right to do their civic duty”, he says.
Armenia has for a long time debated on the problem and has come to a decision allowing on one hand to create advantage for a candidate in a majority constituency during the elections of the local self-government and on the other hand offering the people the possibility to choose. But do the soldiers really have a chance to familiarize themselves with the nominees and their programs in the barracks? The propaganda spread by mass media is party available for the military, while a propaganda for ordinary citizens is specific. However I do not suppose that army receives no information or it is so small that people cannot express their preferences.
Member of Justice opposition faction, People’s Party chairman Grigor Harutyunyan partially agrees with Mher Shahgelsyan. The question on voting should be put rather strictly: voting in the military units should be prohibited and the soldier should be allowed to express his will and make his own choice. Propaganda should be allowed. Though if the incumbent President or his administration behaves immorally there will be no difference the agitation is conducted or not'', he said. ''Army should not be deprived of the right to choose, however civil consciousness and political will is essential not to turn the army to an instrument. During all the elections in Armenia, and especially during the recent presidential election army was ''used'' sensu stricto. The incumbent authorities are not capable of holding fair elections at all, not to mention the army''.
