Soldiers Outside Constitutional Court
Quick question for people. I was passing by the Constitutional Court this morning and noticed a group of about 5 soldiers with handguns standing on the corner outside. When I returned past 3 hours later, the soldiers were actually manning the security guard cabin outside the Constitutional Court.
Thing is, while this strikes me as improper in a country supposedly heading for democracy and certainly sends the wrong message when the military should not take a role in the internal life of the country, I can’t remember if it’s always been like this or is this a new development and if so, why? I hope that it’s not connected to the election.
If anyone knows anything please leave a comment. Everyone I’ve asked here can’t remember apart from one person who used to intern at the Court in 1999. There were no soldiers then — just normal police. Anyway, I’ll check again tomorrow to see if the situation is the same or if it was just a special day or some special occasion.
Even then, however, the military should not be involved, or maybe they always have been. Don’t know, to be honest.
Come on, Onnik, you know the reality in Armenia. The top military man, Serj Sargsian, is involved in almost any project in the country. Why not the Constitutional Court?
After all, he was the man who helped generate those 1.5 million votes that appear on the Constitution referendum papers.
Comment by nazarian — February 15, 2007 @ 1:44 am
Well, actually, I do know the reality, but have to make sure of the facts first. However, any way it goes — whether the soldiers should be there or not under that reality — it strikes me as exceedingly dangerous that the military is even there for the 3 hours I saw today. It’s just not done unless a state of emergency has been called or there is the risk of a terrorist attack, and even then, why not use the Special Interior Troops?
Ok, I can guess your answer, but as so far nobody has been able to tell me if these guys are usually there or not, I want to reserve judgment until someone can. Even so, they shouldn’t be there. The military is not meant to play any internal role in terms of “policing” in Armenia. They are meant to protect the borders of the country or fight external enemies. That’s why the Interior Troops exist (the Red Berets) although actually, they shouldn’t exist in any democratic country either.
Basically, you don’t have troops of any sort to police your own people unless martial law or a state of emergency is called.
Anyway, I’ll take a look see tomorrow. Hopefully, normal police will be on duty and there was a special reason — which is still not justifiable — for the presence of armed soldiers outside the Constitutional Court.
Comment by Onnik — February 15, 2007 @ 2:00 am
I agree 100% that the military have nothing to do with policing the state - they are for the outside enemy - full stop!
Somethings to watch out though: certain guard forces, military police forces and special police forces can look quite military - in terms of their uniforms and arms they carry. Even if those were real army soldiers, I’m sure any middle IQ state official can produce a host of reasons why they are there, and there’s no point in going further into that discussion.
Let us explore the possiblilty that there is a regular military guard set up next to the Supreme Court. What does make sence to look at is - the motive! What possible motive might somebody (read: Serge) have for wanting to put soldiers next to the Supreme Court? I don’t see any at this point, except to protect the Supreme Court and keep the country stable - because all that Serge can promise the country is (and that’s where the accent of his campaign will be I’m sure) stability.
So at this point I don’t think we have anything really to worry about in relation to soldiers standing next to the Supreme Court. But - questioning the necessity of military presence there is always a good thing - so, let’s keep looking for the motives…
Comment by Observer — February 15, 2007 @ 4:34 am
Observer, understood, but these were soldiers. I’ve been here long enough to tell the difference. Besides, they has army insignia on their arms. Anyway, I’ll check today or tomorrow when passing and update this post if any change has happened.
Still, like I said, the army should not be called out except in cases of extreme emergency. The Red Berets should suffice no, unless you consider that they’re not under the control of the MoD, perhaps.
Comment by Onnik — February 15, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Ok, so a European diplomat source did some checking and apparently these soldiers were “hanging out’ outside the Constitutional Court while waiting for a change of guard at the Chinese Embassy.
Of course, the question that then needs to be asked is why is the Armenian Army guarding the Chinese Embassy, but anyay…
Comment by Onnik — February 15, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
I guess by time the number of soldiers and their posting locations will increase. It is done slowly that people can get used to it gradually. The country will become a full military state when we have military men in the parliament and one as a president. Probably we need to give some credit to Kocharian here as with Bargavach Hayastan he wants to keep some balance. The February 20th demo by Aylntrank will show if there is a solid resistance to this militaristic-oligarchy . If the numbers turn to be less than 7000 then the chances for a some alterations in pre-defined election plans are doomed. What is troubling is that some Ayltrank leaders rely on the OSCE monitors. The monitors are also included in the plan. It is pretty easy to trick them, to lure them to places where the planners want the opposition to win. the planning is done well in advance and the planners don’t lack any experience.
Comment by Haik — February 16, 2007 @ 6:02 am
It goes back to the foundations of the Republic — all the way to Rome: the legions were never allowed to enter the city and if the legioneers did, they could not wear the military paraphernalia. Onnik, it’s interesting you should mention the State of Emergency. As Carl Schmitt noted though the state of exception stands outside the Law, it is always already essential to the Law. We see the true face of Sovereign Power in exception, though it would be naive to assume that it is not always present and haunting the ordinarity. After 911 in the West this boundary between the exception and the ordinarity has erroded. But in Armenia it has erroded…. well I guess I don’t remember when (1988? 1991? 1998?) - it’s as difficult to pin down as the day when the French Revolution began — such is the way of Republicanist impositions. Armenia has been living in the state of siege ever since (or rather, state of siege-mentality) - not real emergency, but only declared emergency — declared and configuered by the power that be. The political configuration of Azerbaijan is configured in the same manner — albeit, there populace is led to believe that they are are under occupation.
Both corporate formations, Kocharian &Co and Aliev &Son, they love it: for as long as the masses are precluded from access to information and class-interest-specific interpretation, they will be precluded from democratic participation and will be routinely scared into voting Reactionary, while chanting “Armenia is just right, and on the right track, and everything is right on… Sourp NSS! Sourp NSS!”
The men you saw were not military… they were 5 of the 60,000 of Kocharian &Co bodyguards dresses in military.
Comment by Sasuntsi Anarchist — February 16, 2007 @ 12:01 pm