‘Armenians’ are abusing the law

Standard, Kenya
March 17 2006

Justice may be slow to come by generally because of the rigour due
diligence demands, but in the ‘Armenian’ saga it is moving at an
unacceptable snail speed.

And with every hour and day wasted on this evolving saga of dithering,
indecision and postponing, national security is endangered, and the
ability of the Government to protect its citizens is compromised.

It is no longer intelligent or justice-minded to continue harping on
the line that these apparently innocuous businessmen have committed no
crime. It is also no longer politically prudent to use the ‘strangers’
as bait for political blackmail or mileage.

For doing so is dicing with a threat to national security.

With every revelation, allegation, and turn of events and episode
national security and sovereignty is compromised. To tolerate this
is to send the wrong signal that Kenya is a country where claimants
to unsubstantiated prominence can get away with mischief and slight
of public intelligence.

Now is the time to apply the rule of law to prove that the law is not
a respecter of persons or status and that the rule of law still counts.

Even on the surface of it there is evidence that crimes, petty and
pretty serious ones, may have been committed, and the police should
take action.

Let’s begin with the petty: It is a traffic offence to drive a car
whose number plates are concealed on a public road. For this alone,
traffic police officers have reason to investigate why law a biding
motorist should resort to such disguises. The businessman, Artur
Margayan, has explained this as a security precaution, but he is yet
to report to any police station that his life is in danger.

It is also a serious offence for anyone to claim he was approached
to fund the overthrow of the legally constituted Government of the
Republic of Kenya. The claim that these gentlemen were asked to fund
a vote of confidence in the Government points to treason.

The businessmen have also claimed affinity to the President of
Armenia, an allegation that has been denied. Under the laws of Kenya,
impersonation is a criminal offence, and if this is proved to be the
case, then these gentlemen are dangerous to national security and
should not be allowed to roam, issuing threats with impunity.

Yet the police seem helpless in handling the case. The first time
police officers went to the Runda house a week ago, a dog was set on
them and three CID officers investigating the matter fled.

Early this week, a police squad was recalled when they went to the
investor’s Runda house.

We are thus dealing with breaches of the law and possible crimes
that may have been committed or about to be committed, and threats
to national sovereignty and integrity.

The composure of the Kenyan people in Nairobi streets on Thursday
after Margaryan let our offices was a potent call to action. The people
could have lynched the businessman, but they didn’t. The message to the
Government is clear: Act on this case now to protect the rule of law.