WHAT ARE SERVICEMEN GOING TO THINK ABOUT FUTURE?

Lragir.am
26 April 06

The disabled people of the Karabakh war and the relatives of killed
azatamartiks (participants of the war in Karabakh) in the system
of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are
dissatisfied with the government action. On the legislative undertaking
of the government the National Assembly introduced changes in the
law on veterans in 2003, eliminating the allowances for gas, water,
telephone and transport for the abovementioned category. Instead of
privileges the law established a benefit which formerly was 3 thousand
drams monthly and now is 6 thousand drams.

“The allowances were replaced by benefits in the law. A benefit is
paid out to the weak and the sick,” said a veteran Albert Manukyan. He
says the disabled former servicemen count 1060, and the members of
the families of killed soldiers 2700 people. Albert Manukyan says
the government cannot keep the privileges for only 3700 people,
while officials and oligarchs enjoy nonofficial privileges.

The complainers applied to the president, the president directed their
application to the government, the government to the Ministry of Social
Affairs, and the Ministry of Social Affairs told the veterans it is
not entitled to grant or restore privileges. “A disabled veteran has
to take transport every day and see the doctor.

How is he supposed to use transport twice a day and see the doctor,
pay for gas, water, electricity, telephone on 6 thousand drams. When a
public official drives in an expensive car and sees a disabled veteran
at the bus stop, who can hardly get on a trolleybus, how can this
official be so indifferent? If I bring together all these disabled
people and the families of killed soldiers, how are the members
of government going to look these people in the eye?” says Albert
Manukyan.

He believes that if today their rights are violated, the present-day
servicemen might think that they will be treated similarly tomorrow.

And it is already a question of national security, says Albert
Manukyan.