Armenians: Minister insists House probe is wrong
By Joseph Murimi

The Standard, Kenya
June 23 2006

The Government on Thursday pressed harder to scuttle the two
Parliamentary committees investigating the activities of the deported
Armenian brothers.

But the chairman of the joint probe team, Kabete MP Paul Muite,
vowed to go ahead with the investigations by questioning its first
witness Immigration minister Gedion Konchella at 10am on Friday.

Artur Margaryan (left) and Artur Sargasyan during a past Press
conference at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

In a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly Francis Ole Kaparo,
Justice minister Martha Karua dismissed arguments by Muite in support
of the probe. She warned that "unnecessary confrontations with the
Executive would only erode the dignity and authority of Parliament.’~R

"Investigations of alleged criminal activities can never be the role
of Parliament, nor is the maintenance of national security the role,’~R
she said.

Karua said Parliament passes the necessary legislation to be
implemented by the Executive. She said it was absurd to argue that
Parliament could exercise parallel powers with the Executive when it
is expected to oversee the same.

She was responding to a letter Muite had written to the Speaker
responding to her earlier one. He dismissed Karua’s arguments as
lacking merit in law and fact. Muite said the letter tabled by
Karua in the House on Tuesday was "an attempt to block impartial,
independent and thorough investigations into a matter where the
Executive is heavily implicated.’~R

‘Handpicked commission’

Muite, who co-chairs the joint Parliamentary committees investigating
the Armenian brothers saga, said emerging evidence showed that the two
enjoyed close relations with powerful individuals within the Executive.

He said in view of the gravity of the issues that call for
investigations and the involvement of the Executive, only Parliament
could unravel the truth. A commission of inquiry appointed by the
President could not be expected to unravel the whole truth regarding
the activities of the two brothers, he said.

Muite said unlike the joint committee that would report to Parliament,
the handpicked commission would report to the President.

But Karua said she was surprised at Muite’s casual dismissal of the
central pillar of a democratic government – the doctrine of separation
of powers.

"He does not at all respond to the fact that Government cannot function
if there were no clearly separated roles for the three arms," she said.

A ruling by Kaparo that could have allowed or blocked the sessions by
the joint committee was not delivered, giving Muite a chance to go on.

The fate of the joint committee was thrown in abeyance after Karua
declared it illegitimate and an attempt by Parliament to usurp the
role of the Executive.

Karua tabled her misgivings on the floor of the House and asked
the Speaker to give directions. Kaparo is expected to make a ruling
next Tuesday.

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From: Baghdasarian