COMMITTEE LOOKING FOR EYEWITNESSES

A1+
April 21, 2009

The Fact-finding Group leading an investigation into the events
of March 1 is not working with the ad hoc parliamentary committee,
informed "A1+" head of the March 1 parliamentary committee Samvel
Nikoyan.

"I have said that the committee is open for cooperation, but I left
it up to the group to take the initiative and unfortunately, they
don’t want to take it."

As for the work of the parliamentary committee, Nikolyan does not find
the interim report necessary, but the committee is already thinking
about a final report.

"The committee believes that it place more emphasis on political
phenomena, as well as at the legal level. I believe that there is a
need to precise the legality and proportion of police brutality on
March 1," told "A1+" Samvel Nikoyan.

The committee did not hold any sessions for the past two weeks due
to the committee head’s absence. As for upcoming plans, Nikoyan said
that the only thing left for the committee to do is to investigate the
circumstances leading up to the deaths. Nikoyan had promised in advance
to invite Chief of Police Hayk Harutyunyan to give clarifications. He
refused to comment on whether when Mr. Harutyunyan would be invited.

In general, the committee head does not consider the recent work
of the committee as productive. Let us recall that the relatives
of the victims were called to give clarifications or ask questions
to committee members. Nikoyan regrets to say that there has been no
support from the society or the opposition leaders to keep in touch
with witnesses.

"Let them at least tell us about the events in written form. Ten
people can’t just die without any eyewitnesses. I understand why
they refrain from doing so, but this is not to the benefit of the
case and we rely on the eyewitness accounts," said Samvel Nikoyan.

The committee does not wish to meet with one of the citizens who was
run over by a car in front of the "8" supermarket on Paronyan Street
on March 1. According to Nikoyan, "the preliminary investigative body
has made it clear that there is no issue that remains unclear."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress