Human traffickers face imprisonment

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/11/10081811.html

12/27/2006 09:34 AM | By Samir Salama, Bureau Chief



Abu Dhabi: The UAE stepped up battle against human traffickers with a tough new law that gives a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and penalties of up to Dh1 million.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued the law to combat human trafficking after it was approved by the Cabinet and the Supreme Council, according to WAM.

The law defines human trafficking as mobilising, transporting, dispatching, or receiving persons through the use or the threat of force or any other forms of coercion.

It includes kidnapping, deceit, manipulation, misuse of power, exploitation of others' weaknesses, or giving or receiving money or advantages to win the support of a person having influence over another person to exploit him.

Exploitation is defined to include exploitation for sex, engaging others in prostitution, servitude, forced labour, enslavement, quasi-slavery practices or detachment of organs.

The law imposes a prison term of at least five years for anyone engaging in human trafficking.

The penalty will be life imprisonment if the perpetrators are an organised criminal gang, or if the victim was a female, child (under 18 years) or handicapped.

The life sentence will be imposed also if the crime is committed through deceit, involved the use of force or threat of murder or bodily harm, or involved physical or psychological torture.

The same sentence will be imposed if the perpetrator is the husband, a relative, descendant or guardian of the victim, or if the perpetrator is a public servant or given the responsibility of a public task.

A sentence of one to five years in prison and/or a Dh5,000 to Dh20,000 fine will be imposed on whoever was aware of a plan to commit a human trafficking crime, but failed to inform authorities.

Corporate organisations will be liable to a fine ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million if their representatives, managers or agents engage in human trafficking.

Funds, goods or instruments used in any form of human trafficking will be confiscated.

The Cabinet will set up a national committee for combating human trafficking, comprising representatives of several ministries and organisations.

It will be tasked with revising human trafficking legislation to secure the necessary protection according to international standards, prepare reports and coordinate anti-human trafficking efforts with other authorities.

The law will take effect one month after publication in the official gazette.

Your comments

Excellent rule passed. Really amazing rule according to an Islamic country. I really appreciate the authorities for passing this rule.
Mohammad
Abu Dhabi,UAE

This initiative is a true blessing to our oppressed brothers to voice out their side against the selfish perpetrators. We only hope that the designated authorities will act accordingly.
Allan
Dubai,Emirates

This is an awsome step forward for the UAE and we must pray that the necessary resouces are provided by government to uphold this high moral ground and combat this scourge of civilised society.
Dominic
Dubai,UAE

It?s one of the excellent steps taken by the government. In fact the government should send their people through their CID and catch people/companies selling visit visas and their names.
Anil
Dubai,UAE

This is the best news I heard about the human trafficking law in the UAE. Lately there were many stories about how the UAE is becoming a centre for human trafficking and prostitution. I applaud the government of the UAE for passing such a thorough law against those criminals.
Sosan
Newport Beach,USA

Why give them life? Why not execute? Why keep them alive?
G
Abu Dhabi,UAE

HEIRS OF VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION OF ABOUT $8 MILLION

By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
10/11/2006

This week, the heirs of the victims of the Armenian Genocide will receive about $8 million of compensation from New York Life insurance company. According to the press release disseminated by the company, about 2500 people will get $7 million 954 thousand 362. This compensation sum will amount to $10 million as a result of the court investigation instituted since 1999. Besides, about $3 million were already sent to various Armenian benevolence organizations.

According to the geography, the heirs dwelling in Armenia will receive about $3,7 million, the American-Armenians will get $2,7 million of compensations, while the French Armenians will get about $650 thousand. In general, Armenians dwelling in 26 countries will get the compensations.

LONG LASTING TREATMENT

Aravot, Armenia
Nov 10 2006

If you aren't sick in cough or tonsillitis but in a serious chronic disease, each conscientious physician will tell you: 2-3 months lasting treatment may have a short- date effect, you must do my demands in all your life, or at least for years. And the sick person must be consistent; otherwise the organism will again catch that disease.

In this case, it is meaningless to hold 10 days or a month of security traffic. The drivers and passengers who used to break the rules of traffic won't learn the rules in a month. They won't respect the laws so soon. Or another example; the policemen make the buses stop only on bus stops and not there where the drivers want. If that obligation lasts a day or a month or even a year, it won't be useful. But if the policemen do it for three years, stopping on bus stops will become a conditional reflex for drivers.

It's all the same in every sphere. The entrance examinations for the institutes of higher education will be replaced by final examinations at schools in the coming summer, the schools will produce false marks of their pupils to the institutes of higher education. Which is the antidote? The Institute mustn't accept graduates from the schools, which have produced false marks for about five years. So the school will understand that falsifying the mark is meaningless.

If the prosecutor's office brings a criminal case by «slander» accusation, no TV Company will show the same material given by the ruling clique. Certainly we may accuse A. Hovsepian for double standards: on the one hand he suggests to put the right hand on the Bible, on the other hand when anybody suspects him he calls that person to his office and investigates. But the Prosecutor is right: we, the media representatives must train such kind of readers and TV watchers for whom reading each `compromise' won't be interesting. It is a problem for 50 year every day work.

Aram Abrahamian

NEW REPRESENTATIVES OF DIASPORA

Aravot, Armenia
Nov 9 2006

The major part of Armenians who have left the country during last 15 years have a specific; they used to produce the Armenian life as a complete nightmare to justify their refusal to return. They may assure themselves that there is no electricity in Armenia or we stand in turn for bread till today, such fantasies are some sort of cure for them.

Our reality is far to be a heaven. The major part of our population are poor, the Armenian authorities systematically break the rights of citizens, they rig the elections, limit the freedom of the press, use their authority for personal. Material problems etc. All these are a reality and all normal newspapers write about it. But first of all, we, the citizens of Armenia, have right to raise those problems. The second, "new representatives of Diaspora" exaggerate our bad conditions. The announcements of "exiled writers" weren't published in the official press. In other words, you can't pronounce the word "regime" freely being under pressure of regime.

There is another unpleasant item in the announcement of "Exiled intellectuals"; the application addressed to democratic states where the call to assist in holding revolution in Armenia. It is meaningless to expect assistance from those countries, even if they are ready to hold a revolution. But whatever they form won't be a better one.

Besides, I'm inclined to think that the RA current authorities are admissible in general; it seems the outside powers have no problem with the current authorities.

Certainly, it doesn't mean that Europe and U.S. aren't for democratic values. If we manage to build a democratic state, they will respect us. If we don't manage, they won't respect how much we complain or swear for confidence.

Aram Abrahamian

YOUTH HAVE BAD HABIT OF LEARNING FROM ADULTS

Haik Aramyan

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

Ararat Mahtesyan, a high-ranking police official stated November 3 that all of us, the whole society is to blame as the system of values of the youth is becoming increasingly inclined to the "criminal world, criminal approaches". The deputy chief of the Police was right, it is the fault of everyone. The youth, which is not only our present but also our future, has a "bad habit" - they learn from grown-ups around them. They finish school, try to enter a university or college, and afterwards they want to have a job, live a good and full life. And what does a young man standing at the threshold of life learn as an adult? For instance, he can see what is going on at the universities. Then he witnesses the situation in the period of the call-up. Then he learns about the ways how one can set up a business or get a placement. He can see, for instance, how the law enforcement agencies, the representatives of government agencies work, who often deal with the representatives of the "criminal world", accompany them or guarantee their security. He can see that there are privileged and "second grade" citizens, there are people who do not obey the law, and people who are cheated and robbed in the direct and indirect senses of the word every day, placing the responsibilty for the life of the country on their shoulders. What does a young man who is not a member of the privileged class do after witnessing and understanding all these things? (Especially that all this starts as early as at school.) He has to go away or get used to this situation. The other right way is, of course, that he must fight for his rights and welfare. In this sense, however, there is still a long way to go. But presently the government and the political forces of Armenia have established a system which resembles that of the "criminal world", as Mr. Mahtesyan put it. The mechanisms of black budget, extortion and blackmail function perfectly within this system. The criminalization of the political and civil life is underway, and efforts are made to introduce these mechanisms everywhere, especially among young people. Baze Gatherings, youth wings of political parties and other bureaucratic mechanisms are designed to "spoil" the youth, pointing to the "right way" for them.

What does a young man, whose sensitive and pure soul craves for justice, have to do in this situation? According to the adults, justice is an abstract notion, however, it should be there. In the meantime, the widely preached values of the mysterious, romantic "criminal world" start attracting the young man. Everything is simple and clear in this world, which is wrapped in the veil of mystery.

Everyone is equal there, there is "justice", scoundrels are punished: this is their perception. And where else can a young man turn his face? It should be noted that the system established in Armenia presently is attempting at attracting young people into this system of values by their everyday activities and propaganda. This is an easier way to sustain their privileged status.

Armenian educational and scientific institutions in deplorable shape

The following article is a good measuring tool to see where Armenia stands in terms of how the present government prioritizes institutions of Armenia that will have a direct impact on our future.

As the article below states, teachers will receive a raise in their salaries from $152.63 to $200. Of course this is if you are a fulltime teacher, which many are not. Two hundred dollars a month in today’s Armenia still is not a living wage and the $47.37 raise a month is not anywhere close enough to offset the inflation we have seen since their last raise.

And if you are a special education needs student in today’s Armenia, your chances of learning anything or having your needs taken care of are slim to none. In 2007, each student will be allocated $47.54. This is not spent on the student only, but to maintain the building, pay for the electricity, heating this winter and so on. Though the article does not give the numbers, I’m guessing for the non-special education students, Armenia today is investing much less in.

In the area of science, the article reports that in 2007, scientist will be taking home a whole $131.58 and those that are operating personnel in scientific facilities will get to look forward to making $65.79 a month.

It’s clear that today’s Armenian government is not thinking about the future of Armenia, as a government that is thinking of the future, invests much more in the areas that will have a direct impact on our future.

SALARY OF ARMENIAN TEACHERS AND SCIENTISTS TO RISE IN 2007

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

The draft budget for 2007 envisages 9.6 billion AMD for the education sphere, i.e. by 12.5% more than in the previous year, Pavel Safaryan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, said at hearings on the draft budget, Tuesday.

He said 1.7 billion AMD ($4,473,684.21) are allocated to the sphere of general education. Salary of teachers will rise from 58,000 to 76,000 AMD ($200) in 2007. 152 million drams will be spent on retraining of teachers of secondary education schools, 500 million AMD for purchase of school furniture, 14.5 million - for capital repair of schools. 813 million AMD will be directed to the special education sphere, 400 million to the secondary special education. Another 324 million AMD will be spent on post-graduate education. The deputy minister said 365 secondary special education schools currently operate in Armenia, and the number of students will rise to 45,000 ($47.54 per student) in 2007.

Five billion drams ($13,157,894.74) will be allocated to the sphere of science, which is by 10% more than in 2006. The basic salary of scientists will rise to 50,000 AMD ($131.58), that of the operating personnel to 25,000 AMD ($65.79). 1.3 billion AMD will be allocated for topical financing of science and 73 billion AMD for target program financing. These funds will be used to develop scientific programs in the defense sphere.

Mihran Mahmouzian: “It’s not a semi-catastrophe, it’s a complete catastrophe.”

www.hetq.am
[November 6, 2006]

Mihran Mahmouzian has been implementing charity projects in Kashatagh for the last seven years. He voiced his concern at facts outlined in earlier articles of Hetq, and arrived in Armenia in September, spending time in Kashatagh as well. He assessed the situation in Kashatagh as catastrophic. The following is an interview with Mihran Mahmouzian.

How long have you been working in Kashatagh?

Unless I'm mistaken, it's been six or seven years now. When we started working in Berdzor, Alexan Hakobyan (the previous head of the Kashatagh regional administration) was there. There was a spring to people's steps then and smiles on their faces. We counted on that a lot, it helped us tremendously – it was wonderful and a very pleasant sight to see. We work with Gurgen Melikyan and Dr. Carolann Najarian – they were the ones who first sent us there. We would go often and eventually completed three projects there – a gymnasium, a park and a camping ground for children. We would help them with clothes too by sending as much of it as we could.

You were in Kashatagh recently – what has changed there?

It was very disappointing… I got a chance to talk to people, including children. Even the children were saying that given the opportunity, they would leave Berdzor. I can guess why… all of Karabakh is talking about it, every single family. I visited ten or twelve families – people are in despair. The people say that the government has not fulfilled any of its promises. I saw houses that had no doors or windows – not even a roof, such that the nighttime rain would flood the house. Many of the families living in these houses have four or five children. You seen pain and worry on people's faces, worry about everyday problems. Nobody in that region is doing anything for those people, except for a few organizations who are trying to ease their difficulties.

From what I saw, it seemed that nobody cared about them at all. They are simply carrying on living, but nobody is sparing a thought about them. This is very sad and very disappointing for people like us, who are doing their best to normalize their lives.

We are do all we can to bring things from the USA to improve the lives of people in that region. But what I saw was very sad. The government is to blame, the officials are supposed to ease the lives of these people – I believe this is their failure.

You met people there and talked to them. What did the people of Kashatagh say?

Of course, I talked to the people in order to understand their difficulties. When I say ‘people' I mean the regular folk with their everyday problems. The first day there, I was happy to be back in Berdzor. The second day, I found out more about the real situation. The third day, I said to myself that I must definitely step outside and find out the reasons behind the problems. I talked to people and concluded that the government was at fault.

It seems like only Yerevan and Stepanakert matter – nobody cares about the other places. You see a family with five children and they tell you that the children are on the streets because they cannot afford to send them to school. They ask me who cares about them. What can I say?

This is not only my opinion. My brother was there month ago, he communicate, back it told me exactly the same things.

Why do you think people are leaving Kashatagh?

Everyone I talked to said that it was for their children's sake. One person said that he was more or less well off, and he was very patriotic, so he would stick it out to the end. A young man said something else, “I was born here and have a child as well. I want my child to grow up here and bring happiness to those around him. My child and I were both born here and we should continue to keep an Armenian presence on this soil. But if things keep going this way I will be forced to leave as well.”

What do they think of this region in the Diaspora?

I don't know. I'm not sure that they know about the situation, because people from the Diaspora usually go to the Marriott Hotel and places like that – they don't go to villages. I hope they will start visiting villages too. This is not only my opinion. My brother was there a month ago and he told me exactly the same things. He said, “Mihran, this is a semi- catastrophe,” and when I was there, I said, no, it's not a semi- catastrophe, this a complete catastrophe.”

Whatever happens, our aid will continue. Naturally I will not lose hope. There are people – schoolteachers, for example – who are very grateful; but overall, the scene is a very sad one. We must not lose hope; we must do everything to help the people forward. We know that that region is very important to us. I do not understand how our government can be so indifferent.

Edik Baghdasaryan

WHAT WILL TELETHON 2006 BE LIKE

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 6 2006

On November 4 NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan left for the United States for the preparation of the annual telethon in Los Angeles on November 23.

There is special attention in the upcoming telethon. Not because the donations will be spent for the reconstruction of the region of Hadrut. The point is that this year there have been a number of accusations against Armenia Foundation from Karabakh. And a number of questions have occurred. First, why the telethons fail to raise the pledged sum. Second, why the style of work of the foundation has not changed over these years although it is said to be uneffective.

Moreover, uneffectiveness is connected with the lack of confidence.

Third, will the telethon raise sums if a decision was made during the Armenia-Diaspora forum to launch a large-scale project in rural areas?

But this is not the complete list of questions. How will the telethon pass, for this is the first time when the activities of the foundation and its relation with the Karabakh government get a backlash? Will the Armenian Diaspora in Russia take part in the telethon? How will the telethon pass in Europe after the adoption of the law on the Armenian Genocide by the French parliament?

The telethon will tell much about the all-Armenian relations and the all-Armenian organizations. Especially that the topic of these organizations has become a burning issue considering that the terms of office of the presidents of the both Armenian states are ending.

"SERGE SARGSYAN IS A CORRUPT OFFICIAL"

A1+
[07:32 pm] 06 November, 2006

Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan uses his administrative and personal means in order to reach his aims. According to Amalya Kostanyan, Armenian representative of "Transparency International", this is political corruption, as according to the definition of the organization, "abuse of the state rank with the aim of personal benefit is corruption".

According to the representative of "Transparency International", the pre-election campaign which has already started non-officially is also political corruption. The data of "Transparency International" claim that the most corrupt field is that of political parties.

The political control over Mass Media, fabrications during the elections, and voting of people who are not registered in the electoral area is also corruption, Amalya Kostanyan announced in the National Press Club.

According to the report of "Transparency International", the Corruption Perceptions Index is 2.9 but our country is among those where corruption is widespread, despite the fact that Armenia has been realizing an anti-corruption strategic program for the last three years. "The investigations carried out in Armenia once in every three years since 1999 show that level corruption is rising", Amalya Kostanyan said.

Nevertheless, the index of Armenia is lower than that of Georgia (2.8), Azerbaijan (2.4) and Turkey (2.8).

TURKISH SHOP-KEEPER AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

A1+
[07:50 pm] 06 November, 2006

Another attempt of rejecting the Armenian Genocide was made yesterday in Vercelli, Italy. According to newspaper of "Azdak", Beirut, the exhibition of photos by Armin Vegner about the Armenian Genocide was opened with a delay of 1.5 hours.

A little before the opening of the exhibition a Turkish shop-keeper who lives in Italy tore away the posters, broke into the exhibition hall and tore 5-6 photos; moreover, he beat down the Italian woman working in the hall.

Shortly after that, the police arrested the aggressor.