Would you rather be the guy in red, or in blue?

Say you're a foreign/international organization. Something like the PACE, or UN, or the government of the US or other country. And you're trying to get peace in the region (let's imagine this is their goal), and for a multitude of possible reasons, you overlook the way in which SS came to power.

And now you're pushing Armenia to come to terms with Turkey, with NK, with Azerbaijan. So you start negotiating, pressuring, making deals and writing agreements.

Now someone PLEASE explain to me WHY ON EARTH anyone in their right mind thinks that a government that can claim that this guy (red) can beat up this guy (blue) is truthworthy or can be held accountable AT ALL???



Forget the fact that they're dealing with an oppressive violent government. Forget the fact that the actions of said, unnamed, powers would be acting unethically - its just a bad decision, for their own interests...

Or maybe they just figure, if Sargsyan tries to get out of any agreements due to public pressure, he'll just do what he did before - just turn the army on the people again.

[Photo is taken from rfe/rl, accompanied by this article]

Much Needed New Online Network for the ANC

Հայ Ազգային Կոնգրեսի Ցանց

A new online network has been started, an Armenian National Congress Network. Yes, there are blogs and webpages, in Armenian, English and Russian, that are pro-Opposition. There are news sources, and even facebook groups and even circles within YouTube that are pro-Opposition.
But this is the first, that I know of at least, ANC based interactive website. I think its a great idea, and has great potential (yet another reason I wish there were more widespread internet access and usage in Armenia).
Visit the page, look around, join.
There are groups within the Network, resources, other information and even a live chat with other members.

Do these names sound familiar???

A number of articles have come out regarding guilty parties in the March 1 events of 2008. There has been some focus on identifying the sniper, as well as the charging of four police. While there's not denying that identifying individuals responsible for violence is a good thing, that's not where it should end. But it would be just like these authorities to find a way to make a mockery of such issues - whether its the false amnesty of January 2009 to buy a PACE reprieve, the tongue in cheek amnesty of June 2009, or the continued beatings, repressions, fraudulent trials, or imprisonments. Finding a bunch of individuals who followed orders and committed violence may look good, but it doesn't address the fundamental question of WHO gave those orders...

Which brings us to the most exciting news so far - a document has been published listing, one by one, the individuals who received uniforms prior to the march 1 events. These are the guys, who days in advance of March 1, 2008, organized and planned, and distributed appropriate uniforms for use. Some of these names may be familiar:

1. Vatche Ghazaryan ("Vacho," Head of Serge's bodyguards)
2. Gagik Tsarukyan ("Dodi Gago," MP, Prosperous Armenia)
3. Surik Khatchatryan ("Liska," Head of a Marz/Region Syunik, Republican Party)
4. Levon Sargsyan ("Alraghatsi Lyovik," MP, Republican Party)
5. Gagik Beglaryan ("Chorni Gago," Mayor of Yerevan, at that time he was head of the Central Yerevan District)
6. Hovik Abrahamyan ("Muk," President of Parliament, at that time was Vice Prime Minister, and Minister of Regional Administration, Republican Party)
7. Arakel Movsisyan ("Shmays," MP, whose brother had been imprisoned for his pivotal role in the organization of "October 27," Republican Party)
8. Mher Sedrakyan ("Tokhmakhi Mher," was head of the Erebouni District during March 1, 2008)
9. Samvel Aleksanyan ("Lfik Samo," MP, Republican Party)

The first column next to the names is the number of winter uniforms given to each individual, followed by the number of cotton uniforms, then the number of hats given to each individual.

So far, there is only one summary article in English about all of this (click here). A1plus has it in Armenian, as does Lragir. I can't imagine the English won't be available soon.

Since Justice requires Luck...

Thursday, August 27th will be the first hearing of Nikol Pashinyan's "Criminal" Case.

In my head, I found myself say, "Good Luck."

But what is luck?

According to Merriam Webster, it is:

1 a : a force that brings good fortune or adversity b : the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual

2 : favoring chance; also : success luck growing orchids>

And Dictionary.com adds:

2.	good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance: He had no luck finding work.

3.	a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person: She's had nothing but bad luck all year.

That one caught my eye more, because Pashinyan not only needs good fortune, against adversity, but he needs a coincidence of events, a chance combination of events.

He needs the actual processes of Justice and Law in Armenia to be fair and independent.

And that is a rare, unlikely event, a coincidence even, in Armenia these days, and it will take a lot of luck.

So, in that broad sense, I wish him luck.

Click HERE to see the recent letter regarding Pashinyan's situation, or see below:

REQUEST to Call on Arm Authorities_final

Is the Warden secretly reading Pashinyan's work?

Analogous to the series Pashinyan wrote while in hiding, he is writing a series, for those who do not already know, from prison. Part 27, which came out on August 19th, has a commentary on some of the conditions in the prison, prison life, as well as some characteristics of the guards and even the warden himself.

Apparently, soon after Part 27 was published, the prison administration no longer allowed Pashinyan to receive newspapers (which is his legal right), which has led to the speculation that perhaps the warden or prison administration is punishing him for his writings.

What I would like to know is, does the warden, or the rest of the authorities for that matter, read Pashinyan?

I imagine they read his writing with simultaneous hatred, and childlike joy... impatient for the next part to be published, sneaking off to read the newest piece...

Likely not.

But it sure would make a funny cartoon... the warden and Sargsyan the biggest secret fans of Pashinyan's writing.

In the meantime, give the man back his newspapers. That's just ridiculous.

In defense of Mariam Sukhudyan

YouTube videos from protest in support of Mariam Sukhudyan on August 19: Video1, 2, 3.

The letter below (in English, Armenian and Russian) is being distributed - please feel free to redistribute even further...
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STATEMENT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA

The authorities of Armenia relying on law enforcement bodies and judicial system freely carry out any order and continue the policy of intimidation and violence towards the disagreeable citizens.

Arrests, beatings and judicial punishment of journalists and human rights defenders, disgraceful trials related to the events of March 1, 2008 over oppositional leaders of Armenia, arrests and beatings of youth movement members struggling for their rights are sanctioned by provost regime of Armenia.
The commencement of a criminal case instituted against Mariam Sukhudyan, one of the leaders of ecological movement is another vivid manifestation of policy of impatience towards the dissidence.

We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations of Armenia which are members of South Caucasian Network of Human Rights Defenders

--demand the competent bodies to stop the criminal case instituted against Mariam Sukhudyan,
--demand the competent bodies to punish the ones who instituted the criminal case
--address the international organizations with a request to support our demands and exert pressure on the authorities of Armenia.

Helsinki Association
Socioscop
Helsinki Citizen Assembly
Journalist Club “Asparez”
Women Resource Center
Vernatun- Wives of Political Prisoners
PINK Armenia
Democracy Today
Helsinki Citizen Assembly of Vanadzor

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՍԱՐԱԿԱԿԱՆ ԿԱԶՄԱԿԵՐՊՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՅՏԱՐԱՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ

Հայաստանի իշխանությունները իրենց բնորոշ մեթոդներով` հիմնվելով իրավապահ մարմինների և դատական իշխանության վրա, որոնք աներկբա կատարելով վերևից եկող յուրաքանչյուր հրաման, շարունակում են վախեցնելու և հաշվեհարդար տեսնելու քաղաքականությունը իրենց համար ոչ ձեռնտու քաղաքացիների նկատմամբ:

Լրագրողների և իրավապաշտպանների ձերբակալություններ, ծեծ և դատական հաշվեհարդար, 2008թ. մարտի 1-ի դեպքերով ընդդիմադիր գործիչների խայտառակ դատաստանը, իրենց իրավունքների համար պայքարող երիտասարդական շարժման մասնակիցների ձերբակալությունները և ծեծի ենթարկվելը. այս ամենը թելադրվում է Հայաստանում հաստատված ռազմաոստիկանական ռեժիմի կողմից:

Բնապահպանական շարժման ակտիվիստներից մեկի` Մարիամ Սուխուդյանի նկատմամբ քրեական հետապնդման հանգամանքը անհանդուրժողականության քաղաքականության ևս մեկ վառ դրսևորում է այլակարծության նկատմամբ:

Մենք, ներքոստորագրյալ հասարակական կազմակերպություններս` Հարավկովկասյան Իրավապաշտպանների ցանցի Հայաստանի անդամներս

-պահանջում ենք անհապաղ դադարեցնել քրեական գործը Մարիամ Սուխուդյանի նկատմամբ

-կոչ ենք անում իրավասու մարմիններին անհապաղ պատժել Մարիամ Սուխուդյանի նկատմամբ քրեական գործ հարուցած մեղավորներին

-դիմում ենք միջազգային կազմակերպություններին խնդրանքով աջակցություն ցուցաբերել մեր պահանջներին և ճնշում գործադրել Հայաստանի իշխանությունների նկատմամբ:
Հելսինկյան Ասոցիացիա

Սոցիոսկոպ
“Ասպարեզ” լրագրողական ակումբ
Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեա
Կանանց Ռեսուրսային Կենտրոն
Վերնատուն-քաղբանտարկյալների կանայք
Հանրային իրազեկման և գիտելիք կենտրոն
Ժողովրդավարությունն Այսօր
Վանաձորի Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեա

ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ НЕПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВЕННЫХ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЙ АРМЕНИИ

Власти Армении, свойственными для себя методами, опираясь, на правоохранительные органы и судебную власть, котроые беспрекословно выполняют любой приказ сверху, продолжают политику запугивания и расправ с неугодными для себя гражданами.

Аресты, избиения и судебные расправы журналистов и правозащитников. Позорное судилище оппозиционеров по событиям 1-го марта 2008г. Аресты и избиения участников молодежного движения за свои права. Все это санкционирует военно-полицейский режим установившийся в Армении.

Начало уголовного преследования одного из лидеров экологического движения Мариам Сухудян еще одно яркое проявление политики нетерпения по отношению к инакомыслию.
Мы, нижеподписавшиеся неправительственные организации члены Южно-Кавказской Сети Правозащитников от Армении:

- требуем незамедлительного прекращения уголовного дела против Мариам Сухудян;

- призываем компетентные органы, незамедлительно наказать виновных возбудивших уголовное дело против Мариам Сухудян;

- обращаемся к международным организациям с просьбой поддержать наши требования и оказать давления на власти Армении.


Хельсинкская Ассоциация
Социоскоп
Хельсинкская Гражданская Ассамблея
Журналистский клуб «Аспарез»
Женский Ресурсный Центр
Вернатун – Жены Политзаключенных
Центр Общественной Информированности и Знаний
Демократия Сегодня
Хельсинкская Гражданская Ассамблея Ванадзора
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[photo is from facebook group "Hands off eco-activist Mariam Sukhudyan"]

Moving Toward Democracy, Step by Step

I've sent out the email below to a number of people - please help, either directly, or by distributing...
------------------------------

Dear Friend,
At this very crucial time in Armenia, there is very limited information coming out of Armenia that is in English, and increasing this will allow us to further encourage international media, organizations, and individuals to follow the continued oppressions in Armenia. In an effort to increase awareness, disseminate information to media, and help the move toward democracy in Armenia, several of us have put our heads together to see what can be done in this regard.

To this end, as our first project, we are working towards having Haykakan Zhamanak made available in English. We are also working on raising funds for this project, and increasing awareness through emails and word of mouth.

If you are interested in contributing to this, please email aramazdg@gmail.com. Any amount will help make a difference.
Please email myself or Aramazd with any question.

Please forward this email to all who may be interested.

Thank you,
Tzitzernak

Wow - something we agree on...

It's not the first time, nor will it be the last I'm sure, but recently, it is so infrequent, that its worth mentioning:
I actually (generally speaking) agree with the ARF's Giro Manoyan on something:
Dashnak Leader Sees Increased Pressure On Armenia on RFE/RL

Bryza, on the other hand, seems to think that no one sees this pressure (from Lragir):
"Bryza stated that he is surprised that the Armenian and Azerbaijani press accuse the Minsk group co-chairs of forcing compromises to the sides. In reality, they do not make any repression but only mediate."

Right... these countries have no interests, no motives, other than pure pure humanitarianism and justice. Got it... Next thing you know he'll be sending us on a Snipe Hunt...

Oskanyan's interviews, past and present, and the new Eclipse

Despite not having an actual debate with Shahnazaryan, as I had hoped, Oskanyan did give an interview to Azatutyun earlier today. It is in three parts (part 1, 2, 3). Below is part 3, because it has my favorite bit.

The interviewer, Anna Israelyan, asks a very pointed question at 3:27 minutes, about March 1. She asks Oskanyan if he might not now be trying to cast his original viewpoints in a different light? Not only that, but she even points at that she watched his videos on YouTube closely, and she did not see tears in his eyes. His response (paraphrased):
Absolutely not (regarding the changing of viewpoints). That day I had nothing to gain or lose. That day I took upon myself a greater responsibility, than is expected of a Foreign Minister, because I felt the danger, it was with that sense of responsibility that I gave that press conference... It would have been very easy to refuse to give the press conference, but that would not have been responsible. And its too bad that the other political figures-- especially those who were the core players that day, from both sides-- did not take upon themselves the responsibility that I took upon myself. I am convinced that if they had all done everything they could have, done their part, then one of the blackest days in our people's history would have been avoided. But that wasn't done, and that is truly a pity. But my conscience is clear, in that I, at least, did my part... It didn't work. But, I feel comfortable that I stood in front of our people, and called for both the authorities and the opposition to sit and talk and try to solve things through negotation. [Israelyan interrupts and says something unclear] You know, my press conference was around 6pm, the first shot was at 9pm, maybe there was still the possibility, but no one listened... But I will repeat again, but if everyone among us had taken responsibility as I did, and done everything they could have, it would have been possible to avoid... And whether you saw tears in my eyes or not is not important, because I have expressed what I felt, I was barely holding back my tears, because it was an emotional day, there was a real feeling of responsibility... and it is very sad that the call wasn't heard, and that which has already turned into one of our blackest days in history occurred...

So somehow, though it was more responsibility than a usual Foreign Minister takes on, Oskanyan was chosen to do the Press Conference - that could imply that he was somehow more involved, no? And he could have refused to give the conference when Kocharyan asked him to do it, it would have been easy, apparently. My guess is, its hard to say no in that situation. Regardless of whether he had to do it or not, as he has pointed out, individuals and regimes are responsible for their statements and actions...
I just wish he weren't so self-effacive...

But, let's take a look at that main press conference Oskanyan gave back on that day in March, 2008. Oskanyan spoke in place of Kocharyan. When I say in place of, I mean, he actually said, at the beginning of the Press Conference video, "I know you were expecting the President of the Republic [Kocharyan], he is very busy in meetings, and he asked that I would give this press conference..." Watch the videos of his press conference here [Part 1, 2, 3]. In these videos, he warns against a possible State of Emergency, justifies a possible State of Emergency, denies the existence of the de facto house arrest of LTP, and states that what has happened to LTP was for his own safety.
For those who don't understand Armenian, he also gave a brief interview to RussiaToday, in English, where he specifically states that the State of Emergency was "necessary," and the "developments were unexpected." There are more videos on YouTube, especially under MFAArmenia.

He's not trying to shed a new light on old comments, he's trying to create a whole eclipse...