Let's do a semi-controlled analysis here... I'll try to keep my sarcasm to a minimum... ARF Issues Statement After Meeting with Sarkisian in New York
In 1991 and the rest of the early 1990's, the ARF does not support independence initially, and is not friendly with LTP's government. In fact, during that time, with so little light, heat, and even grain, the ARF worked actively AGAINST the government. Of course, back then the ARF was still based outside of Armenia, and some in Armenia end up in prison. The Central Committee is forced to move to Armenia from the Diaspora. They're furious (but really, what country allows a political party based outside of its borders to function within its borders the way the ARF intended to??).
With Kocharyan's reign, the ARF is granted reprieve, literally, and gains power. Kocharyan can do very little wrong in the eyes of the ARF. Corruption, and politics that will cause destabilization in the longterm go unnoticed by the ARF.
The Kocharyan to Sargsyan transfer of power - February-March-April 2008. 11 killed, hundreds beaten, imprisoned. Including the elderly, women and children..No freedom of press, no freedom of speech or congregation. The country is shut down. The ARF backs Sargsyan. Citizens of Armenia draw parallels between the planned execution of Armenians in 1915 to the planned execution of Armenians March 1, 2008. The ARF still backs Sargsyan. Batallion leaders and Fedayis from the NK war are imprisoned and at times abused by Sargsyan's regime - the ARF still back Sargsyan.
2008/2009 - Sargsyan starts to move forward significantly with plans for Turkish Armenian relations. The ARF finally pulls out of the coalition. ARF calls for Nalbandyan's resignation, but not Sargsyan's. Sargsyan's plans begin to truly jeopardize, in the eyes of the ARF, in their own words, the security of the Armenian Nation by proceeding with protocols which the ARF ITSELF state are unacceptable, vis a vis border recognition, Genocide recognition, and NK... And still, the ARF cannot bring itself to call for Sargsyan's resignation.
What is the common factor, the common denominator? When years and regimes change, what is the variable which seems to draw in the ARF???
My answer: Power. and Money.
Any thoughts???
5 comments:
Power & Money is the correct answer applicable to Diasporan Dashnaks as well.
Dear Tzitzernak, before reading this part, I wrote my opinion on ARF demagogy as a comment for ""Go away" is slur and offensive" post. Would you please put it here too? Since it is not displayed yet, I cannot find it to do it myself. Thanks.
Here is Harutyun's comment, as requested:
Փոխարենը դաշնակների ցույցը հրապարակում, Մարիոտի ու ԱԳՆ շենքի դիմաց, աթոռներով-բանով, պահպանվում ու փաղաքշվում է: Իդիոտները իրենց նեղություն էլ չեն տալիս ձևացնելու, թե դրանից դժգոհ են: Եվ Ժառանգությունն էլ դաշնակների հետ է համագործակցում, իբրև թե դաշնակցականները ինչ-որ հարցում ընդդիմադիր են: Մինչդեռ վերջիններս պարզապես առիթն են գործածում՝ էս ամենի մեջ իրենց հերթական օգուտը քաղելու և ԱԳ նախարարի աթոռը ձեռք բերելու նպատակով (դրա համար ել Նալբանդյան ԵՁիկի հրաժարականն են միայն պահանջում): Ձեռքի հետ էլ ՍՍ-ին են լավություն անում, իբր մեզ մոտ "կառուցողական" ընդդիմության ցույցերին բան ասող չկա: Ձեռքի հետ էլ սփյուռքի երեսին են թոզ փչում, թե իբր իրենք նույնն են, և առհասարակ "կեցցե Էրզրումը, Բիթլիս-Սասունը, փառք դաշնակցության", էնպես որ, սփյուռք ջան, շարունակեք ֆինանսավորել դաշնակներին: Կարևորը՝ փող լինի. իսկ հայրենիքը՝ կառնեն:
Երեխա ժամանակ այս խաղերը կոչում էինք "տուն-տունիկ" կամ "կռիվ-կռիվ" խաղալ: Սրանց մոտ բան չի փոխվել:
I find the title of your post really compelling because - as strange as it sounds - I am seeing more and more parallels between the diasporan ARFers and the opposition in Armenia as these protests play out.
For one - the protests are a great venue for informing the masses about the corruption behind Sargsyan's regime. I actually see this as one positive component to the protests - organizers are engaging and mobilizing the diaspora in support of a politically strong and independent Armenia - (azat, ankax, hayastan?)
Also - often times - diverse interest groups are united under the category of "opposition." I think the ANC reflects this somewhat in Armenia. I see the same dynamic unfurling in the diaspora as well - many shades of discontent are uniting in opposition to the protocols. Down the road - this unity may pose problems for both "opposition" groups.
Does "ideology" fit into your answer at all - or is it subsumed by power and money? Because ARF's focus on Armenia's sovereignty dates back to its conception as a political party. The protocols merely represent the latest attack.
Agree entirely with your post. They are pathetic and they are now protesting for the sake of protesting just to show that they are doing something. Kriv kriv en xaxum as Harutyun says u toz en pchum. When what they should have been doing was to stop SS from coming to power. But they supported him then and they still support him today.
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