Self-declared Inculpability and a Clear Conscience - and its off to the BHK!

None of the recent Oskanyan news is new, nor is it surprising. Its been commented on many times, recently and in the past, by my self and many others.

But I still can’t seem to resist the urge to comment on it. Its not as though he is the only person who played such a culpable role in the events of March 1, who is still out and about; or who ignores or denies their own or the government’s role/responsibility in what happened; or who is currently looking to gain a role or further their own role and power in politics; nor is he the only one playing the game of politics, or claiming to have the best for Armenia in mind.

So what is it?

Perhaps it is the vehemence with which he denies the culpable role he played during March 1, despite so much straightforward, undeniable evidence to the contrary; perhaps it is the ease with which he can speak of his clear conscience and faultlessness; perhaps it is his use of a supposedly independent organization whose mission is to “strengthen civil society” and “promote discourse” – quite commendable goals - to try to erase his past from history and people’s memories and promote himself and his intentions further; …

I’ve commented numerous times in the past on Civilitas and Oskanyan. For the record, I actually think that CivilNet has done some important work, and Civilitas is ‘addressing’ some very important topics, I am just extremely weary of this group in just about every way, to put it mildly.

This is a partial repetition of prior posts, but I can’t seem to help it – despite his self-declared inculpability, clear conscience and mighty goals, there’s a black hole in Oksanyan’s statements when it comes to actual civil society… here we go… (and this is just a start)...

--where are his comments on political prisoners, Northern Avenue evictions, police violence, army deaths, impending ecological nightmares, election corruption…

-- where are there any comments truly critical of Kocharyan? Is there nothing worthy of criticism in Kocharyan’s time of rule?...

-- I don’t even know where to start with March 1, his role, his denials, …

--Or where to start with applying to join BHK – Dodi Gago’s party. Hey, we all want a better Armenia. But what on earth makes you think that you should do it through joining BHK? One can work with a party, but joining it means you agree with the principles and actions of that party – really, Oskanyan? These are, of course, rhetorical questions. The only reason I can see for Oskanyan to join BHK is to increase his own power and potential to become politically active, and to possibly to consolidate Kocharyan’s resources… Putting it carefully:

--It is thought by some that BHK was founded by Kocharyan…
--It is also thought by some that Oskanyan is still in close contact, not just for social and personal reasons, with Kocharyan...
--It is also thought by some that Kocharyan is lurking in the political background…
--It is also thought by some that there is an increasing rift between HHK and BHK…
--Some have noted that it is interesting that CivilNet covers what it does, appears well funded, has gained an audience, has a nice show face, and is potentially ready to be used for numerous imaginable purposes…

Of course, there are varying levels of reliability in the varying amounts of data for the above. But one might see how I might write what I did above:
…and to possibly to consolidate Kocharyan’s resources…

Phew, that was a mouthful. I’ll leave it there for now.

Here are some links to my old posts on this topic, and many have their own links...

http://tzitzernak2.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-feel-bad-for-ostriches-civilitas.html

http://tzitzernak2.blogspot.com/2011/06/trying-to-reformulate-history.html

http://tzitzernak2.blogspot.com/2009/03/in-search-of-civil-society-but-not-one.html - My thoughts on one of the original Civilitas publications - the Report on 2008

http://tzitzernak2.blogspot.com/2010/05/on-civilitas-oskanyan-and-meghri.html

Hopefully every Flow will have an Ebb, and Kocharyan will go with that Ebb

Just the other day, Oskanyan (of the Kocharyan and previously the LTP governments, and now of Civilitas fame) gave an interview to A1plus and Capital papers, the a1plus video is available online, as are articles written about it (lragir tert).
A1plus then went to HHK Chair Razmik Zohrabyan, and asked him what he had to say about Oskanyan's interview (article has video). I dont know if a1plus knew what to expect, but both interviews have some great segments, and the combination is outstanding. I'll try to keep it to the true gems, but there's lots in there to work with.

Let's start with Oskanyan. As Zohrabyan points out in his interview, and many have pointed out to to date, Oskanyan manages to act, with a straight face I might add, as though he has nothing to do with the present regime, how it came to be, and the policies it is continuing and fulfilling now. His selective memory as the great objective benevolent ethicist allows him the following conversation with the interviewer (I)(paraphrased, starting at 16:15):

I: What can be done in this situation, by the people, to change the situation. If the number of people protesting starts growing at all, they are not only beaten, but they may also be fired upon- we have seen that. What is the way out, what are the options, how do we move forward?

Oskanyan: I have given a general ideological framework about that. Those involved have to think about that... We all have to think about that. I do not have a formula for that. But I know that this cannot continue this way, something has to change. I have hope that, in the end, we will be able to find a way...

So, Mr. Oskanyan, what is it that you are doing to help the people achieve that change? Did making Kocharyan's announcements for him on television in March, 2008, help progress? Or was it the watering of your eyes, or did you say you shed tears, for what happened? Have you worked to free the political prisoners in Armenia, and I have not seen it? Have you been busy defending those who are being rendered homeless on Byuzant street, right by your office on Northern Avenue, because I have not seen that either. Or maybe you are visiting the youth in the hospital when they are beaten by the police and cadres of Bazaz?

And before I move on (since I promised to be short-winded) I can't resist this one - the Tert article quotes Oskanyan as calling the regime change of 1998 "A coup." If it was a coup, why were you part of it for ten years, or even one minute?

On to Mr. Zohrabyan. He actually does quite a good job in commenting on Oskanyan, and being surprised at just how easily Oskanyan is able to distance himself, in just 2 years, from a regime he worked with for 10 years. Oskanyan was a "teammmate," he notes. These policies, this framework of action on NK and related affairs in general, were built by a team which included Kocharyan and Oskanyan - why is Oskanyan criticizing them now?

Mr. Zohrabyan, however, seems to live in another reality. The events of March 1, 2008 were "minor clashes." You see, he explains, this type of things happens all around the world, and opposition and government blame each other, and there are unnecessary victims, but no one ever knows the truth - Smooth, Mr. Zohrabyan! And things in Armenia, they're just fine (quotes from a1plus):

“I see no grounds for a power change. Moreover, I see no political crisis in the country while Oskanian says the moment for a power change has matured. Thanks God, the minor clashes of March 1, 2010 are left behind,” said Razmik Zohrabyan.

“I cannot understand what Mr. Oskanian is displeased with. Why should our teammate raise the issue of power change?”

These two do seem to be at odds with each other, but in the end, I don't see either of them as being in touch with the reality most Armenians in Armenia are living each day.

But to get back to the "at odds" business. Word has it that Oskanyan has always been close to Kocharyan, as is, by the by, Dodi Gago. And talk of a Kocharyan return has ebbed and flowed since he left. And recently, Dodi Gago was quite critical of this regime, as now was Oskanyan. And the ARF, close to Kocharyan since they both sold out to each other during his first term, continues their half-hearted criticism (though this is no surprise). And Armenian Times recently published a piece about an argument between Kocharyan and Sargsyan. And lets not forget Kocharyan's recent international travels.

One has to wonder if at some point, the flow will happen, with no ebb, and keep going - and we will wake up and Kocharyan will have some government position...

[pics are from a1plus]