WHAT???

“The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun is convinced that if the war resumes Armenia will not only preserve the liberated territories but also establish land and water borders with its northern neighbour Russia,” ARFD member and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Hrair Karapetyan told a press conference today.
[from a1plus]
ՀՅԴ-ն վստահ է, որ պատերազմի վերսկսման դեպքում հայերը ոչ միայն չեն կորցնի ազատագրված տարածքները, այլեւ սահման ձեռք կբերեն իրենց հյուսիսային հարեւանի հետ, ընդ որում՝ ոչ միայն ցամաքային, այլեւ ծովային: Այս մասին այսօր ԱԺ-ում հրավիրած ասուլիսի ժամանակ հայտարարեց ՀՅԴ ԳՄ անդամ, ԱԺ փոխնախագահ Հրայր Կարապետյանը:
[a1plus]

What...? where...? He can't be serious... Black Sea? Caspian Sea?

"I demand to be charged..."

(a1plusnews via YouTube)

I'm pretty sure that this action, from October 30, is related to the new action by the Armenian National Congress. As a1+ and echannel news reported, members of the ANC, as well as other citizens (it seems by the video above), are signing a letter demanding that the government be consistent in their accusations and charges of those they suspect to have been involved in the "provocative and illegal actions" of March 1.

If no crime has been committed, then amnesty cannot be granted.
If the "government" is not legitimate, it cannot negotiate on behalf of the People.
If the stated charges are the sole and true reasons for imprisonment, then many many more should be charged and imprisoned.
...

Hatspanyan and Manoyan

In a recent radio interview, Kiro Manoyan explained why the ARF is (still) part of the coalition government - that is, to change it from the inside (see bottom of this post for a brief translation).

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at this reasoning. I've heard it from ARF members who, when all logical explanations and defenses have crumbled, say they are part of this organizations because they want to change it, to better it, from the inside out. Of course, those who maintain their independent thinking, ie, those who continue to want to change it, are kicked out, either before or after they resign from the ARF. Which may in part be why those still in the ARF don't realize, or don't want to realize, that this strategy doesn't work. Imagine the consequences of accepting how much needs to changed inside the belly of the beast, for those those individuals, for the party, and for Armenians in general.

RFE/RL has posted an interview with one of its reporters, Kiro Manoyan and Sarkis Hatspanyan. Watch Cognitive Dissonance and Insecure Identity try to prove itself against Logic and Consistency. Its about 15 minutes long, watch the last half especially, it speaks for itself.
Video (scroll down on the linked page to see).

Here is the brief translation of an interview on RFE/RL from Oct 20:

Interview with Kiro Manoyan (KM) with RFL reporter Karine Kalantaryan (KK).

the topic is NK and what concessions are being made on the part of Armenia. Arthur Baghdasaryan (Orinats Yergir, member of the coalition) said that neither the authorities in Armenia nor the president have any intention of making concessions.

The reporter, Karine Kalantaryan says that in Kiro Manoyan’s (member of ARF bureau and head of the Hye Tad office in Yerevan) interpretation the position of Azerbaijan on the NK issue depends on Ilham Aliev:

KM: If Aliev wants, he can impose his position, or convince those around him.

KK: Can you say exactly on whom the position of the Armenian side depends? On just Serjh Sargsyan or political forces? And what responsibility does the ARF bear in this case?

KM: Not everything depends on Armenia and in the case of Armenia not everything should depend on the position of the president because this is not a matter— like many other matters—where the president can make a decision on his own. It is imperative that all political forces clarify their positions. We have so far made our position clear, that we fundamentally oppose the current alternative under consideration fundamentally because there is the issue of returning the lands and because the return of those lands doesn’t guarantee any essential step in return. Whether or not it guarantees any essential steps in return, we are against the return of the lands.

[Reporter’s words] To the question of which part the ARF bears responsibility for, Kiro Manoyan did not answer. But he said that in the settlement of the NK issue, and not only in that, there are differences of opinion:

KM: Yes, there are differences of opinion on this issue, there always have been…..

[Reporter’s words]: There have been, and there are still, differences of opinion, not only on this issue, Kiro Manoyan stated. Then what keeps the ARF in the coalition?

KM: The opportunity we have to convince our colleagues to change their viewpoints. If we see that we no longer have that opportunity by being in the coalition, not just with respect to this issue, but there are many issues where we have a different position.....if we see that we can no longer influence, it would be clear that we have nothing more to do, not just on these issues, but any others as well where we see that is has gone over the limit, and our presence has no meaning anymore, it’s clear that we won’t stay [in the coalition]. So far we think we have an influence.

[Reporter’s words]: Life has shown that the coalition party has made public announcements about ‘going over the limit’ only during elections, during the last four years during the parliamentary and presidential elections by criticizing the authorities.

[Reporter’s words]: to the question of what influence the ARF has had on the position of government specifically with respect to NK and the return of territories in the last 4 years, and the issue of returning or not returning the lands, Kiro Manoyan again avoided the question, stressing that in the last four years and now,

KM: they are different presidents, different people, they’re different politically. Yes, we have had an influence, we have had an influence in many issues, not only concerning NK..

Somebody [not the reporter] in the background asked: specifically about NK issue?

KM: It makes no sense to say specifically, there is no need to open our internal kitchen here. But we have seen that we have hadinfluence and have kept our membership in the coalition.

In closing, the reporter quotes Kiro Manoyan as saying,

“Today, everything depends on the negotiations on NK and the position of Armenia to surrender or not surrender the territories”.

On the Occasion of October 27...

ՀԱՅՏԱՐԱՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ

1999թ. հոկտեմբերի 27-ին, գնդակահարվեցին Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Ազգային ժողովը եւ Կառավարությունը: Սպանվեցին Ազգային ժողովի նախագահ Կարեն Դեմիրճյանը, վարչապետ Վազգեն Սարգսյանը, պատգամավորներ, կառավարության անդամներ: Հայկական պետականության վրա ձեռք էին բարձրացրել հինգ ստահակներ, սակայն դա այդ պահի իշխանության, մասնավորապես գործող նախագահ Ռ. Քոչարյանի եւ Ազգային անվտանգության ղեկավար Սերժ Սարգսյանի մեծագույն խայտառակությունն էր եւ ամոթը, ինչից հետո, քաղաքական ու մարդկային նվազագույն արժանապատվություն ունենալու պարագայում, նրանք երկուսն էլ պետք է հրաժարական տային: Նրանք ոչ միայն այդ չարեցին, այլեւ, մասնավորապես Ռ. Քոչարյանը, իրենց հետագա վարքագծով խորացրեցին առաջին իսկ պահից լայնորեն տարածված կասկածը՝ այդ ոճրագործությանը նրանց մեղսակից լինելու մասին: Հենց հոկտեմբերի 27-ի այս ոճրագործությունից հետո, մի քանի ամսում դուրս գալով իրենց համար ստեղծված ծանր իրավիճակից, այս երկյակը հիմնադրեց եւ ժամանակի ընթացքում կատարելության հասցրեց ավազակապետական այն հանցավոր համակարգը, որն այսօր շարունակում է կործանել հայկական պետությունն ու նրա ժողովրդին: Հոկտեմբերի 27-ը շարունակելու է մնալ Հայոց պետականության ճակատին խարան, իր կործանարար հետեւանքներով շարունակելու է գործել այնքան ժամանակ, քանի դեռ չի քողազերծվել ժամանակին կատարված դատական ֆարսը, քանի դեռ չեն բացահայտվել ու պատժվել դրա կազմակերպիչները եւ մյուս մեղսակիցները:

October 27, 1999 Parliament Video on YouTube

An article on Aravot...

This is an excerpt from an article that was published in Aravot's October 19 issue, front page, which tells about an anonymous witness. They keep his name out for obvious reasons, the paper says. The anonymous source says that while people had built barricades to protect themselves, and real battles were being waged at the intersection of Paronyan and Mashtots streets against citizens, the army recruits were ordered to open fire on civilians.

[This part is a verbatim translation from the paper]
"The army recruits, who had refused to execute the order and had been fired at by their own commander, realized that the situation was becoming unpredictable and gradually left their positions; they escaped toward Hotel Metropol using the bridge adjacent to St. Sargis Church and entered the Zangu gorge by the side of Haghtanak Bridge hoping to find a safe place. Some of them were already wounded, but a few were able to reach the Kilikia district. Here the residents, seeing them and understanding what was happening in the center of the city, took some of the wounded into their houses and gave them safe haven.

The solders called their families, who came and took their sons home or to the hospital. Our source, who knows some of the individuals who protected the soldiers, assured us that are still many things related to March 1 which immediate eyewitnesses cannot yet divulge, for understandable reasons. Indeed there are many living eyewitnesses to the tragedy of “March 1” who witnessed the military operations undertaken on Mahstots Boulevard and Paronian and Leo streets, the actual firing on people; some day they will certainly talk and tell what they saw."

Aravot then continues to comment on the events of March 1.

Pashinyan's interview...in English

The MP3 of Pashinyan's interview can be found on the Payqar site, and the full armenian text of the interview is at RFE/RL on Oct 16.
Here is the translation of his interview, for those interested:

Aghasi Yenokyan: Mr. Pashinyan, you have been underground yet it is clear from your articles that you are familiar with political developments in Armenia. You had announced a revolution. What happened to that revolution? Was it postponed? Was it silenced? Or, is it continuing now?

Nikol Pashinyan: In my opinion, nothing awful has happened to the revolution. On the contrary, the past nine months have shown that all non-revolutionary avenues of restoring legitimacy, constitutional order and rule by the people in Armenia have been exhausted.

Let’s take the recent elections in local self-government. The conclusion that can be drawn from those is the same: the people, to who belongs the exclusive constitutional right to constitute its rule, is denied the freedom and possibility to exercise that right.

Revolution is the only option left to restore that freedom and establish legitimacy in Armenia. It is in this context that I view the tactics of the opposition in the last 8 months. The people’s movement has refrained from taking rough steps, in a way giving the authorities a chance to demonstrate that it is possible to establish legitimacy, to reinstate civil rights, freedom of speech and free economic competition without a revolution, that is, without removing the current authorities. But the authorities have shown through their actions that the revolution is the only option left to establish legitimacy.

Beyond that, I want to stress that the revolution is the only option to restore the unification of the public because the citizens of Armenia can be unified only when the same body of laws apply to everyone, when those laws work to the same extent for everyone.

It goes without saying that our revolution should be velvety, bloodless, and peaceful; but that depends not as much on the opposition as it does on the authorities.

Aghasi Yenokyan: It is known that you are accused of the main crimes of March 1—of murders and other crimes. How do you answer to those accusations? Are you preparing to appear in court?

Nikol Pashinyan: I consider that those who were killed on March 1 are my brothers; their loss is a personal grief and tragedy for me and I feel obligated to their memory.

Yes, the authorities accuse us of murders coupled with mass unrest, meaning that they accuse us of organizing the murders of March 1. This is an unprecedented legal absurdity because that accusation assumes that not only the perpetrators of the murders have been revealed, but that it has been proven that they acted on the orders of the opposition. Yet not only have the authors of the murders not been revealed to date, but they are being carefully concealed by the prosecutors.

That which concerns my being in freedom, underground or in prison, frankly speaking those are not social situations for me, but different forms of struggle. I’ve been underground during this time because I think that at some point my appearance on the stage of a rally might be necessary for the popular movement—very necessary. If I see that the possibility of such a necessity is exhausted, I will choose prison without hesitation as a normal phase of the struggle.

Numerous famous activists have spent long years in prison in the name of the victory of the people. But neither prison nor the underground, nor freedom, can be en end in itself for the political activist.

By being underground for this long I also wanted to show that the national security services and police of the Republic of Armenia are sterile structures and are incapable of intellectual contest or struggle.

And, if one day people hear that they have arrested me, let them know that I have wished to be arrested, that I have opted to continue my struggle in prison.

Aghasi Yenokyan: There is the opinion that by letting the political prisoners free, it is possible to remove the current tension in the public. Do you agree? If yes, then why do you think the authorities have not opted for the easing of tensions?

Nikol Pashinyan: Candidly speaking, I am surprised by all those views that consider the freeing of political prisoners something that the authorities should do. We should understand that the authorities will free the political prisoners if they have no other options left, meaning that they have no other choice left. Denying choice to the authorities is the task of the Armenian National Congress, the task of the people’s movement.

If the authorities have the capability of keeping our comrades in prison, then it is we who have given them that capability. I call on all the participants of our movement and our sympathizers to look at the problem of our political prisoners from this perspective.

That which concerns the international community and the European Council, it is not principles that they protect; they react to power relations. If the movement is strong and systematic, the international community will help; it will defend the standards of international human rights. If the movement shows fear and is accommodating, the international community will forget its pronouncements on human rights and international conventions. This is a simple truth, and I think we should all consider this our point of departure.

The Rally is on...

The rally has started and the pictures sure seem packed full of people.
LTP's speech is already available in Armenian and English.

A timely interview...

Spread the Word!



Pashinyan has given an exclusive interview to RFE/RL.
RFE/RL has an article with a short summary of the interview, here.
Listen to it by going to HIMA's posting of the interview.

Straight to the point...

This is direct from lragir

THE STATEMENT OF THE REPORTER TSOVINAR NAZARYAN

I heard yesterday that the ad hoc committee to study the events of March 1 has testimonies about burnt cars but no testimonies of witnesses of blood.I would like to tell Samvel Nikoyan that on that day when the police had already retreated I saw blood on the tunnel near the Fish Shop. At that moment it was already known that two people were killed by gunshot at the head.The puddle of blood I saw was not as big as the one in the footage of A1+ and there no piece of jaw in it. But it should be taken into account that I appeared there when the water cannons had already finished washing away the blood. Besides, I did not study the entire territory.Someone said I cannot prove that it was blood, and human blood, “I did not carry out an examination”. But I would like to ask Samvel Nikoyan: how about the blood of 8 killed on the spot and dozens of injured people? After all, if you admit there were victims and injured people, you cannot deny that there was blood. The water cannons could not wash away the whole because the demonstrators made them retreat as well.What does it mean “we have no testimonies”? I do not hesitate to help you fill in that gap. After my statement you already have such a testimony, and I believe that the number of such testimonies will increase. One more clue. Why don’t you suggest that the American experts study the footage where there is a big hole from gunshot in the cheek of the young man who was saved by miracle? Maybe it will answer the question about the piece of jaw.

TSOVINAR NAZARYAN
reporter

«ԵՍ ԱԿԱՆԱՏԵՍ ԵՄ ԱՐՅԱՆ ԼՃԱԿԻ»

ԼՐԱԳՐՈՂ ԾՈՎԻՆԱՐ ՆԱԶԱՐՅԱՆԻ ՀԱՅՏԱՐԱՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ
Երեկ լսեցի, որ մարտի 1-ի դեպքերն ուսումնասիրող ժամանակավոր հանձնաժողովը վկայություններ ունի մեքենաներ այրելու մասին, բայց արյուն տեսնողների վկայություններ չունի: Սամվել Նիկոյանին ուզում եմ հայտնել, որ այդ օրը, երբ ոստիկանական ուժերն արդեն նահանջել էին, կեսգիշերի կողմերը ես տեսել եմ արյուն Ձկան խանութին հարող թունելի վրա: Այդ պահին արդեն հայտնի էր, որ երկու հոգի վախճանվել են գլխին ստացած հրազենային կրակոցից: Իմ տեսած արյան լճակն այն մեծը չէր, որ պատկերված է Ա1+-ի տեսանյութում, եւ դրանում ծնոտի կտոր չկար: Բայց պետք է հաշվի առնել, որ ես դեպքի վայրում հայտնվել եմ, երբ արդեն ջրցան մեքենաներն արել էին իրենց գործը` լվացել էին արյունը: Հետո, ես չեմ զննել ամբողջ տարածքը: Ինչ-որ մեկն ինձ հուշեց, որ ես չեմ կարող ապացուցել, որ դա արյուն էր, այն էլ` մարդու արյուն` «փորձաքննություն չեմ արել»: Բայց ուզում եմ հարցնել Սամվել Նիկոյանին` տեղում սպանված 8 հոգու եւ տասնյակ վիրավորների արյունն ինչ եղավ: Ի վերջո, եթե ընդունում եք, որ եղել են զոհեր ու վիրավորներ, չեք կարող չընդունել, որ արյուն էլ է եղել: Ջրցան մեքենաները չէին կարող ամբողջը լվանալ, որովհետեւ դրանք էլ են ստիպված եղել նահանջել ցուցարարների առաջ: Ինչ է նշանակում` «վկայություններ չունենք»: Չեմ հապաղում օգնել ձեզ` լրացնելու այդ բացը: Իմ այս հայտարարությունից հետո, արդեն ունեք համապատասխան վկայություն, եւ վստահ եմ, որ այդ վկայությունների թիվը կավելանա: Մի հուշում էլ, ամերիկացի փորձագետներին առաջարկեք ուսումնասիրել նաեւ այն տեսանյութը, որում հրաշքով փրկված երիտասարդի այտի վրա հրազենով խոշոր անցք է բացված: Հնարավոր է, որ դա պատասխանի ծնոտի կտորի մասին հարցերին:

ԾՈՎԻՆԱՐ ՆԱԶԱՐՅԱՆ
լրագրող

Tippy Toeing Towards Independent Thought?

Former Foreign Minister Oskanian has made some interesting comments in a Press Conference. Very gentle, very cautious comments that maybe, maybe, he's not fully in line with everything this present government is doing, of course it could be just a show.
There wasn't too much information available about the conditions of his resignation, or if they were in any way peculiar or eyebrow raising, which they very well may not have been. In his farewell speech on April 11, 2008, made the following statement:

The weeks after March 1 were the most difficult of my entire career. On the one hand, I am part of an admininstration which, at the end of the day, is responsible for what happens in this country. On the other hand, from the beginning of their campaign, I disagreed, publicly and privately, with the tactics, methods and goals of the opposition.

Not surprising, given that he played a key role in the firing of numerous Armenian Diplomats who had publicly stated that they believed the February elections to be fraudulent.

Now, in this press conference, he is expressing his opinion that amnesty be given to the political prisoners. I didn't realize he thought there were political prisoners in Armenia.

[UPDATE - as was pointed out in the comment, he doesn't call them political prisoners, just prisoners. Of course not. Yet another way of working around the issue without actually addressing any of the fundamental problems. Maybe deep, deep down he really thinks they are guilty of crimes against the government, against the republic of Armenia, and its just for the safety (?) or stability (?) or image (?) of Armenia that he thinks they should get amnesty (this term is a whole separate issue). Not so unlike the ARF's difficult positionin February and since, no?]

He also talked about the recent attitude change towards relations with Turkey. He said alot, and very little at the same time. Which may mean he's a good diplomat, but doesn't mean he necessarily said anything... or maybe he said everything there was to say.

His new foundation, Civilitas, was inaugurated yesterday. Who funds this Foundation?

Wandering Piglets Who Paint...

As has been much discussed of recent, it has now been reported that the jaw bits seen on the video of March 1 are not human, but belonged to a piglet, and the blood is actually paint. A1plus reported that this determination was not based on forensic analysis the jaw, but rather, upon analysis of the video itself.
That's some mighty impressive forensic work there. Mighty impressive. How do they know its not a baby goat, or deer? I didn't think the pictures were that good, but apparently they are.
These are pictures of various different animals. The master forensic scientists in Yerevan should have absolutely no trouble identifying these, I would think.

Here's the video from YouTube that shows the jaw:
look especially between 4:30 and 5:00 minutes

Who's Healing Whom?

I was appalled, but not surprised, to read that Condoleezza Rice, in her recent meeting with SS, considers that "healing reforms" are taking place in the current political situation in Armenia. SS seems on the verge of trading so much that Armenia and Armenians have struggled for, in exchange for being left alone vis a vis the legitimacy of his presidency and the continuing oppressions and violence on behalf of the government.

So, here we have SS:
-he has done what seems to be a 180 in what he believes: in what he is willing to sell, to whom, and what is acceptable in return; once a defender of NK, refusing to negotiate at all, now he is the jubilant auctioneer; once pro-ARF and anti-Turk, now he is taking steps toward working with Turkey and Azerbaijan (so far without(?) the support of the ARF)...
-in fact, staying in power, for whatever reason - be it political ambition, be it financial gain, or whatever else - has become the main priority...
-he has used violence against those whom he is supposed to be defending
[upon reading this before posting, this description, with some variation, is not so inaccurate of a number of the members of the coalition government]

In the 1960's there was a man in the US who had a similar story. Before I go on, I will state up front that I am not saying this is identical or even a great parallel (and I can think of many differences offhand), but it came to mind, so I thought I'd put it out there...
- a man who was the first judge who referred to a specific African American lawyer in the court room with the respectful prefix "Mister," but later was one of the most segregationist Governor's known in the US. He may as well have created the Jim Crow laws himself. And he is quoted as saying he did so because he knew he could win with the support of the KKK, whereas he lost the first time without their support...
- a man who ran for office so many times, gubernatorial and presidential, that when the law prohibited him from running again, he had his wife run for him...
- a man known for giving the order for Bloody Sunday, where approximately 600 peaceful marchers were attacked with tear gas and clubs by state and local police.


That man is George Wallace. The fact that he became a born again Christian and recanted his hatred and racism, apologized openly, and appointed many African Americans during his final term as governor, at least in my eyes, is nice, but diddly-squat in the face of his actions, and the damage he did to the Civil Rights movement, and all Human Rights.

Not so different:
Left: Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965
Right: First Day of Spring, Armenia, March 1, 2008

A letter to Torosyan from SAAG

(See English Below)

Մեծարգո պարոն Թորոսյան,

Քանի որ բոլոր արժանավայել որոշումները պետք է գնահատվեն ըստ արժանվույն, մեր ազգային պարտքն ենք համարում Ձեզ շնորհավորել Հայաստանի Հանրապետական Կուսակցությունից դուրս գալու Ձեր որոշման կապակցությամբ: Թեև քաջ գիտակցում ենք, որ Ձեր գործընկերների կողմից Ազգային Ժողովի նախագահի պաշտոնից չհեռացվելու դեպքում նման նախաձեռնություն երբեք չէիք ցուցաբերի, սակայն Ձեր զավակների ու թոռների աչքում թերևս պահպանած արժանապատվության փշրանքները գեթ փրկելու համար Հանրապետական Կուսակցությունից դուրս գալու Ձեր խիզախ քայլն արժանի է ծափահարության: Այո, պարոն Թորոսյան, "արժանապատվությունն" իհարկե այն բառն է, որ, գործածվելով Ձեր անվան հետ միևնույն նախադասության մեջ, փռթկոց է հարուցում, սակայն Ձեր մտերիմներն ու սիրելիներն արժանի են այլ կերպ մտածել կարողանալու համար առնվազն մի պատրվակ ունենալու:

Մի խնդրանք միայն, պարոն Թորոսյան. Երբ Հովիկ Աբրահամյանն իբրև Ազգային Ժողովի հաջորդ նախագահ ամբիոն բարձրանա, խնդրում ենք հիշեք ինչպես էիք ամեն ամբիոն ելնելիս Դո'ւք դավաճանում Ձեր ժողովրդին ու Ձեր նախնիներին և գիտակցաբար նենգափոխում փաստերը, ապակողմնորոշում ժողովրդին և Ձեր ձայնը տալիս այն օրենսդրությանը, որն ուղղված էր ողջ իշխանությունը կենտրոնացնելու մի քանի հոգու ձեռքում, որոնք այսօր կառավարում են ոչ թե հանուն ժողովրդի, այլ իրենց իսկ շահի:

Պարոն Թորոսյան, կրկին ողջունում ենք Հանրապետական Կուսակցությունից դուրս գալու Ձեր որոշումը, սակայն նաև նշում ենք, որ Դուք այլևս պաշտոնապես մաշված ու դեն նետված գործիք եք ինքնավերարտադրվող այն մեքենայի կողմից, որն այսօր Հայաստանը վերածել է բռնապետության: Մի գործիք, որ, ընդունում ենք՝ մենք նույնպես ուրախ ենք, որ դեն է շպրտված:

Անկեղծորեն՝

ՍԱԱԳ / SAAG (Save Armenia Action Group)

________

Dear Mr. Torosyan,

As all worthy decisions should receive due credit, we consider it our national duty to congratulate you on your decision to resign from the Republican Party of Armenia. Though we are mindful of the fact that such a measure would surely not have been taken had you not been ousted as President of the National Assembly by your colleagues, your courageous action to at least save whatever vestige of decency you may have in the eyes of your children and grandchildren by resigning from the Republican Party deserves applause. Yes, Mr. Torosyan, "decency" is definitely a word we, too, chuckle at when used in the same sentence with your name, but those near and dear to you at least deserve an excuse to believe otherwise.

We ask of one thing, Mr. Torosyan. When Hovik Abrahamian takes to the podium as the next President of the National Assembly, please remember how you betrayed your people and your ancestors every time you took to the podium and knowingly fabricated facts, misled your people, and cast your vote for legislation aimed at consolidating power in the hands of the few who today govern not for our peoples' sake, but their own.

Again, Mr. Torosyan, we welcome your decision to resign from the Republican Party, but we also note that you are now officially a worn out tool tossed aside by the self-perpetuating machine that has today turned Armenia into an authoritarian state. A tool, admittedly, we, too, are glad to see discarded.

Sincerely,

Save Armenia Action Group (SAAG)

Old Chairs, New Chairs, and Anarchy

In the midst of the news regarding Torosyan's resignation, there have been a few articles written here and there about the Chair of the Court of Cassation.
Hovhannes Manukyan, the former chair, resigned less than a week ago, and its not really clear why. Of course, there have been rumors that his resignation is related to the events of March 1, but the there is very little information. I found one interview on Panaroma, but it doesn't answer the question. Lragir has published a short article hypothesizing that this is one more action by SS in a series of actions which aim to further control different sections of government and law enforcement agencies.
His replacement is Arman Mkrtumyan, on whom there is also scant information. He was involved in the A1plus and other media proceedings of 2003, and seems to have a penchant for getting upset and throwing people out of court.
In his speech introducing the new Chair of the Court, SS made the following comment:

“We must show intolerance towards corruption, irresponsibility, and the disability to criticize your own activity. The atmosphere of anarchism must be annihilated.”

I feel exactly the same way, SS. For once, we agree.

Next Rally is September 26...

(UPDATED BELOW)

There isn't much news yet about the protest yesterday, but here's what I've heard...
There were military personnel at every corner, as well as riot police and military patrol cars (and a few armored military vehicles located at that large intersecton just above Opera where Prospect and Bagramyan meet). One private estimate on the number at the rally was 20-25 thousand. RFE/RL also confirms the strong police presence, as well as the presence of water cannons.

On another note, apparently the issue of Armenia will be brought up at the Fall meeting of PACE, reports RFE/RL. Its not in the most recent draft agenda for the meeting, but the document was approved on Sept 10, and Hammarberg's briefing was on the 11th. We will see. Not that I have much faith remaining in these organizations.

If you do have a little faith left, and want to email the members of the Monitoring Committee of PACE - here is the link to the members of the Committee, most of the names have an email in the link.

Video from e-channel news


Video of LTP's speech 15.9.08
Video of Aram Sargsyan's Speech 15.9.08

What's really going on???

A1plus reports that Gul stated to Sabah Turkish Newspaper that Armenia has agreed to give up the liberated/occupied territories. I wondered if this was really true: it seems to be. Not only that, but the impression one gets from the news is that Turkey is acting as a mediator-like figure in this issue. And, SS was the one who seems to have brought this up:

Gul said Sarkisian had brought up the Garabagh issue during the talks first, which he did not expect.
"Quite frankly, I was not expecting such a comprehensive and detailed discussion on the Garabagh conflict."

And of course, the US is involved:

"America strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," US Vice President Dick Cheney said during a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev last Wednesday...
Cheney thanked Azerbaijan for its "brave contributions" in the fight against global terrorism...
Vice-President Cheney and President Aliyev have a long-standing relationship dating back to the times Cheney worked for the multinational company, Halliburton, while Aliyev acted as vice-president of Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR.

And the icing on the cake... Hammarberg is reporting progress in Armenia.

And I found this as well... CumHuriyet reported that...

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey's proposal to set up joint research commission on the incidents of 1915 was still on the table. "We are ready to face our history. We have nothing to be ashamed of in our history," Babacan said while commenting on relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Some more articles: Kommersant: Cheney's trip to Baku “failed”, Slowing down of Genocide recognition will be result of Armenian-Turkish talks

News on Ashot Manukyan...

I recently learned that Mr. Manukyan's defense attorney made a motion to disqualify the two prosecutors working on the case, in this most recent chapter of the ongoing trial just several days ago. That motion has been denied by the judge. Mr. Manukyan's case is now pending in the higher felony court that deals with the more serious felonies. The case has been adjourned to Sept. 17 - to hear from the police officer and witnesses.

There have been, and continue to be, appeals to Brian Ardouny and Aram Hamparian (of the two largest American-Armenian organizations) to lend a voice. And yet they continue to do nothing. Their influence should be used to demand the protection and advancement of the lives of Armenians today. Instead, there is silence while people like Ashot Manukyan (who incredibly continue to fight despite no realistic reason to hope) are left to rot in prison.

Why is this? Maybe they care, maybe they don't. If they do, they sure have an odd way of showing it. Look through their websites: ANC, Armenian Assembly of America, do not have the current issues in Armenia, even topics related to the political prisoners, in any significant proportion (if at all) on their pages. Even Asbarez and Hairenik newspapers scantily cover, with very careful wording, the issues in Armenia.

Like I said, if these organizations really do have the well being of Armenia, and the people of Armenia as a priority, this is truly a novel way of showing it.

Small tensions can add up...

There's been a flurry recently of what is happening with the push to get Tigran Torosyan out, and Muk in, and whether or not it really matters at all.

It seems once again there are statements being made about the removal and/or replacement of government members, with a mechanism that seems out of the ordinary. In the past it has been related more so the ARF and their "decisions" to replace, circumventing how those changes are supposed to be made, legally and constitutionally speaking. But this time, it seem Tigran Torosyan's own party is trying to get him out, which is curious to start with.

But, they're not using the first-line method, which is to have a vote in parliament against him. And, since they control the parliament, you would think that voting him out, if so ordained by the party, shouldn't be difficult. But they seem to be trying to get him out, at least for now, by pressuring him. Why is that? Maybe, if they went about it the usual way, by vote, they wouldn't get the votes they need...? Wouldn't that be embarassing....

Maybe this is another small schism in the mortar....
Even large tsunamis start as small tensions that build and explode between tectonic plates which appear stable...

The Protest has been moved - SEPTEMBER 15

ՀԱՆՐԱՀԱՎԱՔԸ` ՍԵՊՏԵՄԲԵՐԻ 12-Ի ՓՈԽԱՐԵՆ ԱՄՍԻ 15-ԻՆ
The Protest has been moved to September 15

It seems the authorities may have actually approved a rally... we will know soon enough if they not only approve it, but also stop interfering as well...

Statement regarding wire-tapping by HCAV...

The Helsinki Citizens Assembly of Vanadzor has authored a letter regarding the recent revelations of illegal wire-tapping by the authorities prior to and around the time of the presidential elections in February. The statement is below, or click here. Feel free to send this to De Puig (llmdepuig@senado.es), to the spokesperson for Davis (matjaz.gruden@coe.int) or other members of PACE (members of the appropriate committee at PACE can be found here):


On September 4, 2008, G. Hakobyan, the director of the National Security states in his interview to “Armenpres” that “Candidate for the president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his supporters made appeals for civil disobedience during the meetings in the whole pre-election campaign period regardless of the final results of elections.”

With such clarifications the National Security director justifies the decision to tap the phone calls of Aexander Arzumanyan, the head of pre-election office of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

1. For the first time in Armenia, the National Security director publicly informs that he is pursuing political opponents

2. The National Security director considers that civil obedience is an action liable to criminal punishment, which is not an action liable to criminal punishment by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. Moreover, it is recognized as a civic right by the third paragraph of the preamble of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In fact, the National Security director surpassed his official rights and used them against citizens, which is an action liable to criminal punishment according to RA legislation (Articles 316, 317 of the Criminal Code).

With this statement

1. I am applying to RA Prosecutor General A. Hovsepyan to open a criminal case against the National Security director G. Hakobyan

2. I am applying to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Luis Maria De Puig to discuss the issue of obvious political pursuits towards political opponents by the National Security director, a head of one of the key structures of authorities, as the Republic of Armenia is a member state of CoE that took commitments.