TO IDHR MEMBERS AND ADHERENTS, AND TO THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE
KarabakhOpen
03-03-2008 12:27:21
In the Republic of Armenia, in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh), and in the
Diaspora IDHR has comprehensively analyzed the developments of the
past 16 years of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the conditions
and situation preceding the 2008 presidential elections. As an Armenian
self-governing, unaffiliated and independent civic actor, we released
our position regarding our findings in December 2007 (see the editorial
of "Tesaket (Opinion)-IDHR", issue #24, ). We are pained
to report that these analyses and predictions are being vindicated.
The dispersion of the peaceful demonstration in Freedom Square in
Yerevan on the early morning of 1 March 2008, while predictable, once
again proved that the authorities, all political parties and forces,
official intellectuals and artists, and other forces supporting
them and cooperating with them are operating with illegitimate
and unconstitutional orders and methods. The powers officially
responsible for the Republic of Armenia are attempting, once again, to
establish themselves using apolitical rules, manipulation, unlawful
and irresponsible modes of conduct. At present, the fickle and
irresponsible nature of the political powers and bureaucrat/rulers,
which renders them unable to be guided by our society and govern it
with political and legal principles, has been expressed more acutely.
The presidential elections on 19th February 2008 were accompanied
by numerous violations that were met with apathy and inactivity by
the law enforcement. These violations included forgeries, violence,
bribes for votes, partisan coverage on Public Television, unethical
and immoral conduct and bartering by the political actors before,
during, and after the elections, and serve as vivid evidence of
the abovementioned qualities of the authorities. All these actions
are being masked by announcements alleging that the nation had been
disrupted, that there have been conspiracies in issues of national
importance, and that the "opposing" political forces are gathering
around the current authorities for the sake of avoiding civil
war. However, our nation has not been disrupted. Moreover, if they
insist that there are traitors and criminals working on the Nagorno
Karabagh issue and other state activities, then those should be (or
should have been) condemned at the appropriate times and within the
circles of the law.
Our society and people have not been disrupted, but there is vast
social and economic polarization. There is no danger for civil war,
but the crisis and degeneration of the state and the society because
of the inhumane, unpatriotic, irresponsible and immoral conduct of
these discredited political, "intellectual," and "spiritual" leaders
remains a serious threat.
The authorities have disgraced and discredited themselves, as have
the official "intellectuals," political forces, and the leaders of
the Armenian Apostolic Mother See.
As we have already expressed in our statement of December 2007, IDHR
does not share the ideas of the Armenian National Movement and Levon
Ter Petrosyan, and does not adhere to them. We maintain our position
to this day. . However, we find that the authorities and the forces
cooperating with them did not have the right to inflict violence
upon the demonstrators of Freedom Square who were expressing their
dissatisfaction and civic demand in a political and constitutional
manner.
If the leaders of the humane, national political and social powers
were civilized, they would be obliged to resolve problems solely by
political means and within the realm of the Constitution for the sake
of the development of their society and their nation.
IDHR condemns the criminal and authoritarian line of action planned
and implemented by the rulers of the Republic of Armenia. It endangers
the civic and social solidarity and cohesion, and adds to the injustice
of socioeconomic politics they have implemented which have caused our
country to become polarized and weakened. The result is our current
riot and revolt.
Political, moral, national, and humanist line of action, culture,
and conduct is absent in our dominating political forces. The third
VIABLE political power is also absent. For that very reason, we are
sadly witnessing that the dissatisfaction and political demands of
our youth, society, and people are being directed and lead by the
return of the First President of the Republic of Armenia, Levon Ter
Petrosyan. IDHR finds that the revolt and dissatisfaction expressed
by the layers of RA society are truly justified.
Every force and ruler, who prefers the national and personal
collective interests to his personal, cliquish criminal or
non-criminal interests, is obliged to reckon with this justifiable
dissatisfaction by submitting him or themselves and their actions to
true self-criticism. For the sake of the collective prosperity and
solidarity of the majority of the Armenian youth, RA society, and the
entire Armenian people, they are obliged to commit to substantive
and comprehensive political reforms in their behavior, politics,
and activities.
With its constitution, the Republic of Armenia is a democratic, legal,
and social state, where the power belongs to the people.
We summon the aware, self-reliant, and independent actors of
Armenian youth, society, and people, whether they are individuals or
institutions, to stand above the mob and the demagogic manipulations
and be clear-headed. Be the full-fledged owner of our people and our
country, and forbid our society and people to once again take the road
of despair, apathy, conformity, and slavery. Let us focus on political
and civic actions, let us despise and loathe the clannish, criminal,
immoral sponsors and their instruments who are busy with political
and civic bartering. This also applies to those political, social,
and cultural actors, "intellectuals," and journalists who serve as
their tools, whether they are found in the schools, universities,
workplaces, neighborhoods, or anywhere else in our civic life.
We urge the society of the Republic of Armenia and every aware and
conscious individual and institution therein to immediately organize
legal, bold, and fearless endeavors in the political and social
spheres. Let us be the owners of the superiority of constitutional
order and rights in our country by respecting the RA Constitution,
and prevent its manipulation by the clannish tendencies of this or
that ruler or activist.
Anyone who inflicts (orders and implements) violence in order to defend
the social and constitutional order will be obliged to give accounts
for the legitimacy and lawfulness of his decisions and actions. We,
the people, are demanding that account.
Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, IDHR Yerevan, March 1,
2008 published at 18:00
Address: Aygedzor 4/1, Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia Tel/Fax:
(374-10) 26-47-12, Mobile: 091-43-21-19 E-mail: [email protected] Website: