Month: December 2008

RUSRUSGASPROM: ARMENIA SUCCESSFULLY SETTLES TASKS TO MAINTAIN ENERGY SAFETY

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 11:41:00

ArmInfo. Having no own reserves of hydrocarbon resources and access
to the sea, against the background of complicate and controversial
political and economic processes in the region, Armenia demonstrates
a bright example of successful settlement of tasks to maintain the
necessary level of energy safety, Karen Karapetyan, Chairman of
ArmRusgasprom CJSC Board – Director General, declared at Yerevan
State University, Thursday.

He also added one of the instruments for further improvement of energy
safety of Armenia is development of new export policy aimed at creation
of unique and good possibilities to boost foreign economic exchange
of Armenia and the neighbor-states. ‘Armenia should take an extremely
active stance on elaboration and consistent implementation of new
regional projects having common ‘points of convergence’ for the states
in the region. In conditions of global financial and economic crises,
there is simply no real alternative to regional cooperation, especially
in the sphere of energy. Having two gas pipelines and an underground
gas holder, as well as surplus competitive generating capacities,
Armenia has all the chances to become a peculiar liberal energy
platform in the region’, he said. K. Karapetyan is sure that settlement
of such an uneasy task implies ambitions programs in the economy of
Armenia, in particular, improvement of energy safety though formation
of a competitive export market; development and implementation of
state policy of Armenia on real support to export-targeted energy
projects based on flexible tariff policy and coordinated stances of
strategic partners on extension of regional energy cooperation that
would involve Turkmenistan, Iraq and other states. ‘Such are the key
conditions that would make Armenia the energy ‘base’ in the region
i.e. further liberalization of foreign economic exchange, better access
to innovative technologies, leading technical standards and methods
of state and corporate economy management, and real transfer to a new
quality export policy. The role of professional information support
to these ambitious programs is rather great>, K. Karapetyan said.

He thinks that everything above mentioned cannot be fully fulfilled if
all the countries of the region do not understand the uniting prospect
of the energy cooperation and are not ready to accept and observe
the legal regime coordinated with the fixed international norms.

‘Today Armenia assesses presence of the new energy situation in the
region as a fact which is very positive for itself and understands
the real opportunity to be involved in big regional energy projects
in which it has all the chances to become one of the key players at
the energy map of the south Caucasus. We think that it will be easier
to fulfill this large-scale task if our initiatives and projects are
supported on the needed informational level, which we rely on’, –
Karapetyan emphasized.

CONGRESSMAN MARK KIRK SELECTED AS INCOMING CO-CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 19:52:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) echoed
Representatives Frank Pallone’s (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg’s (R-MI)
welcome of the selection of Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) as the
incoming Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.

The Assembly told ArmInfo, Congressman Kirk succeeds Co-Chair Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), who will be retiring at the end of the 110th
Congress.

"After 20 years of working with the Armenian-American community
to advance U.S.-Armenia issues, I am honored and excited to serve
alongside Congressman Pallone as co-chair of the Caucus on Armenia
Issues," Kirk said. "The Caucus on Armenian Issues is well-known for
its work to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia relationship and recognize
the Armenian Genocide. I look forward to working with Congressman
Pallone and all members of the Caucus to advance the U.S.-Armenia
relationship in the 111th Congress",- he added.

"The Assembly congratulates Congressman Kirk on this new role
and extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing Caucus Co-Chair
Knollenberg," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Nearly
90 percent of the Caucus is returning in the 111th Congress and we look
forward to working with Representative Kirk and the entire Caucus",
– he said.

DECISION OF PACE MONITORING COMMISSION IS RESULT OF OUR CONSISTENT AND DECISIVE STRUGGLE: COORDINATOR OF CENTRAL OFFICE OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 19:53:00

ArmInfo. The decision of PACE Monitoring Commission is result of our
consistent and decisive struggle, says the coordinator of the Central
Office of the opposition Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan.

The tough decision of the commission was somewhat surprising as
for a long time the CE had rejected the arguments of the Armenian
opposition concerning facts of human rights and democracy violation
in Armenia. "Now, at last, the international community has officially
recognized that our arguments were true and has agreed that Armenia
is being ruled by a dictatorial regime. It is the present bandocratic
regime that is to blame for this huge blow on the international image
of our country," Zurabyan said.

Asked what steps the authorities will take in the current situation
in the opposition’s opinion, Zurabyan replied: "I don’t know what the
authorities will do. But one thing is clear: the only way to improve
the situation both in the international arena and inside the country
is to release all the political prisoners immediately". Zurabyan added
that the National Congress headed by the first president of Armenia
Levon Ter-Petrossyan "will continue its fight for establishment of
democracy in Armenia till final victory".

DRAFT RESOLUTION OF COMMITTEE ON THE HONOURING OF OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS BY MEMBER STATES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (MONITORING COMMITTEE) ON ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 19:47:00

ArmInfo. The Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments
by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)
(Co- rapporteurs: Mr Georges COLOMBIER, France, Group of the European
People’s Party, and Mr John PRESCOTT, United Kingdom, Socialist Group)
has issued a draft resolution on Armenia.

According to the PACE web-site the document says:

1. In its Resolution 1620 (2008) on the implementation by Armenia
of Assembly Resolution 1609 (2008), adopted on 25 June 2008, the
Parliamentary Assembly considered that progress had been insufficient,
despite the political will expressed by the Armenian authorities to
address the requirements set up in Resolution 1609 (2008), adopted on
17 April 2008, following the crisis that ensued after the presidential
election of February 2008. The Assembly therefore addressed a series of
concrete demands to the Armenian authorities and resolved to consider
the possibility of suspending the voting rights of the members of the
Armenian parliamentary delegation to the Assembly at its January 2009
part-session, if the requirements set up in Resolutions 1609 and 1620
were not met by then.

2. With regard to the requirement to ensure an independent, impartial
and credible investigation into the events of 1 and 2 March 2008, the
Assembly welcomes the establishment by the President of Armenia, on 23
October 2008, of a "fact-finding group of experts to inquire into the
events of 1-2 March 2008", following a proposal by the Commissioner for
Human Rights of the Council of Europe. It equally welcomes the decision
of the opposition to fully participate in the work of this group.

3. The Assembly stresses, however, that it is the manner in which
this group will conduct its work, as well as the access it will have
to information by the relevant state institutions at all levels,
that will ultimately determine its credibility in the eyes of the
Armenian public. The Assembly therefore:

3.1. calls upon all political forces to refrain from politicising,
or interfering in, the work of this fact-finding group;

3.2. calls upon the Armenian authorities to ensure that the
fact-finding group will be given the fullest possible co-operation by,
and full access to information from, all state bodies and officials,
without exception, including those officials that have left office
or have been replaced since the events on 1 and 2 March 2008; the
fact-finding group should be allowed to obtain any clarification
needed with regard to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of
persons related to the events on 1 and 2 March 2008.

4. The Assembly regrets that limited progress has been made by the
Armenian authorities with regard to its earlier demands, as expressed
in Resolutions 1609 (2008) and 1620 (2008), concerning the release of
persons deprived of their liberty in relation to the events of 1 and 2
March 2008. It notes in particular that, contrary to Assembly demands:

4.1. a significant number of prosecution cases and convictions was
based solely on police testimony, without substantial corroborating
evidence;

4.2. a very limited number of charges under Articles 225 and 300 of
the Criminal Code of Armenia have been dropped.

5. The Assembly notes that doubts have been voiced regarding the nature
of the charges brought under Articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code,
as well as with regard to the legal proceedings against those convicted
in relation to the events of 1 and 2 March 2008, including by the
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. The Assembly therefore
considers that there are strong indications that the charges against a
significant number of persons, especially those charged under Articles
225-3 and 300 of the Criminal Code and those based solely on police
evidence, have been politically motivated. It follows that persons
convicted on these charges can be considered political prisoners.

6. The Assembly regrets that the authorities have not so far availed
themselves of the possibility to use all legal means available
to them, such as amnesty, pardons or the dropping of charges, to
release those who were deprived of their liberty in relation to the
events of 1 and 2 March 2008 and did not personally commit acts of
violence or intentionally order, abet or assist the committing of
such acts. It therefore urges the authorities to consider favourably
further opportunities to this end.

7. In these circumstances, the Assembly will continue assessing the
political will of the Armenian authorities to resolve the issue of
persons detained in relation to the events on 1 and 2 March 2008,
in line with earlier Assembly demands.

8. The Assembly expresses its satisfaction with respect to the efforts
made by the Armenian authorities to initiate reforms in several other
areas, as demanded by the Assembly, in particular in the fields of
media, electoral legislation and the judiciary, and calls upon the
authorities to pursue the co-operation developed with the relevant
Council of Europe bodies in these fields. With respect in particular
to media pluralism and freedom, the Assembly:

8.1. welcomes the proposals made with a view to ensuring the
independence of the media regulatory bodies in Armenia and calls upon
the authorities to fully implement the forthcoming recommendations
of the Council of Europe experts in this regard;

8.2. takes note of the adoption of amendments to the Law on Television
and Radio that cancels all tenders for broadcasting frequencies
until 2010, when the introduction of digital broadcasting in Armenia
will have been completed. Without pre-empting the merits of this
decision, the Assembly underlines that the technical requirements
for the introduction of digital broadcasting should not be used by
the authorities to unduly delay the holding of an open, fair and
transparent tender for broadcasting licences, as demanded by the
Assembly.

9. Notwithstanding positive developments in some areas, the Assembly
finds it unacceptable that persons have been charged and deprived of
their liberty for political motivations and that political prisoners
exist in Armenia.

Therefore, despite the positive steps taken towards the establishment
of an independent, transparent and credible inquiry, the Assembly
decides to suspend the voting rights of the members of the Armenian
parliamentary delegation to the Assembly, under Rule 9, paragraphs
3 and 4.c, of the Rules of Procedure, until the Armenian authorities
have clearly demonstrated their political will to resolve the issue of
persons deprived of their liberty in relation to the events of 1 and
2 March 2008, in line with its demands, as expressed in Resolutions
1609 (2008) and 1620 (2008).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS-SECRETARY OF PEOPLE’S PARTY OF ARMENIA ON DECISION OF PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE: THIS TIME THE AUTHORITIES HAVE FAILED TO ESCAPE AS THEY COMMITTED TOO MANY CRIMES AND VIOLATIONS

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 19:45:00

ArmInfo. "This time the authorities have failed to escape as they
committed too many crimes and violations",- Press-secretary and
member of Board of the oppositional People’s Party of Armenia (PPA)
Ruzan Khachatryan said to ArmInfo correspondent when commenting upon
Dec 17 decision of PACE Monitoring Committee.

According to her, the harsh and unambiguous decision of the Monitoring
Committee was a bit unexpected as the issue of depriving the Armenian
delegation of its voting rights in PACE has been risen for several
times, including the period of the previous presidential election in
2003, however, the matter didn’t reach rendering of a decision. "By
the way, the matter concerns only the decision of the Monitoring
Committee, and it is for PACE itself to say the last word during the
winter session late in coming January",- Khachatryan said.

She added it is hard to say what bound steps the Armenian authorities
will take as the Monitoring Committee’s position is more than
unequivocal.

"Furthermore, even declaration of amnesty and release of the political
prisoners will not solve the problem of ensuring human rights and
functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia. The authorities have
proved that even if they make concessions, they will do this only under
harsh international pressure. The latter, however, cannot change the
essence of the regime. The latest example is non-provision of a hall
for the opposition supporters’ conference",- Khachatryan concluded.

SECRETARY OF HERITAGE PARTY FACTION ON PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE DECISION: NOW THE PRESIDENT SHOULD MAKE A POLITICAL DECISION

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 19:38:00

ArmInfo. ‘Now it remains for President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
to think over what happened and make a political decision’, Stepan
Safaryan, Secretary if Heritage opposition party parliamentary faction,
said to ArmInfo when asked to comment on Wednesday decision by PACE
Monitoring Committee.

He said that over the last 9 months the Armenian authorities have been
receiving warning messages by European officials. Unfortunately,
they did not take those messages seriously. ‘In September PACE
Monitoring Committee adopted a transitional report wherein it urged
the Armenian authorities to use the anniversary of independence
as a useful occasion to announce amnesty. When this call remained
unrealized, CE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg made
rather harsh assessments. Over the last months the Armenian authorities
did not even try to imitate fulfillment of PACE resolutions No.1609
and No.1620, and now they have got what they deserve’, S. Safaryan
said. He is sure that the decision by PACE Monitoring Committee was
unexpected to the Armenian authorities since they hoped the activation
of the negotiations on Karabakh and Serzh Sargsyan’s initiatives on
Armenian-Turkish relations would allow favoring the international
community.

‘However, the authorities did not listen to the warning by Thomas
Hammarberg who had exactly declared recently in Yerevan that regional
processes cannot move the situation with human rights in Armenia
aside’, the oppositionist explained.

When commenting on Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan’s
statement who hopes that processes will take place in Armenia
which will make it possible to change suggestions of PACE Monitoring
Commission to better before the winter session of PACE, Stepan Safaryan
said: "I would like to hope that foreign minister expressing such
hope was basing on something specific. But must not forget that the
president adopts final decision and maybe Nalbandyan was trying to be
an optimist. At present Serzh Sargsyan has only one choice: either he
releases political prisoners, punishes those who were guilty for the
1 March events, ‘losing his face’ in a certain sense, or the whole
country will pay off for the present situation’.

EX-FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA: PROPOSAL BY PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE TESTIFIES THAT ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES’ APPROACH ON FULFILLMENT OF OUR COMMITMENTS DIFFER FROM THAT OF EUROPEAN STRUCTURES

ArmInfo
2008-12-18 19:32:00

ArmInfo. Yesterday’s decision by PACE Monitoring Committee is extremely
worrying for Armenia, especially given the growing influence of
economic crisis on Armenia that will undoubtedly crease serious
problems with democratization and make Armenia’s positions in the
international arena even weaker. Ex-Foreign Minister of Armenia
Vardan Oskanyan made this statement when commenting on PACE Monitoring
Committee draft resolution on Armenia’s commitments to PACE adopted
in Paris Wednesday.

‘I think that Armenian authorities should rapidly respond to this
statement by such actions that would lead to adoption of a favorable
decision for Armenia in January. The circumstance that Monitoring
Committee proposes suspending the right of the Armenian delegation to
vote and, it seemed to be unexpected for the authorities, testifies
that the approaches of the Armenian authorities on fulfillment of our
commitments differ from the approaches of European structures. While
the authorities are expressing confidence that Armenia fulfills
the requirements by the relevant resolutions, the response by the
Monitoring Committee testifies to the opposite. I hope that Armenian
authorities will make real steps till January in order our approaches
and those of PACE on fulfillment of our commitments no longer differ,
and it will become possible to prevent the decision so unfavorable
and extremely dangerous for Armenia’, Vardan Oskanyan said.

YOU SHOULDN’T PUNISH THE SWITCHMEN
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
18 Dec 2008
Armenia

If The Organizers Are In Freedom

Interview with the President of the Sakharov Foundation of the
Protection of Human Rights Levon Nersisyan

"Today the PACE monitoring committee is discussing the "issue" of
Armenia. Do you think they will condemn us for not releasing the
"political prisoners" as expected by the revolutionary public?"

"They are politicized structures, where they employ emphasized double
standards. That is why, frankly, I’m not very much interested in what
issues they will discuss during the session of the committee and what
decision they will take regarding Armenia.

Of course we would be very glad if the decision is pro-Armenian, but
if we go deep into the "European criteria", on the one hand they pass
condemning resolutions, as in Armenia’s case and on the other hand they
manifest quite different stance, as for example in case of Georgia."

"By your assessment are there political prisoners in Armenia at
the moment?"

"I have to respond to your question by a question. Is there any
politics in Armenia? Politics is first of all a struggle between
ideas and projects.

Do you see any struggle between ideas, stances, and programs in
our country?

Have you ever seen our elections to be held

under the "flag" of ideological, political and program based
struggle. No. The struggle is among individuals, or personalized
approaches at best, or the parties fixed on individuals.

And, where there is personalized struggle, there is no place for
politics.

If I’m a political figure, if I haven’t joined the government, if I
haven’t got a any program, or if I have put my program in my pocket
and I promise the heaven in case people vote for me, I’m sorry this
has nothing to do with politics. If you have any proposals, ideas,
any approach regarding the settlement of certain problems faced
by society, just make them public and let the people make their
choice. Where were these people many years before? Those who call
themselves radical opposition. They were in the government, holding
positions. They had both time and chance to show what they could do.

On the other hand if some people committed criminal offenses, why
didn’t they speak about it before? Why does the ruling power only now
remember about it? Each criminal offense must be punished on time. If
they haven’t done that there will always appear people who would like
to politicize it, manifesting vendetta, political persecutions etc."

"The "political prisoners" of our days are persecuted not for their
previous crimes, but for the organization of March 1 mass disorder and
for direct particip ation in this disorder. What they want is that
the leaders are released and those who followed their provocative
appeals be punished. Is this approach justified?"

"No doubt there were people who have organized and headed all those
developments. If the charges imposed are grounded, that is to say
if they are confirmed by the facts, naturally these people must
be punished.

You can’t punish the "switchmen", passing round the organizers.

Of course the switchmen are also guilty but they say everyone has
its share.

After all you can’t spit on the face of the policeman, use foul
language and call it democracy. I’m sorry but it is hooliganism,
and far not democracy.

If the leaders call to "overthrow the government of chieftains" and
to do it by all the possible means: by breaking, destroying, etc.,
some part of society, who are disapproved of these authorities will
naturally follow them.

Of course the leaders must firstly be subjected to liability and not
those who trusted them and took to the streets, to break and destroy
everything at hand.

Society should also give their assessment. After all we must form civil
attitude towards the country, our motherland and state institutes. We
shouldn’t split the people into those from Karabakh, Yerevan, Gyumry,
etc, saying that if this or that person is from Javakhq or Karabakh
he/she is our enemy. If we20are guided by this mentality we will
appear in the middle age."

YOU SHOULDN’T BRING DOWN THE DEFINED GUIDE-POST
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
18 Dec 2008
Armenia

Interview with the chair of the public organization "Democracy,
Welfare, Security" Edward Antinyan

"Mr. Antinyan is it right to condition the settlement of Karabakh issue
and the foreign pressures on Armenia by the state of the democratic
institutions functioning in our country?"

"There is no resource for the swift settlement of Artsakh issue. And
there is also no resource for delaying the settlement of the
conflict. I totally agree that the settlement of Artsakh issue must
be conditioned by the state of the democratic institutions and their
activity. Only strong democracies can confront the world challenges
and foreign pressures.

Artsakh issue sums up such national, state interests, which are
on top of all. This is the reason why no one will allow bringing
down the guidepost of this issue of great importance for all
Armenians. Artsakh’s fate and the future are of special significance
for the Armenian people and the state.

The problem is not even in the geographical territory of
Karabakh. Artsakh is our dignity and pride."

"Which factors are the most influential and decisive in terms of the
settlement of Artsakh issue?"

"Those who have participated in the negotiations regarding Artsakh,
its liberation and defense, have qui te different approach towards
the future of Artsakh. These people will definitely support the
authorities that refuse the version of concessions, and will protest
against those who will agree to bring down the negotiation guidepost
to the level of concession.

Today, there are influential forces in our internal political domain
that are in a relatively inert position, separated from the President,
but in this case they can’t help interfering.

The second President has enshrined a clear negotiation guidepost and
in case of bringing down this guidepost the third President can’t
expect the support of the second President. Moreover he will be
seriously counteracted.

It is high time for those who had serious participation in Artsakh’s
fate to become more active. If they are late and in case Artsakh is
disapproved of the negotiation process, then the people from Artsakh
will come to Yerevan, will knock at their doors and demand to protect
their interests.

Particularly I can give two names: Robert Kocharyan and Samvel Babayan.

Robert Kocharyan was the Head of Defense Council of Artsakh and the
first President of Artsakh. And Samvel Babayan was the Commander
of the Defense Army of Artsakh, the leading player of the military
situation and responsible person. In my view lots of things depend
on the stance of the before mentioned two figures.

No one can involve them in any type of intrigue. They maintain ba
lance. So better if none of them appears in the camp opposing the
incumbent President, otherwise the settlement of Artsakh issue will
be jeopardized.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"TRIAL OF SEVEN": TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT POLITICAL?
Armen Tsatouryan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
18 Dec 2008
Armenia

What if it doesn’t take place?

Over the recent days, everybody has focused on the "Case of 7" which,
as some people persistently claim, is an attempt of persecuting the
political figures carrying on a political struggle.

Based on this hypothesis, 7 individuals charged within the frameworks
of the case (Hakob Hakobyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan, Sasssoun Mikayelyan,
Alexander Arzoumanyan, Grigor Voskerchyan, Souren Sirounyan and
Shant Haroutyunyan) are already characterized by a number of American
diplomats as "political prisoners".

Let’s try to understand to what extent the above-mentioned individuals’
participation in the March 1 disorders fits the definition of the terms
"struggle for political views" and "political prisoner".

Obviously, most of the above-mentioned 7 individuals cannot even be
characterized as "political figures".

If we ignore A. Arzoumanyan and a couple of others, all the rest can
be classified among the commanders of the "fighters" who led the
post-electoral developments into a violent confrontation and bear
direct responsibility for the acts of violence. Furthermore, let’s
bear in mind that even the fact of being a political prisoner does
not safeguard anyone against remaining unpunished for participation
in acts of violence, car arson, attacks and lootings.

A question arises as to what will happen in our country if, after each
election organized on the state level, the representatives of any
political force or individual candidate imitate the scenario of the
"March 1" developments. Next time, we will clearly have 100 and more
vs. 10 victims.

Moreover, it was obvious to everybody that the candidate who suffered
defeat in the elections with his 21 percent of votes did not have a
moral right to dispute the election results. And what will happen
if the difference in the number ranges between 3 or 5 percent, as
characteristic of developed countries? In that case, large crowds of
voters will appear in the streets, and the subsequent acts of violence
will assume larger scales.

In our opinion, the acts for which the above-mentioned seven
individuals are held accountable not only have nothing in common with
the rights deriving from the term "political figure" but are also a
novelty for post-electoral developments in Armenia in terms of both
their volume and organization.

Let’s note that there were also mass rallies and medium-scale clashes
following the 1996 presidential elections. One can only imagine what
would happen if the participants in those events were accompanied
by the body-guards of Myasnik Malkhasyan and Hakob Hakobyan, and
possessed their "arsenal" an d "military experience". The building
of the National Assembly would simply turn into a pile of ashes,
and instead of the couple of MPs beaten by the demonstrators we would
have a lot of dead bodies.

The same can be said in case of drawing comparisons between the "case
of seven" and the "case of 31" and other political trials held in
1995-97, because in the latter case the activity of a whole political
party was prohibited, and the newspapers supporting it were closed.

And what is going on at present? On the one hand, the entire
opposition-run press is busy politicizing the ‘case of seven’ and
on the other hand the authorities and the forces supporting it are
trying to explain to the international community the elementary truth
that the task of punishing the perpetrators of violence is the direct
obligation of the state.

What happened on March 1 was a big dramatized event aimed at
acceding to power through criminally punishable methods. And such
event naturally had its organizers and leaders in the persons
of the individuals charged in the "frameworks of the "Case of
Seven". Therefore, no matter how much the latter may try to push the
political motives of their deeds to the foreground this is not the
reason for which they are going to be convicted.

There is a concrete number of individuals who were killed or injured,
as well as a20lot of materials testifying to the ravages, arsons and
other acts of violence whose perpetrators should be held accountable.

The tragic events of March 1 will maintain the strong effect of a
dangerous precedent unless the acts of violence receive a clear-cut
legal assessment and their organizers and concrete authors are called
to responsibility.