PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA VOTES DOWN DRAFT DECISION TO SET UP AD HOC COMMITTEE TO STUDY INCIDENTS OF MARCH 1 2008

by Tatevik Shahunyan

ARMINFO
Monday, March 10, 12:25

Armenian National Assembly has voted down the draft decision to set
up an ad hoc committee of 1 March incidents. 47 parliamentarians
voted for the draft decision, while another 56 voted against it and
one abstained. As expected, the factions of the Republican Party and
Orinats Yerkir coalition parties voted against the draft decision.

Earlier, parliamentarian from Heritage opposition party, Alexander
Arzumanyan said that no committee is able to inquire into the incidents
of March 1 as long as there is parliament majority represented by the
Republican Party of Armenia. He recalled that the bloodshed of March
1 2008 happened when RPA was in power, so it is naive expecting any
impartial assessment of those tragic events fro RPA.

The ANC started organizing rallies in Yerevan on Feb 20 2008 protesting
against the presidential election of 2008. Post-election unrest
and clashes with police on March 1 2008 resulted in 10 deaths and
over 200 wounded. Those responsible for the tragedy have not been
revealed yet. Dozens of people were arrested after March 1 charged
with organization of mass disorders.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress