FROM APRIL 9 TO NOVEMBER 5: ARMENIAN PROTEST TRANSFORMS FROM ‘REVOLUTION OF GREETINGS’ TO ‘REVOLUTION OF MOLOTOV COCKTAIL’
Analysis | 07.11.13 | 10:49
Photolure
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
During the last seven months when the main opposition leaders of
Armenia appeared to have lowered the banners of public struggle the
radical protest mass thirsty for a “quick revolution” has shaped
itself into a nationalist-driven force ready to fight for “justice
and democracy” with sticks and petrol bombs.
Enlarge Photo
On April 9, the day when post-election protests by Heritage party
leader Raffi Hovannisian staged for weeks climaxed in an “alternative
inauguration” followed by clashes with security forces, the opposition
leader was cautious to avoid major bloodshed and eventually agreed to
lead his supporters to the hilltop Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd
and pray there together with Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan for “a New
Armenia”. Those who threw firecrackers at riot police and used swearing
and curses on November 5 may have been among those who did not accept
that move from Hovannisian and wanted a “revolution” at any cost.
Shant Harutyunyan, a 48-year-old leader of the obscure nationalist
Tseghakron party, began a sitting strike in Liberty Square late
last week with a poster that said “I’m Starting A Revolution”. The
former prisoner who was involved in the high-profile “Case of Seven”
(when alleged organizers of the 2008 post-election unrest, including
ex-foreign minister Alexander Arzumanyan, were tried), initiated a
protest as part of the Million Mask March world event promoted by
Anonymous, a loosely associated international network of activists
known to wear Guy Fawkes masks. What was initially announced as a
peaceful march to call for peace, justice, democracy, transparency
and freedom turned violent as demonstrators put to use firecrackers
and sticks to confront the security forces. As many as 37 activists
were detained, of whom 20, including Harutyunyan and his son, were
later arrested.
The clashes in Mashtots Boulevard that paralyzed traffic in Yerevan’s
central thoroughfare for several hours became the first major
standoff between protesters and security forces since Hovannisian’s
“Inauguration of New Armenia” day. It was accompanied by calls to blow
up the presidential palace with petrol bombs and the leader of the
movement who used foul language and gangster slang was a stark contrast
to the U.S.-born, raised and trained leader of the Heritage party who
mostly used elevated language that was sometimes too complicated for
‘commoners’ to understand. While some said Harutyunyan’s behavior
showed the desperate situation in which the Armenian society has
found itself today, others also described his actions as at least
adventurous and meaningless. Still others have said that it was
“natural”, since someone would have to fill the political vacuum that
emerged in Armenia since the previous opposition movement gradually
left the scene in summer.
Heritage leader Hovannisian held a few more rallies after April,
but those were not as crowded as before, while the rest of the
opposition forces during this period either stayed passive or were
more preoccupied with internal problems.
The social protest that was in the air, however, made citizens
themselves take over the reins and organize themselves for struggle.
A vivid example of that civil activism was in July when a campaign
against the rise in bus fare rates in Yerevan forced the authorities
to suspend their decision. Civil protests also continued around
the controversially redeveloped covered market in the capital,
a controversial construction project in Komitas Avenue, and elsewhere.
Karabakh war veterans also raised their social problems before the
government. But all those protests have been more of a civil than
political nature, even though representatives of some opposition
political parties stood by the civil activists in their struggle.
Harutyunyan’s initiative, as believed by many, was the “last desperate
cry”, which once again showed the presence of a revolutionary situation
in the country that could lead to violence at any moment.
But there is a sizable body of opinion that discards the November 5
protests as an “illogical” event.
Political analyst Yervand Bozoyan says that while the Tuesday clashes
indeed showed the indignation that exists in society today, they
still could not be regarded as a serious event as they were “outside
the logic of political and social processes”.
“I do not see any major political development. Strictly speaking,
no such process can be seen in today’s political field, today’s
political arena is in quite a difficult situation, because electoral
institutions in Armenia do not work and it is clear that the factor
of “tough neighborhood guys” and people with administrative resources
increases, while the political and ideological factors become secondary
issues. In this case if there is no proper election in the country,
the role of political parties becomes symbolic,” says the analyst,
adding that Harutyunyan today reflects the desperate situation and
poor social conditions of the Armenian society where people do not
see any other way out and resort to extreme measures.
From: A. Papazian
http://armenianow.com/commentary/opinion/49851/armenia_protest_shant_harutyunyan_arrests