EIGHT REPORTED KILLED IN ARMENIA AFTER CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE, PROTESTERS
EurasiaNet
March 2 2008
NY
Eight people are reported to have been killed in overnight clashes
between police and opposition protesters in the Armenian capital,
Yerevan.
The protesters, who have rallied for 12 straight days, accuse the
government of rigging last month’s presidential election.
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports that troops and armored vehicles
are patrolling the main streets of Yerevan today.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day state of
emergency following similar clashes on March 1. Just hours after
Armenian police and Interior Ministry troops used truncheons, tear
gas, and electric stun guns to disperse opposition supporters from
a central Yerevan square, thousands who regrouped for a second rally
were again met with force by the authorities.
Riot police fired tracer bullets into the air and tear gas to disperse
the crowd of 15,000, and some demonstrators hurled rocks and Molotov
cocktails at police. Several vehicles were set fire or otherwise
destroyed in the course of the day.
Human Rights Watch has charged the Armenian police with using
"excessive force and violence" to disperse demonstrators.
As part of the state of emergency, mass gatherings have been banned,
and media outlets are required to only use official information
when reporting on the domestic political situation. The movement of
citizens has been restricted and the authorities will be allowed to
search vehicles.
The Armenia parliament today voted to confirm the state of emergency.
Eighty-one of the 131 lawmakers present cast their votes in favor.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is sending
a special envoy to Yerevan to offer help in mediating the crisis.
Ambassador Heikki Talvitie is to meet with both President-elect Serzh
Sarkisian and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, the second-place
finisher in the February 19 election who has claimed victory.
Speaking today to RFE/RL, Arman Musinian, a spokesman for
Ter-Petrosian, said the opposition has three demands — "to annul
the election, to punish those who rigged the elections, and to free
all political detainees."
House Arrest
Ter-Petrossian told RFE/RL after the initial early morning crackdown on
March 1 that he had been placed under house arrest, and that a number
of his followers were detained. Police were reportedly guarding the
entrance to his home.
Daily rallies following the contentious vote attracted tens of
thousands of protesters to Armenia’s Liberty Square, where they
voiced their belief that the elections were marred by fraud. A tent
camp was set up and participants vowed to remain on the square until
their demands for a new election were met.
But after Sarkisian secured key support for the formation of a
coalition government on February 29, the authorities made good on
their earlier threats to break up the rallies.
Hundreds of police and Interior Ministry troops surrounded the square
at 7:00 a.m. local time on the morning of March 1, and moved in to
break up the crowd.
Police reportedly forced scores of protesters onto buses, taking them
to local police stations.
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported that opposition figure and member
of parliament Armen Martirosian was hospitalized for injuries received
during the crackdown.
Former President Ter-Petrossian described the events that led to
the initial clash that resulted in 31 injuries during an interview
with RFE/RL.
"People were sleeping quietly. [Security forces] came in large numbers
with truncheons and started beating. At that time I was near the
microphone and I called on people to stay calm," he said.
"[Security forces] didn’t start the beating immediately. First they
stood in front of people and I urged people not to get in contact
with them and to stay quiet to see what they want. But nobody told us
anything, nothing was negotiated. And they suddenly attacked people
with truncheons and electric stun guns."
Violence Condemned
Within hours of the morning police action, OSCE Chairman in
Office Ilkka Kanerva condemned the use of force against peaceful
demonstrators.
"I urge the authorities to use maximum restraint," Kanerva said. "I am
troubled that there are reports of casualties. I urge the authorities
to release those detained, and I again call on the government and
the opposition to engage in dialogue."
The police said in a statement issued on March 1 that they took action
to disperse the protesters after learning that they were waiting
to receive "large amounts of firearms, grenades, metal rods, and
truncheons," which they believed would be used "to stage provocations
and stir up mass disturbances."
The authorities said after the initial raid that police officers were
wounded and that weapons were found in the protestors’ camp.
Police chased media away from the square as army trucks arrived to
take away the makeshift tent camp.
Protesters later regrouped in front of the French Embassy for a planned
rally as units of riot police arrived on the scene, setting the stage
for the violence later in the day.
Opposition supporters had been protesting daily in Liberty Square
since Prime Minister Sarkisian was elected to replace his ally, Robert
Kocharian, as president. Official results gave Sarkisian nearly 53
percent of the vote, with Ter-Petrossian getting 21.5 percent.
Ter-Petrossian is claiming that he is the rightful first-round winner,
and that Sarkisian used ballot stuffing and intimidation to steal
victory. Sarkisian has denied the charges.
In its initial assessment, the election-monitoring arm of the OSCE
declared the election "mostly in line" with Armenia’s international
commitments, while also noting the need for "further improvements."
The elections have been endorsed by the European Union and the U.S.
State Department has congratulated the Armenian people on an "active"
and "competitive" election.
Calls For Restraint Ignored
Authorities had warned on February 29 that their patience with the
protests in Yerevan was running out, and alleged that those behind
the rallies plan to seize power illegally.
The Council of Europe and the OSCE had called on the Armenian
authorities to exercise restraint. The United States Mission to the
OSCE said Washington was "very concerned" about the post-election
arrests of opposition politicians, as well as reports that authorities
have forcibly closed opposition offices.
At least six prominent opposition figures close to Ter-Petrossian
have been placed in pretrial custody on a number of criminal charges,
including illegal arms possession and assault.
Sarkisian’s efforts to gain acceptance for his victory received a
boost on February 29 when he reached a deal on the formation of a
coalition government with the third-place finisher in the elections.
Before agreeing to become Security Council secretary in the next
government, Orinats Yerkir party leader Artur Baghdasarian had decried
the election as deeply flawed. Baghdasarian also accused Ter-Petrossian
of trying to rig the election.