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  • To IDHR Members And Adherents, And To The Armenian People

    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, www.idhr.am ). 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:
    www.idhr.am
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