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FREEDOM SQUARE IS CALLING
by Houry Mayissian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/21/freedom-square-is-calling/
February 21, 2013
Growing up in Lebanon, I remember football (soccer) tournaments were
events of magnified importance. Teams were divided along confessional
and political lines and, naturally, so were the fans.
Rally at Freedom Square in Yerevan on Feb. 20, 2013. (Photo by Khatchig
Mouradian, The Armenian Weekly) I recall the stories my father and
older brother would tell when they returned from a game. Depending
on whether Homenetmen had won or lost, they would talk about the
chants and slogans, describe how this or that player scored a goal,
how luck was simply not on our side that day, or how the referees
were completely unreasonable and unfair in their rulings.
Teams went to great lengths to ensure victory. Bribing referees and
fixing matches were regular occurrences for several local teams that
could afford it-a phenomenon we refused to participate in. For the
community, though, it did not matter. Whether we were strong enough
to take on the opponent or not, whether we could expect a game to be
fixed or not, our fans showed up in the numbers with their flags and
chants to support their team. It was not just about sports. The games
were about the community's thirst for acknowledgement, for winning. It
was one way to channel the political aspirations and frustrations of
a community formed on the ashes of Genocide and deprived of a homeland.
And so rain, hail, or shine they showed up.
So did our compatriots in Armenia on the day of the country's sixth
presidential election. They showed up to express their aspirations for
a better future; they showed up for a chance to win against all odds.
With three major opposition forces not participating, the
non-competitiveness of the election seemed to dominate public
discourse, or at least media discourse, in the pre-electoral phase.
The results were going to be fixed-and they were; People were going
to be bribed, pressured, intimidated-and many were; Not many people
were going to show up, because it was all a sham-but many did; it was
meaningless to participate-but the aftermath has shown it certainly
wasn't. In retrospect, those who held these views-myself included,
but, more importantly, several prominent opposition forces-were right
about many things; but I am thankful we were wrong about what counts
most-the will of the people.
Election day is over but the struggle for fair and just elections is
not. We may never know the exact proportion of votes Raffi Hovannisian
and Serge Sarkisian received, but our people are still showing up,
this time at Freedom Square, to defend their democratic right to vote,
to defend their choice. I don't know where the future will lead us,
and if, when, or how the gatherings at Freedom Square will come to
an end this time around. How the coming days pan out will depend
on many things, including the decisions and actions of Hovannisian,
the authorities, and other political forces in Armenia.
In these uncertain times, however, one thing is certain. This
struggle is not about Hovannisian gaining power. It is not about
the Heritage Party or the Republican Party; the ARF, the Armenian
National Congress or Prosperous Armenia. This sentiment was
reiterated by Hovannisian himself during one of his speeches at
Freedom Square. This struggle is about freedom, self-determination,
nation-building, and democratization. It is the struggle for a better
future-a strong Armenia where the will of the people is respected,
not oppressed. For this reason, it must be a united struggle.
Yet again, Armenia is at a crossroads. All political forces in Armenia
have a choice to make. Those who see themselves defending the freedom
of the people and democratic principles must play their role in this
struggle. This is particularly true for the main opposition parties.
Members of the Armenian National Congress-which remains embroiled in
an internal struggle-have attended the gatherings at Freedom Square.
Prosperous Armenia remains silent. The ARF has announced it stands by
the people. More concrete actions are needed, however. Having sat out
the elections out of lack of faith in the process, these parties now
have an opportunity to re-evaluate their policies and to take part
in carving out a different future for our country. Otherwise they
may risk marginalizing themselves.
The people of Armenia have spoken. They have spoken against five
more years of corruption, emigration, social inequality, economic
deprivation, human rights violations and irresponsible foreign
policies. We can't afford five more years of suppressing the will of
the people. Enough. Freedom Square is calling.
by Houry Mayissian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/21/freedom-square-is-calling/
February 21, 2013
Growing up in Lebanon, I remember football (soccer) tournaments were
events of magnified importance. Teams were divided along confessional
and political lines and, naturally, so were the fans.
Rally at Freedom Square in Yerevan on Feb. 20, 2013. (Photo by Khatchig
Mouradian, The Armenian Weekly) I recall the stories my father and
older brother would tell when they returned from a game. Depending
on whether Homenetmen had won or lost, they would talk about the
chants and slogans, describe how this or that player scored a goal,
how luck was simply not on our side that day, or how the referees
were completely unreasonable and unfair in their rulings.
Teams went to great lengths to ensure victory. Bribing referees and
fixing matches were regular occurrences for several local teams that
could afford it-a phenomenon we refused to participate in. For the
community, though, it did not matter. Whether we were strong enough
to take on the opponent or not, whether we could expect a game to be
fixed or not, our fans showed up in the numbers with their flags and
chants to support their team. It was not just about sports. The games
were about the community's thirst for acknowledgement, for winning. It
was one way to channel the political aspirations and frustrations of
a community formed on the ashes of Genocide and deprived of a homeland.
And so rain, hail, or shine they showed up.
So did our compatriots in Armenia on the day of the country's sixth
presidential election. They showed up to express their aspirations for
a better future; they showed up for a chance to win against all odds.
With three major opposition forces not participating, the
non-competitiveness of the election seemed to dominate public
discourse, or at least media discourse, in the pre-electoral phase.
The results were going to be fixed-and they were; People were going
to be bribed, pressured, intimidated-and many were; Not many people
were going to show up, because it was all a sham-but many did; it was
meaningless to participate-but the aftermath has shown it certainly
wasn't. In retrospect, those who held these views-myself included,
but, more importantly, several prominent opposition forces-were right
about many things; but I am thankful we were wrong about what counts
most-the will of the people.
Election day is over but the struggle for fair and just elections is
not. We may never know the exact proportion of votes Raffi Hovannisian
and Serge Sarkisian received, but our people are still showing up,
this time at Freedom Square, to defend their democratic right to vote,
to defend their choice. I don't know where the future will lead us,
and if, when, or how the gatherings at Freedom Square will come to
an end this time around. How the coming days pan out will depend
on many things, including the decisions and actions of Hovannisian,
the authorities, and other political forces in Armenia.
In these uncertain times, however, one thing is certain. This
struggle is not about Hovannisian gaining power. It is not about
the Heritage Party or the Republican Party; the ARF, the Armenian
National Congress or Prosperous Armenia. This sentiment was
reiterated by Hovannisian himself during one of his speeches at
Freedom Square. This struggle is about freedom, self-determination,
nation-building, and democratization. It is the struggle for a better
future-a strong Armenia where the will of the people is respected,
not oppressed. For this reason, it must be a united struggle.
Yet again, Armenia is at a crossroads. All political forces in Armenia
have a choice to make. Those who see themselves defending the freedom
of the people and democratic principles must play their role in this
struggle. This is particularly true for the main opposition parties.
Members of the Armenian National Congress-which remains embroiled in
an internal struggle-have attended the gatherings at Freedom Square.
Prosperous Armenia remains silent. The ARF has announced it stands by
the people. More concrete actions are needed, however. Having sat out
the elections out of lack of faith in the process, these parties now
have an opportunity to re-evaluate their policies and to take part
in carving out a different future for our country. Otherwise they
may risk marginalizing themselves.
The people of Armenia have spoken. They have spoken against five
more years of corruption, emigration, social inequality, economic
deprivation, human rights violations and irresponsible foreign
policies. We can't afford five more years of suppressing the will of
the people. Enough. Freedom Square is calling.