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SERJ TO SERZH: ARMENIAN AMERICAN ROCK STAR CASTS DOUBTS OVER SARGSYAN'S ELECTION VICTORY, URGES CHANGE
http://www.armenianow.com/vote_2013/43901/armenia_presidential_election_2013_serzh_sargsyan_ serj_tankian
VOTE 2013 | 26.02.13 | 10:56
Photo: Photolure/Archive Photo
American-Armenian musician, lead vocalist of the System of a Down
rock band Serj Tankian has sent a letter to Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan in connection with the February 18 presidential election,
in which he congratulates the incumbent on his formal reelection,
but also casts doubts about the fairness of the vote.
In the letter Tankian, in fact, supports the claims by opposition
leader Raffi Hovannisian, who was the main challenger of Sargsyan in
the ballot, and now is disputing his election victory. The musician
known as a staunch civil rights activist also effectively backs
Hovannisian's demands for punishment of vote riggers, dissolution
of the National Assembly and holding of new genuinely free and fair
elections as a compromise to end the post-election crisis in Armenia -
something that has reportedly been rejected by Sargsyan.
"Victory means getting the most votes, of course, in a democracy.
Based on the overwhelming reported fraud from many NGOs, irrespective
of the OSCE report, it seems like it would be scientifically impossible
for even you, Mr. President, to know whether you actually won the
majority of votes. That's quite funny isn't it? That you, the President
of Armenia are not really sure, deep inside, whether you are the true
chosen leader of your people or not," wrote Tankian in an open letter.
"That would really bother me personally. If I wanted to lead my
people, I would really want them to make that decision for themselves,
because I respect my people and that is their decision to make.
Otherwise, I would take over Armenia and call myself the Governor
General of Armenia or Dictator du jour or whatever moniker I felt
like sporting that day. Maybe your party is out of control and the
oligarchs are running out of caviar or something and they want to
make sure that the flow of the good times doesn't stop."
The prominent musician continues:
"Whatever the case, it is time for change.
Whether you've won fairly or not, somehow you are now President,
again. What does that mean to you?
Yes, Artsakh is important to us all and we have to struggle together
for our brothers there.
But what I mean is how are you going to progress the cause of
Armenians, in Armenia and around the world?
How are you going to help pull the country out of its economic,
social, and political dysfunction and turmoil?
Obama at least offers hope, even when he lets us down.
Years ago, I started a campaign asking President Obama to do the right
thing and stick by his promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
You too took an oath, to the constitution of Armenia, to protect the
country from enemies foreign and domestic. Those who steal elections
from my people are domestic enemies that need to be punished.
It should be your duty to enforce that, even if some think it
hypocritical. You should also consider dissolving Parliament and
being the first Armenian reformist President who goes out of his way
to make sure that future elections are fair and representational.
Serzh, everyone who knows me knows that I can't stand injustice. And
like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly. But the avalanche
of people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice
is tipping the scale for us all.
You need to know that.
Armenia is desperate for the rule of law more than anything else. And
no one can be above the law. You can make that happen, now, by example
and presidential decree.
Unite us Serzh. Inspire us.
Please take this challenge.
Thank you for your time".
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armenianow.com/vote_2013/43901/armenia_presidential_election_2013_serzh_sargsyan_ serj_tankian
VOTE 2013 | 26.02.13 | 10:56
Photo: Photolure/Archive Photo
American-Armenian musician, lead vocalist of the System of a Down
rock band Serj Tankian has sent a letter to Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan in connection with the February 18 presidential election,
in which he congratulates the incumbent on his formal reelection,
but also casts doubts about the fairness of the vote.
In the letter Tankian, in fact, supports the claims by opposition
leader Raffi Hovannisian, who was the main challenger of Sargsyan in
the ballot, and now is disputing his election victory. The musician
known as a staunch civil rights activist also effectively backs
Hovannisian's demands for punishment of vote riggers, dissolution
of the National Assembly and holding of new genuinely free and fair
elections as a compromise to end the post-election crisis in Armenia -
something that has reportedly been rejected by Sargsyan.
"Victory means getting the most votes, of course, in a democracy.
Based on the overwhelming reported fraud from many NGOs, irrespective
of the OSCE report, it seems like it would be scientifically impossible
for even you, Mr. President, to know whether you actually won the
majority of votes. That's quite funny isn't it? That you, the President
of Armenia are not really sure, deep inside, whether you are the true
chosen leader of your people or not," wrote Tankian in an open letter.
"That would really bother me personally. If I wanted to lead my
people, I would really want them to make that decision for themselves,
because I respect my people and that is their decision to make.
Otherwise, I would take over Armenia and call myself the Governor
General of Armenia or Dictator du jour or whatever moniker I felt
like sporting that day. Maybe your party is out of control and the
oligarchs are running out of caviar or something and they want to
make sure that the flow of the good times doesn't stop."
The prominent musician continues:
"Whatever the case, it is time for change.
Whether you've won fairly or not, somehow you are now President,
again. What does that mean to you?
Yes, Artsakh is important to us all and we have to struggle together
for our brothers there.
But what I mean is how are you going to progress the cause of
Armenians, in Armenia and around the world?
How are you going to help pull the country out of its economic,
social, and political dysfunction and turmoil?
Obama at least offers hope, even when he lets us down.
Years ago, I started a campaign asking President Obama to do the right
thing and stick by his promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
You too took an oath, to the constitution of Armenia, to protect the
country from enemies foreign and domestic. Those who steal elections
from my people are domestic enemies that need to be punished.
It should be your duty to enforce that, even if some think it
hypocritical. You should also consider dissolving Parliament and
being the first Armenian reformist President who goes out of his way
to make sure that future elections are fair and representational.
Serzh, everyone who knows me knows that I can't stand injustice. And
like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly. But the avalanche
of people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice
is tipping the scale for us all.
You need to know that.
Armenia is desperate for the rule of law more than anything else. And
no one can be above the law. You can make that happen, now, by example
and presidential decree.
Unite us Serzh. Inspire us.
Please take this challenge.
Thank you for your time".
From: A. Papazian