WALKING DISORDERS: THOUSANDS STAGE “SILENT PROTEST” ON FIRST DAY AFTER STATE OF EMERGENCY
In a mass display of defiant quiet, several thousands walked on Yerevan city center sidewalks today, shouting a message by saying nothing. A ban on public demonstration that has existed since March 1, when bloody and deadly clashes with law enforcement resulted in the deaths of 8, injury of at least 131 and the arrests of more than 100 was lifted today. But with today’s “silent protest” Armenia’s opposition demonstrated that while the State of Emergency no longer exists, the state of unrest is yet significant. Responding to a call broadcast via internet, teenagers to grannies left their homes and went into the streets, mindful of March 1 (see related articles) and the violence that came about the last time they tried to voice their discontent. There was no voice today. No shouts of either “Lev-on” or “Free-dom” that had identified the movement since the disputed February 19 presidential election. Instead, obedient to the internet message appeal for order they marched – strolled really – from Liberty Square to Myasnikyan statue, the polar points of disturbance three weeks ago. While walking separately they clearly walked united in front of restrained riot police as hundreds stood in an unlinked human chain along the protest pathway stretching some three-quarters of a mile. Some held photographs of oppositionists who have been arrested in the government crackdown, sparked by the violence that itself spilled from law enforcement intervention of what had been 10 days of peaceful protests. Some held political posters; some candles. Armine Hovannisian, wife of Heritage Party leader Raffi K. Hovannisian carried yellow daffodils. A few youth had photocopied crosshairs on their chest – a gesture that lost some of its meaning when jackets were pulled on against the spring chill. And all were conspicuously under the lens of government security forces who had cameramen posted along the route. Leaderless, they walked nonetheless purposefully under the capital’s overcast skies and through dust storms stirred at the many large construction sites along the way. Conversations were kept to polite volume in a crowd hardly bearing evidence of political might, but rather resembling the vigilant throngs that mark Genocide Memorial Day each April 24 here. Participants had been encouraged to wear something black for the event – a redundancy hardly making them stick out on these streetss. And if by chance Armenia might distinguish itself among the themed trend of “rose” and “orange” rebellions of the regional neighborhood, this could considerably be seen as the “Mute” revolution. If further such civil action is to be organized, it no doubt will face gathering resistance. A new law passed this week by National Assembly, effectively declares any such gathering illegal (and punishable) as part of President Robert Kocharyan’s promise to “restore stability” as part of his legacy to incoming president Serzh Sargsyan, who takes office April 9. Emphasizing his resolve to face down opposition, Kocharyan, according to state press services on Thursday, said that he will “initiate a legislative bill that would enforce tougher norms for protection of the statehood's foundations.”
- John Hughes
WILL THE ARMENIA ELECTIONS CRISIS AFFECT LOBBYING IN WASHINGTON?
The short answer is yes. The violence of March 1 and serious charges of electoral manipulations are certainly causing discomfort among our friends in Congress and is being exploited by Turkish and Azerbaijan-funded ...HERITAGE PARTY DECLARATION ON ARMENIA'S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Now more than ever, as the schism between the Armenian people and its government continues to expand, the Heritage Party calls for a national rehabilitation process. Such a process, if it is to be meaningful ...MEMORIES OF STEPANAKERT: KARABAKHI REPORTER COMPARES TO NIGHTS IN THE NKR CAPITAL
Gayane Mkrtchyan
On March 2, opposition daily newspaper reporter Kristine Khanumyan opened her article with the following sentences: “On the first day of spring the authorities congratulated people with truncheons and ...“WHAT HATRED THEY FELT”: A POLICEMAN’S ACCOUNT
Vahan Ishkhanyan
“Soldiers with truncheons and shields blocked the whole street and began to go forward to press the people against the embassy [building] believing they will disperse learning the soldiers have come. ...PERSPECTIVE: ENFORCEMENTS TALK FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF VIOLENCE
Arpi Harutyunyan
“Our soldiers and policemen, I swear, were not prepared for such an assault by the armed, drunk and uncontrollable mob. Of course, we were ordered to resist, but the troops were not prepared like the ...FROM “TRAITOR” TO SECRETARY: THE CURIOUS UPS AND DOWNS OF ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN
Aris Ghazinyan
A coalition agreement between three political parties – the Republican Party of Armenia led by current Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan, tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan-led Prosperous Armenia ...WHY?: THE DEAD LEFT NO ANSWERS
Gayane Abrahamyan
The first day of spring became the last for Zakar Hovhannisyan, 31, who went to the center of the city in the evening of that day to bring his neighbor home from the rally and did not come home; neither ...A SHATTERED FAMILY: NO CONSOLATION IN HOME OF VICTIM GOR KLOYAN
Marianna Grigoryan
His teeth had fallen out into his palm, he tried to put them back somehow one by one, but they wouldn’t stay. They would fall out again. “Mum, I saw a dream,” 28-year-old Gor Kloyan was telling his dream ...NIGHTMARE ON PARONYAN: DEMONSTRATOR TELLS OF HORROR AND RESOLVE
Gayane Mkrtchyan
The head of Grizelda Ghazaryan, 57, is all wrapped in bandage. Eight stitches had been put on the cut resulting from a police truncheon hit. “Then I don’t remember well, I only felt that something hot ...TOUGH LESSONS: TEACHERS FACE CHALLENGE OF EXPLAINING EVENTS TO CHILDREN
Gayane Mkrtchyan
Teacher Anahit Margaryan, 34, says that the next day after the March 1 bloody events in Yerevan her 15-year-old daughter Sona said while returning home from school that together with her classmates they ...THE SUCCESSOR: SARGSYAN TAKEOVER FACES EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS. WILL KOCHARYAN PLAY A ROLE?
Suren Musayelyan
April 9 – the day when Serzh Sargsyan is due to be inaugurated as President of Armenia – will signify a new development in the history of post-Soviet Armenia as for the first time the incumbent will pass ...DEAD INNOCENT: NON-ACTIVIST IN WRONG PLACE AT WRONG TIME ON MARCH 1
Marianna Grigoryan
At seven o’clock in the evening Grigor called his wife, Varduhi, and told her to warm up the dinner since he was coming home and was very hungry. “I said, Grigor, my darling, I have cooked your favorite ...BLOODY SATURDAY: A BREAKDOWN OF THE DAY THAT BROKE A NATION
John Hughes
The cloak of darkness and repression that fell on Yerevan late on March 1 began as a beaming promise to voters under drizzly October skies. Armenia’s opposition, silenced in 2003 by a show of political ...BIRTH RIOT: STATE OF EMERGENCY REVEALED THE ARMENIAN MOCKOCRACY
John Hughes
How many times can a man turn his head Pretending he just doesn’t see . . . Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind This was worse than 1996 when Levon Ter-Petrosyan put Armenia under military ...WALKING DISORDERS: THOUSANDS STAGE “SILENT PROTEST” ON FIRST DAY AFTER STATE OF EMERGENCY
John HughesIn a mass display of defiant quiet, several thousands walked on Yerevan city center sidewalks today, shouting a message by saying nothing. A ban on public demonstration that has existed since March 1, ...DETENTION AND DISTRUST: TER-PETROYSAN RELATIVE/MFA EMPLOYEE AMONG LATEST DETAINEES
Marianna GrigoryanA fired diplomat who is a relative of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan claims political persecution after police workers arrested him and held him in custody for hours without providing any reasoning. ...
“WHAT HATRED THEY FELT”: A POLICEMAN’S ACCOUNT
Vahan IshkhanyanWALKING DISORDERS: THOUSANDS STAGE “SILENT PROTEST” ON FIRST DAY AFTER STATE OF EMERGENCY
John HughesWILL THE ARMENIA ELECTIONS CRISIS AFFECT LOBBYING IN WASHINGTON?
HERITAGE PARTY DECLARATION ON ARMENIA'S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
NIGHTMARE ON PARONYAN: DEMONSTRATOR TELLS OF HORROR AND RESOLVE
Gayane MkrtchyanA SHATTERED FAMILY: NO CONSOLATION IN HOME OF VICTIM GOR KLOYAN
Marianna GrigoryanBLOODY SATURDAY: A BREAKDOWN OF THE DAY THAT BROKE A NATION
John HughesFROM “TRAITOR” TO SECRETARY: THE CURIOUS UPS AND DOWNS OF ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN
Aris GhazinyanDEAD INNOCENT: NON-ACTIVIST IN WRONG PLACE AT WRONG TIME ON MARCH 1
Marianna GrigoryanBIRTH RIOT: STATE OF EMERGENCY REVEALED THE ARMENIAN MOCKOCRACY
John Hughes
- 0 Our ancestors celebrated the New Year in this day as the reawakening of nature and the work of the farmer.
- 1615 According to a proclamation by the Polish King Sigismund the Third, Armenians were allowed to live and work in Dubrovitsa. This Armenian colony was obliterated in 1672 in the course of Turkish attacks.
- 1747 The Dutch award the Armenians of Indonesia the same civil rights as European free citizens.
- 1758 Birth of Ghookas Eencheechyan (armenologist and geographer). He died in 1833.
- 1763 Death of Catholicos Hakob the Fifth --Shamakhetsee. He was an important figure in the liberation movement of the 18th century. His birthdate is unknown.
- 1828 Tsar Nicholas the First defines the status of the Armenian Province. Major-General Tchavchevadze is appointed Governor of the Province.
- 1879 Birth of Anooshavan Vardanian, playwright, representative of proletarian literature. He was head of the Copyright Protection Department.
- 1888 Birth of Marietta Shahinyan (Bolshevik propaganda writer) in Moscow.
- 1942 Vahan Mirakyan (poet) dies in Yerevan. He was born in 1866.
- 1981 Inauguration of the Arpa-Sevan tunnel.
ARMENIAN NEWS
INTERACTIVE NEWS
INFORMATION
MY ARMTOWN
How to quit smoking?
How to write in Armenian on Windows XP?
All materials published on this website are taken from open sources and are copyrighted by their respective owners. You cannot reproduce or copy any materials published on armtown.com without written consent of original copyright holder. If you want to remove any material, please send us an email with proof of ownership/copyright and your material will be removed immediately. All materials published for information purposes only.