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YOU SHOULDN'T PUNISH THE SWITCHMEN
Lilit Poghosyan
Hayots Ashkharh Daily
18 Dec 2008
Armenia
If The Organizers Are In Freedom
Interview with the President of the Sakharov Foundation of the
Protection of Human Rights Levon Nersisyan
"Today the PACE monitoring committee is discussing the "issue" of
Armenia. Do you think they will condemn us for not releasing the
"political prisoners" as expected by the revolutionary public?"
"They are politicized structures, where they employ emphasized double
standards. That is why, frankly, I'm not very much interested in what
issues they will discuss during the session of the committee and what
decision they will take regarding Armenia.
Of course we would be very glad if the decision is pro-Armenian, but
if we go deep into the "European criteria", on the one hand they pass
condemning resolutions, as in Armenia's case and on the other hand they
manifest quite different stance, as for example in case of Georgia."
"By your assessment are there political prisoners in Armenia at
the moment?"
"I have to respond to your question by a question. Is there any
politics in Armenia? Politics is first of all a struggle between
ideas and projects.
Do you see any struggle between ideas, stances, and programs in
our country?
Have you ever seen our elections to be held
under the "flag" of ideological, political and program based
struggle. No. The struggle is among individuals, or personalized
approaches at best, or the parties fixed on individuals.
And, where there is personalized struggle, there is no place for
politics.
If I'm a political figure, if I haven't joined the government, if I
haven't got a any program, or if I have put my program in my pocket
and I promise the heaven in case people vote for me, I'm sorry this
has nothing to do with politics. If you have any proposals, ideas,
any approach regarding the settlement of certain problems faced
by society, just make them public and let the people make their
choice. Where were these people many years before? Those who call
themselves radical opposition. They were in the government, holding
positions. They had both time and chance to show what they could do.
On the other hand if some people committed criminal offenses, why
didn't they speak about it before? Why does the ruling power only now
remember about it? Each criminal offense must be punished on time. If
they haven't done that there will always appear people who would like
to politicize it, manifesting vendetta, political persecutions etc."
"The "political prisoners" of our days are persecuted not for their
previous crimes, but for the organization of March 1 mass disorder and
for direct particip ation in this disorder. What they want is that
the leaders are released and those who followed their provocative
appeals be punished. Is this approach justified?"
"No doubt there were people who have organized and headed all those
developments. If the charges imposed are grounded, that is to say
if they are confirmed by the facts, naturally these people must
be punished.
You can't punish the "switchmen", passing round the organizers.
Of course the switchmen are also guilty but they say everyone has
its share.
After all you can't spit on the face of the policeman, use foul
language and call it democracy. I'm sorry but it is hooliganism,
and far not democracy.
If the leaders call to "overthrow the government of chieftains" and
to do it by all the possible means: by breaking, destroying, etc.,
some part of society, who are disapproved of these authorities will
naturally follow them.
Of course the leaders must firstly be subjected to liability and not
those who trusted them and took to the streets, to break and destroy
everything at hand.
Society should also give their assessment. After all we must form civil
attitude towards the country, our motherland and state institutes. We
shouldn't split the people into those from Karabakh, Yerevan, Gyumry,
etc, saying that if this or that person is from Javakhq or Karabakh
he/she is our enemy. If we20are guided by this mentality we will
appear in the middle age."
Lilit Poghosyan
Hayots Ashkharh Daily
18 Dec 2008
Armenia
If The Organizers Are In Freedom
Interview with the President of the Sakharov Foundation of the
Protection of Human Rights Levon Nersisyan
"Today the PACE monitoring committee is discussing the "issue" of
Armenia. Do you think they will condemn us for not releasing the
"political prisoners" as expected by the revolutionary public?"
"They are politicized structures, where they employ emphasized double
standards. That is why, frankly, I'm not very much interested in what
issues they will discuss during the session of the committee and what
decision they will take regarding Armenia.
Of course we would be very glad if the decision is pro-Armenian, but
if we go deep into the "European criteria", on the one hand they pass
condemning resolutions, as in Armenia's case and on the other hand they
manifest quite different stance, as for example in case of Georgia."
"By your assessment are there political prisoners in Armenia at
the moment?"
"I have to respond to your question by a question. Is there any
politics in Armenia? Politics is first of all a struggle between
ideas and projects.
Do you see any struggle between ideas, stances, and programs in
our country?
Have you ever seen our elections to be held
under the "flag" of ideological, political and program based
struggle. No. The struggle is among individuals, or personalized
approaches at best, or the parties fixed on individuals.
And, where there is personalized struggle, there is no place for
politics.
If I'm a political figure, if I haven't joined the government, if I
haven't got a any program, or if I have put my program in my pocket
and I promise the heaven in case people vote for me, I'm sorry this
has nothing to do with politics. If you have any proposals, ideas,
any approach regarding the settlement of certain problems faced
by society, just make them public and let the people make their
choice. Where were these people many years before? Those who call
themselves radical opposition. They were in the government, holding
positions. They had both time and chance to show what they could do.
On the other hand if some people committed criminal offenses, why
didn't they speak about it before? Why does the ruling power only now
remember about it? Each criminal offense must be punished on time. If
they haven't done that there will always appear people who would like
to politicize it, manifesting vendetta, political persecutions etc."
"The "political prisoners" of our days are persecuted not for their
previous crimes, but for the organization of March 1 mass disorder and
for direct particip ation in this disorder. What they want is that
the leaders are released and those who followed their provocative
appeals be punished. Is this approach justified?"
"No doubt there were people who have organized and headed all those
developments. If the charges imposed are grounded, that is to say
if they are confirmed by the facts, naturally these people must
be punished.
You can't punish the "switchmen", passing round the organizers.
Of course the switchmen are also guilty but they say everyone has
its share.
After all you can't spit on the face of the policeman, use foul
language and call it democracy. I'm sorry but it is hooliganism,
and far not democracy.
If the leaders call to "overthrow the government of chieftains" and
to do it by all the possible means: by breaking, destroying, etc.,
some part of society, who are disapproved of these authorities will
naturally follow them.
Of course the leaders must firstly be subjected to liability and not
those who trusted them and took to the streets, to break and destroy
everything at hand.
Society should also give their assessment. After all we must form civil
attitude towards the country, our motherland and state institutes. We
shouldn't split the people into those from Karabakh, Yerevan, Gyumry,
etc, saying that if this or that person is from Javakhq or Karabakh
he/she is our enemy. If we20are guided by this mentality we will
appear in the middle age."