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THOUSANDS ATTEND HAK RALLY IN YEREVAN; POLICE OUT IN FORCE
Ararat Davtyan
http://hetq.am/en/politics/hanrahavaq-7/
2010/03/01 | 18:02
politics
Crowds march to Myasnikyan Square to lay flowers in memory of March 1,
2008 victims
The HAK rally kicked off today at 5 pm in the vicinity of the
Matenadaran in downtown Yerevan
First to address the crowd, numbering in the tens of thousands, was
Aram Manukyan, member of the HHZh Board (Pan-Armenian Movement). He
called for one minute of silence in remembrance of those who were
killed on March 1, 2008.
Mr. Manukyan said that two years ago the Armenian authorities stole
power from the people just like a sly fox steals a chicken from
the coop.
He said that the regime was responsible for the death of at least ten
people because on that day, two years ago, the number of those dying
from heart attacks and accidents surprisingly shot up. Mr. Manukyan
asserted that the truth will be made known sooner rather than later.
Then, Alla Khachatryan, the mother of one of those killed on March
1, 2008, addressed the crowd. She had said that two years ago "our
sons walked out to defend their rights in a free Armenia", but that
the authorities turned that first day of spring into a "black day"
that destroyed our families and took away our children.
"They fired on the unarmed crowd at point blank range, in order to
have an excuse to declare a state of emergency and hold on to power,"
said Mrs. Khachatryan.
A statement from maestro Ohan Dourian, in support of the people's
protest, was also read. HAK then told the crowd that the authorities
had once again closed off traffic to Yerevan from surrounding
communities to prevent people from attending the rally.
Aram Manukyan told the crowd that HAK was launching a competition for
the construction of a monument to commemorate the victims of March
1, 2008.
Next to address the rally was Vardan Khachatryan, former Yerevan
mayor and member of the HAK economic committee. He said that the
authorities were pursuing one goal - to enslave the people and that
they were fixed on the notion of punishing the people who didn't vote
for them and who are struggling for their rights as citizens.
Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, before addressing the hike
in gas prices scheduled to take place on April 1, commented on the
inaction of the RoA foreign diplomatic staff in countering Azerbaijani
propaganda regarding events in Khojaly.
Mr. Bagratyan chided Armenian ambassadors as individuals "Not capable
of anything but sitting around a 'khash' table." He also criticized
the regime and urged them to spend a few dollars in producing films
to show the reality of Khojaly rather than sending hundreds of police
to the HAK rally.
Before Levon Ter-Petrosyan took the speaker's podium, Aram Sargsyan,
brother of former Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan killed in the assault
of the parliament in October 1999, addressed the crowd of thousands.
Mr. Sargsyan said that the only result of the foreign policy, namely
negotiations with Turkey, conducted by the current regime was that it
has allowed Serzh Sargsyan to hold on to power for the past two years.
He argued that the entire process has allowed Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to break free from the worst pages of his people's
history and that it's allowed Serzh Sargsyan to do the same regarding
his pitiful present actions.
Mr. Sargsyan stated that "he has lit his candle in the fight against
the darkness" and that he was ready to join with anyone sincere in
that struggle. He said that the regime, on the other hand, rather
than relying on the people of Armenia, is placing its hopes on the
international community.
Ararat Davtyan
http://hetq.am/en/politics/hanrahavaq-7/
2010/03/01 | 18:02
politics
Crowds march to Myasnikyan Square to lay flowers in memory of March 1,
2008 victims
The HAK rally kicked off today at 5 pm in the vicinity of the
Matenadaran in downtown Yerevan
First to address the crowd, numbering in the tens of thousands, was
Aram Manukyan, member of the HHZh Board (Pan-Armenian Movement). He
called for one minute of silence in remembrance of those who were
killed on March 1, 2008.
Mr. Manukyan said that two years ago the Armenian authorities stole
power from the people just like a sly fox steals a chicken from
the coop.
He said that the regime was responsible for the death of at least ten
people because on that day, two years ago, the number of those dying
from heart attacks and accidents surprisingly shot up. Mr. Manukyan
asserted that the truth will be made known sooner rather than later.
Then, Alla Khachatryan, the mother of one of those killed on March
1, 2008, addressed the crowd. She had said that two years ago "our
sons walked out to defend their rights in a free Armenia", but that
the authorities turned that first day of spring into a "black day"
that destroyed our families and took away our children.
"They fired on the unarmed crowd at point blank range, in order to
have an excuse to declare a state of emergency and hold on to power,"
said Mrs. Khachatryan.
A statement from maestro Ohan Dourian, in support of the people's
protest, was also read. HAK then told the crowd that the authorities
had once again closed off traffic to Yerevan from surrounding
communities to prevent people from attending the rally.
Aram Manukyan told the crowd that HAK was launching a competition for
the construction of a monument to commemorate the victims of March
1, 2008.
Next to address the rally was Vardan Khachatryan, former Yerevan
mayor and member of the HAK economic committee. He said that the
authorities were pursuing one goal - to enslave the people and that
they were fixed on the notion of punishing the people who didn't vote
for them and who are struggling for their rights as citizens.
Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, before addressing the hike
in gas prices scheduled to take place on April 1, commented on the
inaction of the RoA foreign diplomatic staff in countering Azerbaijani
propaganda regarding events in Khojaly.
Mr. Bagratyan chided Armenian ambassadors as individuals "Not capable
of anything but sitting around a 'khash' table." He also criticized
the regime and urged them to spend a few dollars in producing films
to show the reality of Khojaly rather than sending hundreds of police
to the HAK rally.
Before Levon Ter-Petrosyan took the speaker's podium, Aram Sargsyan,
brother of former Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan killed in the assault
of the parliament in October 1999, addressed the crowd of thousands.
Mr. Sargsyan said that the only result of the foreign policy, namely
negotiations with Turkey, conducted by the current regime was that it
has allowed Serzh Sargsyan to hold on to power for the past two years.
He argued that the entire process has allowed Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to break free from the worst pages of his people's
history and that it's allowed Serzh Sargsyan to do the same regarding
his pitiful present actions.
Mr. Sargsyan stated that "he has lit his candle in the fight against
the darkness" and that he was ready to join with anyone sincere in
that struggle. He said that the regime, on the other hand, rather
than relying on the people of Armenia, is placing its hopes on the
international community.