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HUMAN RIGHTS ANALYSIS: PUBLIC OPINION IN 'PARTLY FREE' ARMENIA BECOMING MORE INFLUENTIAL
Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
04.05.10
In the latest edition of the Freedom in the World report, Freedom
House again gives Armenia a 'Partly Free' status. The global rights
watchdog's Freedom of the Press report, meanwhile, ranks Armenia among
countries where media are 'Not Free'. (Both reports are available on
the organization's website www.freedomhouse.org).
The last time Freedom House ranked Armenia among countries with
'Partly Free' media was in 2002, the year when independent TV station
A1+ was controversially taken off the air.
As it was before, experts note a low level of the influence of public
opinion on the policies of the government, but say that public opinion
in Armenia is now expressed more freely and assertively.
The 2008 presidential election marred by violence and force used
to quell the street protests of the opposition were followed by a
public wave, especially noticeable in the human rights protection
field. The events of recent months provide many facts on how under
the influence of public opinion the authorities had to abandon their
earlier decisions, and authoritarian methods of government.
The opposition in Armenia had focused its efforts in the human rights
sphere on getting jailed oppositionists released from prison. And
under public pressure the authorities released more than 130 people.
The opposition still continues to struggle for the release of another
14 of its members and supporters who, it says, remain in prison for
their political views.
Social networks play a special role in raising public awareness.
Despite the apparent lack of organized social structures, raising
a wave of protest may be a matter of hours thanks to the Internet
and social networks online. The human rights website www.hra.am
has also played its part. The internet community appears to be the
vanguard of the human rights movement. Discussions unfold in blogs,
in e-newspapers and social networks and this debate results in human
rights initiatives.
Under the pressure of public opinion, a resident in the village of
Katnaghbyur in Armenia's Tavush province Sasha Davtyan was cleared of
charges in a controversial case in which police alleged he had raped
his own daughter. His daughter stated in court that police officers
had used violence against her and forced her to slander her father.
Now human rights activists are advocating for the policemen responsible
for that to be brought to justice.
The protest against the demolition of the open-air theater of Moscow
Cinema and construction of a church in its place has also become
a major public action. Recently, the President-affiliated Public
Council told the government to reconsider the decision.
Students have been noticeably more active and have attempted to defend
their interests by staging protest actions. Upon the initiative of the
movement "We Are the Owners of this City" students are now pursuing the
collection of signatures against construction in Student Park, which
is located between the National Library and the Agrarian University.
It was also under public opinion pressure that Chief of Police
Alik Sargsyan last week apologized for misleading the public on the
circumstances of the death of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan in police
custody. A police officer in Charentsavan was arrested in connection
with that case and charged with torture after information of human
rights activists was published in the press.
It remains to hope that public activity will lead to a greater
influence of society on decision-making, as according to classical
rules, democracy is based on rule by the people.
Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
04.05.10
In the latest edition of the Freedom in the World report, Freedom
House again gives Armenia a 'Partly Free' status. The global rights
watchdog's Freedom of the Press report, meanwhile, ranks Armenia among
countries where media are 'Not Free'. (Both reports are available on
the organization's website www.freedomhouse.org).
The last time Freedom House ranked Armenia among countries with
'Partly Free' media was in 2002, the year when independent TV station
A1+ was controversially taken off the air.
As it was before, experts note a low level of the influence of public
opinion on the policies of the government, but say that public opinion
in Armenia is now expressed more freely and assertively.
The 2008 presidential election marred by violence and force used
to quell the street protests of the opposition were followed by a
public wave, especially noticeable in the human rights protection
field. The events of recent months provide many facts on how under
the influence of public opinion the authorities had to abandon their
earlier decisions, and authoritarian methods of government.
The opposition in Armenia had focused its efforts in the human rights
sphere on getting jailed oppositionists released from prison. And
under public pressure the authorities released more than 130 people.
The opposition still continues to struggle for the release of another
14 of its members and supporters who, it says, remain in prison for
their political views.
Social networks play a special role in raising public awareness.
Despite the apparent lack of organized social structures, raising
a wave of protest may be a matter of hours thanks to the Internet
and social networks online. The human rights website www.hra.am
has also played its part. The internet community appears to be the
vanguard of the human rights movement. Discussions unfold in blogs,
in e-newspapers and social networks and this debate results in human
rights initiatives.
Under the pressure of public opinion, a resident in the village of
Katnaghbyur in Armenia's Tavush province Sasha Davtyan was cleared of
charges in a controversial case in which police alleged he had raped
his own daughter. His daughter stated in court that police officers
had used violence against her and forced her to slander her father.
Now human rights activists are advocating for the policemen responsible
for that to be brought to justice.
The protest against the demolition of the open-air theater of Moscow
Cinema and construction of a church in its place has also become
a major public action. Recently, the President-affiliated Public
Council told the government to reconsider the decision.
Students have been noticeably more active and have attempted to defend
their interests by staging protest actions. Upon the initiative of the
movement "We Are the Owners of this City" students are now pursuing the
collection of signatures against construction in Student Park, which
is located between the National Library and the Agrarian University.
It was also under public opinion pressure that Chief of Police
Alik Sargsyan last week apologized for misleading the public on the
circumstances of the death of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan in police
custody. A police officer in Charentsavan was arrested in connection
with that case and charged with torture after information of human
rights activists was published in the press.
It remains to hope that public activity will lead to a greater
influence of society on decision-making, as according to classical
rules, democracy is based on rule by the people.