NOT OVER TIL ITS OVER: MASHTOTS PARK ACTIVISTS SAYS MORE ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED THOUGH KIOSKS BEING DISMANTLED
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
http://armenianow.com/society/37792/yerevan_mashtots_park_protests_kiosks_di
03.05.12 | 16:04
Not Over Til Its Over: Mashtots Park activists says more issues remain
unresolved though kiosks being dismantled
End of Mashtots Park Saga?: President orders dismantling of
controversial park kiosks during campaigning tour
End of Mashtots Park Saga?: President orders dismantling
of controversial park kiosks during campaigning tour Although
environmental and civil society activists have eventually succeeded to
have the commercial pavilions installed in Mashtots Park dismantled,
the boulevard and continued protest remain in the focus of public
attention.
[mashtots-park-kiosk-dismentling-youth-activists.jpg] Enlarge Photo
[enlarg_image.gif] [mashtots-park-kiosk-dismentling-police.jpg]
Enlarge Photo [enlarg_image.gif]
For more than 80 days environmental activists had been protesting in
the small park next to Mashtots Boulevard, downtown Yerevan, against
the construction of kiosks earlier dismantled from the sidewalk of
another central avenue (Abovyan Street).
The kiosks are being dismantled after President Serzh Sargsyan's
personal visit to the site on May 1 during which he urged city mayor
Taron Margaryan to get rid of the controversial structures.
Many believe that the president's interference in this issue is a
campaign plot to win votes. The president's visit came a week ahead
of the parliamentary elections, whereas people think that he should
have resolved the issue long ago preventing the clashes between law
enforcement officers and protestors. Therefore many believe that the
president's actions were a well-planned political show.
While people discuss the recent developments, the protest organizers
in Mashtots Park intend to keep protesting.
Civil activist Gor Hakobyan told ArmeniaNow that now they will do
their best to have "all those who were trying to seize public areas,
as well as law enforcement officers brought to account for resorting
to violence and unlawful actions."
"The pavilions would have been dismantled sooner or later; it was one
of our primary demands, however the struggle is not over," Hakobyan
says, adding that the president issuing a decree on dismantling
the pavilions did not ground it by Armenian citizens' rights
and fundamental interests (referring to the fact that Sargsyan's
instructions were reasoned by the "ugliness" of the kiosks).
From: A. Papazian
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
http://armenianow.com/society/37792/yerevan_mashtots_park_protests_kiosks_di
03.05.12 | 16:04
Not Over Til Its Over: Mashtots Park activists says more issues remain
unresolved though kiosks being dismantled
End of Mashtots Park Saga?: President orders dismantling of
controversial park kiosks during campaigning tour
End of Mashtots Park Saga?: President orders dismantling
of controversial park kiosks during campaigning tour Although
environmental and civil society activists have eventually succeeded to
have the commercial pavilions installed in Mashtots Park dismantled,
the boulevard and continued protest remain in the focus of public
attention.
[mashtots-park-kiosk-dismentling-youth-activists.jpg] Enlarge Photo
[enlarg_image.gif] [mashtots-park-kiosk-dismentling-police.jpg]
Enlarge Photo [enlarg_image.gif]
For more than 80 days environmental activists had been protesting in
the small park next to Mashtots Boulevard, downtown Yerevan, against
the construction of kiosks earlier dismantled from the sidewalk of
another central avenue (Abovyan Street).
The kiosks are being dismantled after President Serzh Sargsyan's
personal visit to the site on May 1 during which he urged city mayor
Taron Margaryan to get rid of the controversial structures.
Many believe that the president's interference in this issue is a
campaign plot to win votes. The president's visit came a week ahead
of the parliamentary elections, whereas people think that he should
have resolved the issue long ago preventing the clashes between law
enforcement officers and protestors. Therefore many believe that the
president's actions were a well-planned political show.
While people discuss the recent developments, the protest organizers
in Mashtots Park intend to keep protesting.
Civil activist Gor Hakobyan told ArmeniaNow that now they will do
their best to have "all those who were trying to seize public areas,
as well as law enforcement officers brought to account for resorting
to violence and unlawful actions."
"The pavilions would have been dismantled sooner or later; it was one
of our primary demands, however the struggle is not over," Hakobyan
says, adding that the president issuing a decree on dismantling
the pavilions did not ground it by Armenian citizens' rights
and fundamental interests (referring to the fact that Sargsyan's
instructions were reasoned by the "ugliness" of the kiosks).
From: A. Papazian