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BALLOON OF SAFE APOLOGY
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26212.html
Published: 11:47:46 - 16/05/2012
The police do not hurry to disclose the findings of the investigation
of the blast during the Republican rally at the Republic Square on
the last day of the election campaign.
Was it so tough to investigate and reveal those who were responsible
for filling the balloons with flammable gas and moving them across
busy and crowded parts of the city and finally bringing them to the
square amid a rally? Is the person responsible for everything a person
whom the law enforcement bodies cannot prosecute because he enjoys
a high-ranking protection? But what is high-level protection if this
could be a matter of national security?
In fact, the blast of the balloons could have had more tragic
consequences. On the eve of the national election, it could have
resulted in the death of people, changing the situation, opening up
opportunities for provocations, and who knows who would benefit?
Besides, the blast was in a place where the head of state was present
to deliver a speech, and he also could have been injured, had the
blast been stronger. What would happen if the head of state were
harmed on the eve of the national election?
Hence, there is also a shortcoming in the security of the head of
state because, in fact, there was a bomb under beside the head of
state and the security did not know about it. Moreover, as the leader
of New Times Party Aram Karapetyan later stated, the security did
not demand to postpone or cancel Serzh Sargsyan's speech.
Although it is possible that the security guard had such intensions
but the opinion of other people was dominant, which is another issue
and also requires clarification. After all, it is the security of
the head of state and in this regard the decisions of the security
guard must be final.
Finally, after the tragedy a lot of questions have not been answered.
Moreover, the elementary human thing is not in place - apology. The
Republican Party, its president and its campaign headquarters have
not apologized to the injured people and their relatives, as well as
the citizens who witnessed the incident.
Even if it was an accident, apology must be provided. At least
because the event was organized with serious violations of safety
rules, as well as because the accident happened during the event of
the Republican Party. When something happens to the guest, the host
will apologize to him or her, at least out of simple politeness and
humanism. The host was the Republican Party and it did not apologize
to anyone.
The visits to hospitals by Serzh Sargsyan and other Republicans several
hours after the accident was not equal to apology. It was compassion,
if not further campaigning. Compassion and apology presuppose different
statuses. In compassion responsibility is alienated, whereas in apology
there is immediate claim of responsibility, which is a higher human
and political category.
This is a matter of culture. In the Armenian culture, from
everyday life to government's behavior, apology is perceived as
self-humiliation. Apology is instilled in the upbringing of generations
as a diplomatic maneuver. The idea is to apologize when you are weaker
than your opponent, thus ensuring your security or marking time.
The Republican Party was reluctant to display signs of weakness on
the eve of the election. Meanwhile, apology could be an objective
component of the strength of the RPA.
HAKOB BADALYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/comments26212.html
Published: 11:47:46 - 16/05/2012
The police do not hurry to disclose the findings of the investigation
of the blast during the Republican rally at the Republic Square on
the last day of the election campaign.
Was it so tough to investigate and reveal those who were responsible
for filling the balloons with flammable gas and moving them across
busy and crowded parts of the city and finally bringing them to the
square amid a rally? Is the person responsible for everything a person
whom the law enforcement bodies cannot prosecute because he enjoys
a high-ranking protection? But what is high-level protection if this
could be a matter of national security?
In fact, the blast of the balloons could have had more tragic
consequences. On the eve of the national election, it could have
resulted in the death of people, changing the situation, opening up
opportunities for provocations, and who knows who would benefit?
Besides, the blast was in a place where the head of state was present
to deliver a speech, and he also could have been injured, had the
blast been stronger. What would happen if the head of state were
harmed on the eve of the national election?
Hence, there is also a shortcoming in the security of the head of
state because, in fact, there was a bomb under beside the head of
state and the security did not know about it. Moreover, as the leader
of New Times Party Aram Karapetyan later stated, the security did
not demand to postpone or cancel Serzh Sargsyan's speech.
Although it is possible that the security guard had such intensions
but the opinion of other people was dominant, which is another issue
and also requires clarification. After all, it is the security of
the head of state and in this regard the decisions of the security
guard must be final.
Finally, after the tragedy a lot of questions have not been answered.
Moreover, the elementary human thing is not in place - apology. The
Republican Party, its president and its campaign headquarters have
not apologized to the injured people and their relatives, as well as
the citizens who witnessed the incident.
Even if it was an accident, apology must be provided. At least
because the event was organized with serious violations of safety
rules, as well as because the accident happened during the event of
the Republican Party. When something happens to the guest, the host
will apologize to him or her, at least out of simple politeness and
humanism. The host was the Republican Party and it did not apologize
to anyone.
The visits to hospitals by Serzh Sargsyan and other Republicans several
hours after the accident was not equal to apology. It was compassion,
if not further campaigning. Compassion and apology presuppose different
statuses. In compassion responsibility is alienated, whereas in apology
there is immediate claim of responsibility, which is a higher human
and political category.
This is a matter of culture. In the Armenian culture, from
everyday life to government's behavior, apology is perceived as
self-humiliation. Apology is instilled in the upbringing of generations
as a diplomatic maneuver. The idea is to apologize when you are weaker
than your opponent, thus ensuring your security or marking time.
The Republican Party was reluctant to display signs of weakness on
the eve of the election. Meanwhile, apology could be an objective
component of the strength of the RPA.