CIVIC MOVEMENTS SHOULD WAKE UP CITIZENS
Siranuysh Papyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/27965
Interview - Tuesday, 06 November 2012, 11:17
Interview with Arthur Avtandilyan, head of the analytical unit of
Free Democrats Party
Arthur, are the recent moods of the political field, the events related
to the judicial, health and other spheres, a pre-election course, or
is all this leading us to a deadlock and the only way out is changes?
The second option is more optimistic but I'm inclined for the first
one. If an individual, having held the office of the president for
four and a half years decides or rather reveals that the judicial
system is corrupt, it means his capability of assessing the situation
is limited. Mildly speaking, this is either imitation or incompetence.
If he was unaware of the situation, it would be absurd. Even the
Public Television started televising reports which differ from the
previous ones and show that life in Armenia is not as pink as they
used to present before. This is simply an offensive policy toward
the citizens of Armenia.
Who will be the oligarchy's candidate, Serzh Sargsyan or Robert
Kocharyan?
To tell the truth, I prefer leaving this issue up to the oligarchs and
I don't think it has any relation to public demand. We should report
another more important phenomenon. The memory of people seems to have
become longer. Yesterday's events don't have the same importance
as the events of the last century. The society remembers how Serzh
Sargsyan said before the elections that we don't need border villages,
and now the society compares him with present Serzh Sargsyan who
is worried about the situation. The society realizes that it won't
have any rights unless it demands. We can see local expressions of
this understanding. Anyway, this is not enough for quality changes,
for the establishment of a dignified country.
Is the second option more realistic?
I don't rule out the possibility of revolt, public disobedience.
Certain things indicate that we have not run out of resources, for
example Vahe Avetyan's case, the Mashtots Park. On the other hand, the
society has not woken up yet to take the situation under its control.
Just one video was necessary to influence the outcome of the elections
in neighboring Georgia. In Armenia, there is a similar situation. A
prisoner cut his fingers and sewed his eyes in sign of protest:
the society reacts in no way, and the minister of justice stated
cynically that it is ordinary in jail.
Can the civic movements join the political process nominating their
members for president?
Sure they can, but they will just transform from civic to political
movements. The civic movement can stay such by endorsing this
or another political force and posing issues and refusing direct
involvement in political processes. Moreover, the civic movements
don't need to participate in the elections as a party. Their mission
is to help the awakening of citizen in individuals.
From: Baghdasarian
Siranuysh Papyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/27965
Interview - Tuesday, 06 November 2012, 11:17
Interview with Arthur Avtandilyan, head of the analytical unit of
Free Democrats Party
Arthur, are the recent moods of the political field, the events related
to the judicial, health and other spheres, a pre-election course, or
is all this leading us to a deadlock and the only way out is changes?
The second option is more optimistic but I'm inclined for the first
one. If an individual, having held the office of the president for
four and a half years decides or rather reveals that the judicial
system is corrupt, it means his capability of assessing the situation
is limited. Mildly speaking, this is either imitation or incompetence.
If he was unaware of the situation, it would be absurd. Even the
Public Television started televising reports which differ from the
previous ones and show that life in Armenia is not as pink as they
used to present before. This is simply an offensive policy toward
the citizens of Armenia.
Who will be the oligarchy's candidate, Serzh Sargsyan or Robert
Kocharyan?
To tell the truth, I prefer leaving this issue up to the oligarchs and
I don't think it has any relation to public demand. We should report
another more important phenomenon. The memory of people seems to have
become longer. Yesterday's events don't have the same importance
as the events of the last century. The society remembers how Serzh
Sargsyan said before the elections that we don't need border villages,
and now the society compares him with present Serzh Sargsyan who
is worried about the situation. The society realizes that it won't
have any rights unless it demands. We can see local expressions of
this understanding. Anyway, this is not enough for quality changes,
for the establishment of a dignified country.
Is the second option more realistic?
I don't rule out the possibility of revolt, public disobedience.
Certain things indicate that we have not run out of resources, for
example Vahe Avetyan's case, the Mashtots Park. On the other hand, the
society has not woken up yet to take the situation under its control.
Just one video was necessary to influence the outcome of the elections
in neighboring Georgia. In Armenia, there is a similar situation. A
prisoner cut his fingers and sewed his eyes in sign of protest:
the society reacts in no way, and the minister of justice stated
cynically that it is ordinary in jail.
Can the civic movements join the political process nominating their
members for president?
Sure they can, but they will just transform from civic to political
movements. The civic movement can stay such by endorsing this
or another political force and posing issues and refusing direct
involvement in political processes. Moreover, the civic movements
don't need to participate in the elections as a party. Their mission
is to help the awakening of citizen in individuals.
From: Baghdasarian