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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE DOESN'T REQUIRE BLOOD
Naira Hayrumyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/country/view/28076
Country - Friday, 16 November 2012, 11:32
The independent citizens of Armenia have decided not to rely on the
state bodies and political parties anymore and have initiated the
formation of a new state. They have set up the Pre-parliament which
is to work out the necessary conditions for the formation of the
Constituent parliament of the new republic.
The idea of forming the forth republic of Armenia has been discussed
since Sardarapat Initiative appeared. This version was chosen as
something in between the evolutionary and revolutionary transformation
of the state. The government speaks about evolution, but prefers its
own stability to the development of the country. Some civil figures
consider revolution but even the representatives of the ARF admit
that they will not allow bloodshed in Armenia.
So the third option appears: alternative elections, alternative
parliament. It is true that the electoral mechanisms and the methods
of the parliamentary activities are not clear yet. Sardarapat, as we
know, formed a parliament a few years ago but it became clear after
several meetings that it was impossible to move forward without civil
levers. Alhough, Sardarapat did one thing: it raised the topic of
emigration forcing the society to speak about it and the government
to assume the responsibility for it.
The only precondition of the alternative parliament and the government
may be the ability to initiate civil disobedience. Only such a
civil or political force which will be able to convince masses to
disobey, namely boycott the dependent courts, not pay raised taxes,
not to work more than 8 hours per day, not to use the crowded buses,
not to borrow loans with high interest rate from banks, not to buy
products in the supermarkets run by oligarchs, not to emigrate but
to stay and seek work, can talk about alternative government.
Otherwise, everything will end up in a next show which may produce
certain results but it cannot correct the systemic vices of the current
state institutes. Moreover, the current strategy of the ruling party
is declared to be national and social priorities, as the one of the
established Pre-parliament. So, it's not a new concept of state but
it's about breaking the current perverse mechanisms through civil
disobedience.
It should be disobedience and not demonstrations. The authorities
have immunity against rebellions in the whole world. Recent crowded
protests in the European countries did not anyhow affect the activities
of their parliaments. Protests are not banned, people are even allowed
to "let the steam off" and set on fire a couple of shops.
Even in democratic countries, there is no link between political
decisions and street actions.
So, street protests will not lead anywhere unless the majority of
the population takes to the street. Only civil disobedience may force
changes, only sabotage of the main sources of income of the current
regime, namely the banks, the mining sector and imports.
Perhaps, it is necessary to start with boycott of elections. If the
authorities ensure a high turnout in this election, alternative civil
movements can forget about their goals for another 5 years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Naira Hayrumyan
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/country/view/28076
Country - Friday, 16 November 2012, 11:32
The independent citizens of Armenia have decided not to rely on the
state bodies and political parties anymore and have initiated the
formation of a new state. They have set up the Pre-parliament which
is to work out the necessary conditions for the formation of the
Constituent parliament of the new republic.
The idea of forming the forth republic of Armenia has been discussed
since Sardarapat Initiative appeared. This version was chosen as
something in between the evolutionary and revolutionary transformation
of the state. The government speaks about evolution, but prefers its
own stability to the development of the country. Some civil figures
consider revolution but even the representatives of the ARF admit
that they will not allow bloodshed in Armenia.
So the third option appears: alternative elections, alternative
parliament. It is true that the electoral mechanisms and the methods
of the parliamentary activities are not clear yet. Sardarapat, as we
know, formed a parliament a few years ago but it became clear after
several meetings that it was impossible to move forward without civil
levers. Alhough, Sardarapat did one thing: it raised the topic of
emigration forcing the society to speak about it and the government
to assume the responsibility for it.
The only precondition of the alternative parliament and the government
may be the ability to initiate civil disobedience. Only such a
civil or political force which will be able to convince masses to
disobey, namely boycott the dependent courts, not pay raised taxes,
not to work more than 8 hours per day, not to use the crowded buses,
not to borrow loans with high interest rate from banks, not to buy
products in the supermarkets run by oligarchs, not to emigrate but
to stay and seek work, can talk about alternative government.
Otherwise, everything will end up in a next show which may produce
certain results but it cannot correct the systemic vices of the current
state institutes. Moreover, the current strategy of the ruling party
is declared to be national and social priorities, as the one of the
established Pre-parliament. So, it's not a new concept of state but
it's about breaking the current perverse mechanisms through civil
disobedience.
It should be disobedience and not demonstrations. The authorities
have immunity against rebellions in the whole world. Recent crowded
protests in the European countries did not anyhow affect the activities
of their parliaments. Protests are not banned, people are even allowed
to "let the steam off" and set on fire a couple of shops.
Even in democratic countries, there is no link between political
decisions and street actions.
So, street protests will not lead anywhere unless the majority of
the population takes to the street. Only civil disobedience may force
changes, only sabotage of the main sources of income of the current
regime, namely the banks, the mining sector and imports.
Perhaps, it is necessary to start with boycott of elections. If the
authorities ensure a high turnout in this election, alternative civil
movements can forget about their goals for another 5 years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress