Tweet
BAREV-YEREVAN CANDIDATE: PEOPLE CHANGED RAFFI'S PLANS FOR APRIL 9
Grisha Balasanyan
http://hetq.am/eng/news/25323/barev-yerevan-candidate-people-changed-raffis-plans-for-april-9.html
11:15, April 10, 2013
Alen Simonyan, a candidate on the Barev-Yerevan ticket for the upcoming
municipal elections, was at Freedom Square yesterday and the events
that later took place at Baghramyan Avenue.
He told Hetq that what transpired on Baghramyan Avenue once again
proves that the regime is not ready to resolve internal political
issues in a civilized manner.
"It pains me that the police felt it appropriate to beat Armen
Martirosyan, who heads the Barev-Yerevan ticket," said Simonyan. "This
is a man who risked his life to save a policeman during the March 1,
2008 clashes. They beat him nevertheless. After watching the videotape,
I can state that such force wasn't necessary. A number of insults
were heard emanating from the mouth of a policeman. I can't say if
they were appropriate or not."
He argues that what took place yesterday evening was a provocation and
that force was used to frighten the people. Simonyan is convinced that
the police failed in this attempt and that it is no longer possible
to scare the people.
Simonyan said that it was too early to objectively analyze the steps
taken by Raffi Hovannisian yesterday. He says that he isn't a member
of the Heritage Party and had no role in yesterday's decision-making
process.
"Raffi had other plans and ideas for the day but the people demanded
others," he said. "At least eight times he said 'tomorrow at this
hour,' referring to other activities. But the people, in response,
were whistling and demanding immediate action. In my estimation,
Hovannisian understood that such action could have serious consequences
and he tried to find some middle road out, for example, to march past
the Presidential Palace, but only march. But the rage of the people
was such that it launched them towards 26 Baghramyan."
Simonyan says that they beat Hovannisian as well.
"When Raffi saw how they treated Armen Martirosyan and the young
activists, when the police cordon opened and a phalanx of men with
truncheons appeared and started to beat people like thugs, there was
nothing left to do but to get people away from all that," he said.
"It was pointless to direct the people right to the front of cops
with truncheons," Simonyan said. "To take people forward just to get
beat-up is senseless. Of course, if it would have changed something,
then naturally, it would be possible to express oneself in that
manner. But at that moment, in that place, it would have changed
nothing. By negotiating with the Police Chief and taking other steps,
Hovannisian succeeded in avoiding a clash that, as many believed,
could have led to a second March 1."
He argues that when the people wouldn't listen to either Hovannisian
or Zarouhie Postanjyan, it proves that the regime has a problem.
"They have brought the people to such a level that they turned
aggressive," he said. "That despair, poverty, emigration, killings
and army suicides, brought the people to that level. Whether it
had been Raffi, Zarouhie or Levon, it would have been the same. The
people wouldn't have believed them. The demand they made of Raffi
to go to Baghramyan Avenue proves this. We are a good-natured and
patient people, but the situation has reached the level that people
have turned aggressive. It's the fault of the regime."
Simonyan says that the people have grown tired of the situation and
are no longer afraid and are ready to take drastic steps.
"It is the result of what the regime has sown," Simonyan said. "This
repulsion of the people by the authorities has taken the situation to
the boiling point. The police then turn around and have the gall to
say that the actions of the people are illegal. In the Bible it says
'one who sows the wind will reap a storm."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Grisha Balasanyan
http://hetq.am/eng/news/25323/barev-yerevan-candidate-people-changed-raffis-plans-for-april-9.html
11:15, April 10, 2013
Alen Simonyan, a candidate on the Barev-Yerevan ticket for the upcoming
municipal elections, was at Freedom Square yesterday and the events
that later took place at Baghramyan Avenue.
He told Hetq that what transpired on Baghramyan Avenue once again
proves that the regime is not ready to resolve internal political
issues in a civilized manner.
"It pains me that the police felt it appropriate to beat Armen
Martirosyan, who heads the Barev-Yerevan ticket," said Simonyan. "This
is a man who risked his life to save a policeman during the March 1,
2008 clashes. They beat him nevertheless. After watching the videotape,
I can state that such force wasn't necessary. A number of insults
were heard emanating from the mouth of a policeman. I can't say if
they were appropriate or not."
He argues that what took place yesterday evening was a provocation and
that force was used to frighten the people. Simonyan is convinced that
the police failed in this attempt and that it is no longer possible
to scare the people.
Simonyan said that it was too early to objectively analyze the steps
taken by Raffi Hovannisian yesterday. He says that he isn't a member
of the Heritage Party and had no role in yesterday's decision-making
process.
"Raffi had other plans and ideas for the day but the people demanded
others," he said. "At least eight times he said 'tomorrow at this
hour,' referring to other activities. But the people, in response,
were whistling and demanding immediate action. In my estimation,
Hovannisian understood that such action could have serious consequences
and he tried to find some middle road out, for example, to march past
the Presidential Palace, but only march. But the rage of the people
was such that it launched them towards 26 Baghramyan."
Simonyan says that they beat Hovannisian as well.
"When Raffi saw how they treated Armen Martirosyan and the young
activists, when the police cordon opened and a phalanx of men with
truncheons appeared and started to beat people like thugs, there was
nothing left to do but to get people away from all that," he said.
"It was pointless to direct the people right to the front of cops
with truncheons," Simonyan said. "To take people forward just to get
beat-up is senseless. Of course, if it would have changed something,
then naturally, it would be possible to express oneself in that
manner. But at that moment, in that place, it would have changed
nothing. By negotiating with the Police Chief and taking other steps,
Hovannisian succeeded in avoiding a clash that, as many believed,
could have led to a second March 1."
He argues that when the people wouldn't listen to either Hovannisian
or Zarouhie Postanjyan, it proves that the regime has a problem.
"They have brought the people to such a level that they turned
aggressive," he said. "That despair, poverty, emigration, killings
and army suicides, brought the people to that level. Whether it
had been Raffi, Zarouhie or Levon, it would have been the same. The
people wouldn't have believed them. The demand they made of Raffi
to go to Baghramyan Avenue proves this. We are a good-natured and
patient people, but the situation has reached the level that people
have turned aggressive. It's the fault of the regime."
Simonyan says that the people have grown tired of the situation and
are no longer afraid and are ready to take drastic steps.
"It is the result of what the regime has sown," Simonyan said. "This
repulsion of the people by the authorities has taken the situation to
the boiling point. The police then turn around and have the gall to
say that the actions of the people are illegal. In the Bible it says
'one who sows the wind will reap a storm."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress