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TANKIAN TO SARKISIAN: END AVALANCHE OF CORRUPTION AND INJUSTICE!
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/26/tankian-to-sarkisian-end-avalanche-of-corruption-and-injustice/
February 26, 2013
In an open letter to President Serge Sarkisian yesterday, artist
and human rights activist Serj Tankian demanded an end to corruption
and injustice in Armenia, asking the president to unite and inspire
Armenians instead.
"Like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly. But the avalanche
of people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice
is tipping the scale for us all," Tankian said in the letter, which
we provide below, in full.
Serj Tankian during an interview with the Armenian Weekly in 2011.
(Photo by Aaron Spagnolo) ***
Dear Mr. President,
Congratulations on your victory.
Victory means getting the most votes, of course, in a democracy.
Based on the overwhelming reported fraud from many NGOs, irrespective
of the OSCE report, it seems like it would be scientifically impossible
for even you, Mr. President, to know whether you actually won the
majority of votes.
That's quite funny isn't it? That you, the President of Armenia are
not really sure, deep inside, whether you are the true chosen leader
of your people or not.
That would really bother me personally. If I wanted to lead my people,
I would really want them to make that decision for themselves, because
I respect my people and that is their decision to make. Otherwise,
I would take over Armenia and call myself the Governor General of
Armenia or Dictator du jour or whatever moniker I felt like sporting
that day. Maybe your party is out of control and the oligarchs are
running out of caviar or something and they want to make sure that
the flow of the good times doesn't stop.
Whatever the case, it is time for change.
Whether you've won fairly or not, somehow you are now President, again.
What does that mean to you?
Yes, Artsakh is important to us all and we have to struggle together
for our brothers there.
But what I mean is how are you going to progress the cause of
Armenians, in Armenia and around the world?
How are you going to help pull the country out of its economic,
social, and political dysfunction and turmoil?
Obama at least offers hope, even when he lets us down.
Years ago, I started a campaign asking President Obama to do the right
thing and stick by his promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
You too took an oath, to the constitution of Armenia, to protect the
country from enemies foreign and domestic. Those who steal elections
from my people are domestic enemies that need to be punished.
It should be your duty to enforce that, even if some think it
hypocritical. You should also consider dissolving Parliament and
being the first Armenian reformist President who goes out of his way
to make sure that future elections are fair and representational.
Serzh, everyone who knows me knows that I can't stand injustice. And
like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly. But the avalanche
of people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice
is tipping the scale for us all.
You need to know that.
Armenia is desperate for the rule of law more than anything else. And
no one can be above the law. You can make that happen, now, by example
and presidential decree.
Unite us Serzh. Inspire us.
Please take this challenge.
Thank you for your time.
Peace, Serj Tankian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/02/26/tankian-to-sarkisian-end-avalanche-of-corruption-and-injustice/
February 26, 2013
In an open letter to President Serge Sarkisian yesterday, artist
and human rights activist Serj Tankian demanded an end to corruption
and injustice in Armenia, asking the president to unite and inspire
Armenians instead.
"Like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly. But the avalanche
of people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice
is tipping the scale for us all," Tankian said in the letter, which
we provide below, in full.
Serj Tankian during an interview with the Armenian Weekly in 2011.
(Photo by Aaron Spagnolo) ***
Dear Mr. President,
Congratulations on your victory.
Victory means getting the most votes, of course, in a democracy.
Based on the overwhelming reported fraud from many NGOs, irrespective
of the OSCE report, it seems like it would be scientifically impossible
for even you, Mr. President, to know whether you actually won the
majority of votes.
That's quite funny isn't it? That you, the President of Armenia are
not really sure, deep inside, whether you are the true chosen leader
of your people or not.
That would really bother me personally. If I wanted to lead my people,
I would really want them to make that decision for themselves, because
I respect my people and that is their decision to make. Otherwise,
I would take over Armenia and call myself the Governor General of
Armenia or Dictator du jour or whatever moniker I felt like sporting
that day. Maybe your party is out of control and the oligarchs are
running out of caviar or something and they want to make sure that
the flow of the good times doesn't stop.
Whatever the case, it is time for change.
Whether you've won fairly or not, somehow you are now President, again.
What does that mean to you?
Yes, Artsakh is important to us all and we have to struggle together
for our brothers there.
But what I mean is how are you going to progress the cause of
Armenians, in Armenia and around the world?
How are you going to help pull the country out of its economic,
social, and political dysfunction and turmoil?
Obama at least offers hope, even when he lets us down.
Years ago, I started a campaign asking President Obama to do the right
thing and stick by his promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
You too took an oath, to the constitution of Armenia, to protect the
country from enemies foreign and domestic. Those who steal elections
from my people are domestic enemies that need to be punished.
It should be your duty to enforce that, even if some think it
hypocritical. You should also consider dissolving Parliament and
being the first Armenian reformist President who goes out of his way
to make sure that future elections are fair and representational.
Serzh, everyone who knows me knows that I can't stand injustice. And
like most diasporan Armenians, I have always been reluctant to
criticize your government directly and publicly. But the avalanche
of people suffering under your rule due to corruption and injustice
is tipping the scale for us all.
You need to know that.
Armenia is desperate for the rule of law more than anything else. And
no one can be above the law. You can make that happen, now, by example
and presidential decree.
Unite us Serzh. Inspire us.
Please take this challenge.
Thank you for your time.
Peace, Serj Tankian