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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE INSTEAD OF RALLIES
The first mass act of civil disobedience is taking place in Armenia.
Even Mashtots Park which the civil activists were able to save from
destroying and the building of a trade center was not a mass act of
civil disobedience.
Disobedience is the constitutional right of every citizen but the
governments of even the most democratic countries do everything to
prevent disobedience.
In these countries it is supposed to have an opposition which covers
"the other half of the population", demonstrations of millions,
one-day strikes of trade unions, other actions of protest which do
not hit the pockets of those in power. These acts support the image
of the authorities but it is difficult to remember at least one such
demonstration of millions of people which would achieve significant
success. The example is Greece, the home of democracy.
As an alternative to peaceful protests the government usually puts
forth violence compared to which demonstrations and strikes seem more
acceptable. Although protests in Brazil helped return the old fares,
the victims of the movement were people and property of innocent
citizens.
The government is doing everything to make sure that the actions of
protest do not lead to mass acts of civil disobedience because that
would harm the interests of the government.
Despite populous demonstrations, Occupy Wall Street did not achieve
its main goal - collapse of the banks - and was eventually mocked. The
movement was against the dominance of banks and power of the global
financial government but there was not a single call not to pay
installments for at least a month.
In Armenia there were a number of protests and demonstrations. Raffi
Hovannisian even led people to Baghramyan Street but suddenly
stopped halfway and walked to Tsitsernakaberd to pray. There were
other demonstrations but they did not lead anywhere because among
suggested actions there was none that would hit the pockets of the
guilty government.
It is hard to tell why such actions were not initiated. Either
the opposition leaders did not want to change anything, and they
needed demonstrations as a background or they did not want to hit
the interests of their former and future supporters, or yet their
consultants were not so creative.
After the gas price went up, it seemed that there would be a call for
disobedience in Armenia and refusal to pay the gas bills. It is enough
not to pay gas bills for a month, and this branch will collapse. It
will not be a collapse for the country as it is stated but for the
government which will have to make more reasonable decisions. There
is no need to take to the streets. It is necessary not to take to
the streets and not to pay.
Perhaps at some point the worldwide protests will lead to this, and
Armenia could be the pioneer of the new protest action. The actions
against expensive fare may be a good beginning.
Naira Hayrumyan 11:23 23/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30522
From: A. Papazian
The first mass act of civil disobedience is taking place in Armenia.
Even Mashtots Park which the civil activists were able to save from
destroying and the building of a trade center was not a mass act of
civil disobedience.
Disobedience is the constitutional right of every citizen but the
governments of even the most democratic countries do everything to
prevent disobedience.
In these countries it is supposed to have an opposition which covers
"the other half of the population", demonstrations of millions,
one-day strikes of trade unions, other actions of protest which do
not hit the pockets of those in power. These acts support the image
of the authorities but it is difficult to remember at least one such
demonstration of millions of people which would achieve significant
success. The example is Greece, the home of democracy.
As an alternative to peaceful protests the government usually puts
forth violence compared to which demonstrations and strikes seem more
acceptable. Although protests in Brazil helped return the old fares,
the victims of the movement were people and property of innocent
citizens.
The government is doing everything to make sure that the actions of
protest do not lead to mass acts of civil disobedience because that
would harm the interests of the government.
Despite populous demonstrations, Occupy Wall Street did not achieve
its main goal - collapse of the banks - and was eventually mocked. The
movement was against the dominance of banks and power of the global
financial government but there was not a single call not to pay
installments for at least a month.
In Armenia there were a number of protests and demonstrations. Raffi
Hovannisian even led people to Baghramyan Street but suddenly
stopped halfway and walked to Tsitsernakaberd to pray. There were
other demonstrations but they did not lead anywhere because among
suggested actions there was none that would hit the pockets of the
guilty government.
It is hard to tell why such actions were not initiated. Either
the opposition leaders did not want to change anything, and they
needed demonstrations as a background or they did not want to hit
the interests of their former and future supporters, or yet their
consultants were not so creative.
After the gas price went up, it seemed that there would be a call for
disobedience in Armenia and refusal to pay the gas bills. It is enough
not to pay gas bills for a month, and this branch will collapse. It
will not be a collapse for the country as it is stated but for the
government which will have to make more reasonable decisions. There
is no need to take to the streets. It is necessary not to take to
the streets and not to pay.
Perhaps at some point the worldwide protests will lead to this, and
Armenia could be the pioneer of the new protest action. The actions
against expensive fare may be a good beginning.
Naira Hayrumyan 11:23 23/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30522
From: A. Papazian