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Struggling On: Civic activists determined to continue fighting for
rights in Armenia
SOCIETY | 31.07.14 | 14:27
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
Civil activists celebrating their victory in Mashtots Park after
saving the public area in downtown Yerevan from controversial
redevelopment. For about three months the activists had struggled
against the construction of trade pavilions and kiosks, which were
then dismantled under their pressure. May, 2012
By SARA KHOJOYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Armenia's civil society will continue to demand solutions to problems
of vital concerns, but discussions about how to organize this
continued struggle in the most effective way will also be added to its
agenda, activists say.
During the past few years, Armenia's active, demanding citizens have
managed to register a number of victories. In particular, they did not
allow an increase in bus fares in capital Yerevan or that citizens be
compelled to join the new pension system. But in some cases struggle
is still on, such as in efforts to conserve a historical Yerevan
building that belonged to Afrikyan brothers early last century.
Participant of numerous civil initiatives, member of the Civil
Contract group Lena Nazaryan says struggle is needed always - be it in
saving a building, a park or a tree from destruction or in solving
social issues like pensions, electricity prices, transportation, etc.
"In short, there are lots of urgent issues, now I can even name them,
but focusing on specific cases will not allow us to see the global
issues that have a systemic nature. The historical building in Yerevan
is being demolished because for many years it has not been renovated,
controversial mining projects are started communities because for
years no other investments have been made there," she says.
In Nazaryan's opinion, however, the civil society is now facing a more
conceptual problem.
"What should the civil society do? Raise questions and start
negotiations with representatives of the government or establish that
the government is unjust from the beginning, which would mean that
cooperation with it won't result in anything and that one needs to put
an end to injustices and establish justice. One cannot avoid this
question," she adds.
The biggest success recorded by civil society this year was the fact
that a movement managed to get a case against the new controversial
pension reform to the Constitutional Court and see some of the
provisions of the law ruled unconstitutional. But participants of the
movement do not consider it to be a complete success, since only a few
months later the government made changes in the law and turned
mandatory contributions into mandatory social payments. For now, only
public sector employees will have to make the payments, while the norm
will become mandatory for all in three years' time.
Gevorg Hayrapetyan, a member of Dem.am, the group that has campaigned
against the mandatory elements of the reform, tells ArmeniaNow that
some concessions had been made, but they were only formally adjusted
to their demands, while essentially the mandatory norm has not been
removed for certain groups of citizens.
"We will surely continue our struggle, but it will be clear in autumn
how we do it. It will also depend on public sentiments and the level
of determination of the government to make money," he said.
According to the activist, the struggle will be continued if some of
the public sector employees decide to stand up for their rights,
"manage to overcome the atmosphere of fear and indifference among
them."
Hayrapetyan emphasized that while as a group Dem.am, which was formed
for campaigning against the controversial reform, has become more
passive, the civil activism of its members has remained as strong as
before and in issues of priority for the public these people are as
active as they were in opposing the pension law.
Despite certain achievements in certain areas, overall Armenia's civil
society still finds it difficult to achieve consolidation in its
general struggle against the authorities and become fully fledged
because of being 'disoriented'. This opinion has repeatedly been
voiced in his public speeches by director of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies Manvel Sargsyan.
The political analyst suggests that in order to achieve success civil
society should come out not only against the authorities, but also
against all political forces and parties.
http://armenianow.com/society/56474/armenia_civil_activists_campaigns
rights in Armenia
SOCIETY | 31.07.14 | 14:27
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
Civil activists celebrating their victory in Mashtots Park after
saving the public area in downtown Yerevan from controversial
redevelopment. For about three months the activists had struggled
against the construction of trade pavilions and kiosks, which were
then dismantled under their pressure. May, 2012
By SARA KHOJOYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Armenia's civil society will continue to demand solutions to problems
of vital concerns, but discussions about how to organize this
continued struggle in the most effective way will also be added to its
agenda, activists say.
During the past few years, Armenia's active, demanding citizens have
managed to register a number of victories. In particular, they did not
allow an increase in bus fares in capital Yerevan or that citizens be
compelled to join the new pension system. But in some cases struggle
is still on, such as in efforts to conserve a historical Yerevan
building that belonged to Afrikyan brothers early last century.
Participant of numerous civil initiatives, member of the Civil
Contract group Lena Nazaryan says struggle is needed always - be it in
saving a building, a park or a tree from destruction or in solving
social issues like pensions, electricity prices, transportation, etc.
"In short, there are lots of urgent issues, now I can even name them,
but focusing on specific cases will not allow us to see the global
issues that have a systemic nature. The historical building in Yerevan
is being demolished because for many years it has not been renovated,
controversial mining projects are started communities because for
years no other investments have been made there," she says.
In Nazaryan's opinion, however, the civil society is now facing a more
conceptual problem.
"What should the civil society do? Raise questions and start
negotiations with representatives of the government or establish that
the government is unjust from the beginning, which would mean that
cooperation with it won't result in anything and that one needs to put
an end to injustices and establish justice. One cannot avoid this
question," she adds.
The biggest success recorded by civil society this year was the fact
that a movement managed to get a case against the new controversial
pension reform to the Constitutional Court and see some of the
provisions of the law ruled unconstitutional. But participants of the
movement do not consider it to be a complete success, since only a few
months later the government made changes in the law and turned
mandatory contributions into mandatory social payments. For now, only
public sector employees will have to make the payments, while the norm
will become mandatory for all in three years' time.
Gevorg Hayrapetyan, a member of Dem.am, the group that has campaigned
against the mandatory elements of the reform, tells ArmeniaNow that
some concessions had been made, but they were only formally adjusted
to their demands, while essentially the mandatory norm has not been
removed for certain groups of citizens.
"We will surely continue our struggle, but it will be clear in autumn
how we do it. It will also depend on public sentiments and the level
of determination of the government to make money," he said.
According to the activist, the struggle will be continued if some of
the public sector employees decide to stand up for their rights,
"manage to overcome the atmosphere of fear and indifference among
them."
Hayrapetyan emphasized that while as a group Dem.am, which was formed
for campaigning against the controversial reform, has become more
passive, the civil activism of its members has remained as strong as
before and in issues of priority for the public these people are as
active as they were in opposing the pension law.
Despite certain achievements in certain areas, overall Armenia's civil
society still finds it difficult to achieve consolidation in its
general struggle against the authorities and become fully fledged
because of being 'disoriented'. This opinion has repeatedly been
voiced in his public speeches by director of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies Manvel Sargsyan.
The political analyst suggests that in order to achieve success civil
society should come out not only against the authorities, but also
against all political forces and parties.
http://armenianow.com/society/56474/armenia_civil_activists_campaigns