An urgent call for our Diaspora to demand democracy and
human rights in Armenia. While many foreign and outside entities had appealed for
a non-extreme response to the extreme actions taken by an armed group at the
Yerevan police station, the Diaspora largely remained silent.
By contrast, the rulers in Armenia have engaged in
wholesale mass arrests and detention of anyone they suspect as the opposition,
including peaceful protestors exercising their constitutional right to
assemble, whether to appeal for moderation or express their grievances against
government policies and practices.
The Armenian Diaspora at large has not adequately spoken
out against these government actions. At this point, it is difficult to fathom
the motivations for such silence.
Could it be the belief that we, in the Diaspora, have no
business interfering in internal affairs of a foreign country—except when it
comes to the Karabagh question and Armenia-Turkey relations? Or is it the
notion that it's the Armenian government's job to serve the needs of its
people—except when it comes to the sick, the needy, the poor, the military,
elderly, public schools and children?
Only the ruling elite seem to have their needs addressed
while living lavish lives supported by ill-begotten funds sheltered in the
names of family members and off-shore shell companies.
Recently the Catholicos of All Armenians himself thought
it appropriate to condemn the violent acts of these "Daredevils", but
he has not condemned the injustices perpetrated by the ruling party against the
flock-- such as systemic election fraud and gross human rights violations,
including unleashing the over-aggressive police and infamously brutal thug
brigades.
Many community leaders in the Diaspora have acknowledged,
behind closed doors, that it's no secret to them that Armenia is severely
corrupt, but they could not speak truth to power because it might have
compromised the good work they were doing to instill "hope for a better
future" among the people—except when that hope was for a clean government
that evens the economic playing field, allows for free and fair elections, and
insists on an independent judiciary and Rule of Law. Perhaps they considered
those minor issues compared with poverty and hunger. Yet we all have witnessed
on many occasions that the people were not protesting against poverty and
hunger but demanding democracy and human rights.
So while we were patting ourselves on the back for
working to instill hope, our silence and hypocrisy were killing that hope, rendering
much of our time, money and efforts in Armenia futile and ineffective--posh
hotels, fancy restaurants and high tech "showcase" schools
notwithstanding.
Most of us thought time was the cure for Armenia's ills
and that somehow, magically, the leaders would come to their senses and live up
to the promise of the new Armenia. Yet two decades is long enough to prove that
corruption only breeds corruption, leading to a failed state and cynical
society that has nothing left to lose. As John F. Kennedy wisely admonished,
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent
revolution inevitable."
If we are truly honest, it may already be too late to
overcome the high stakes and perilous road ahead. Yet, if ever the Diaspora had
an opportunity to show its true mettle, the hour has come.
All who recognize this crisis point, should urge our
community representatives and organizations, charitable, religious and
political, to publicly decry those responsible for the rampant abuses of human
rights and dignity and support those that seek electoral reform and an
accounting of unlawful police tactics.
The former would include the public inspection of voter lists, and a
meaningful investigation of violations committed during last December’s
constitutional referendum and those who have to date blocked such an effort.
We should no longer consider the alternative an
option—that is, trying to preserve a fabricated and false sense of law and
order that cripples Armenia’s ability to meet challenges at home and at the
border while inciting civil violence.
Taking a clear stand on the side of human rights and
justice won't instantly solve the deeply entrenched problems that plague the
country. But it's a first step in a new direction, that, if made courageously,
wholeheartedly, unequivocally and boldly, will instill hope among the people as
never before.
They've been waiting for us to answer their call but, as
we've witnessed from recent events, they can't wait forever.
Armenian Bar Association
Justice Armenia
Professor Simon Payaslian
Charles K. and Elisabeth M. Kenosian
Chair in Modern Armenian History
and Literature, Department of History,
Boston University
Anny Bakalian, Ph.D.
Associate Director of MEMEAC,
The Graduate Center, CUNY
Policy Forum Armenia
Armenian Scientists and Engineers Association (AESA),
NY-NJ Section
Vahe Berberian (USA)
Painter, Author, Playwright, Humorist
Ara Dinkjian (USA)
Musician and Composer
Armenian Renaissance - New York Chapter
Armenian Renaissance - Los Angeles Chapter
Vicken Cheterian (Switzerland)
Writer and University Lecturer
Vahe Tachjian (Germany)
Chief Editor of Houshamadyan
Nora Armani
Actress-Filmmaker-Activist
SR Socially Relevant Film Festival NY,
Founding Artistic Director
Vicken Tarpinian (France)
Singer and Composer
Garo Ghazarian, Esq.
Dean & Professor of Law
Peoples College of Law
Los Angeles, California
Maro Matosian
Women’s Support Center
Nurhan Becidyan (USA)
Berc Araz (USA)
Rafi Hovsepian
President, New York Armenian
Students’ Association
Adjunct Instructor, New York University
Mario Yazidjian (USA)
Harout Chatmajian (USA)
Actor, Director and Community Activist
Ara N. Araz (USA)
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder
Not: Yalnızca bu blogun üyesi yorum gönderebilir.