Comments on: Opposition Protests, State of Emergency Declared http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/ News, Photography, Blogs & Analysis Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:20:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Global Voices Online » Armenia: Eight Dead, State of Emergency Declared http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3476 Global Voices Online » Armenia: Eight Dead, State of Emergency Declared Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:45:37 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3476 [...] outnumbered and out gunned, demonstrators never stood a chance against the military, and a state of emergency was declared in the capital. After finally being [...] […] outnumbered and out gunned, demonstrators never stood a chance against the military, and a state of emergency was declared in the capital. After finally being […]

]]> By: Onnik http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3473 Onnik Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:24:25 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3473 Incidentally, the A1 Plus web site appears to be accessible again in Armenia. Incidentally, the A1 Plus web site appears to be accessible again in Armenia.

]]> By: Onnik http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3472 Onnik Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:23:45 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3472 Paul, who knows? However, until a final body count is released and pretty much confirmed by independent sources, I am currently writing "at least 8 people" or "8 people reportedly killed" or whatever. I think it's possible, but it's hard to say either way. At the very least I think we can take the official figures as definitely true. It won't be less, let's put it like that. Paul, who knows? However, until a final body count is released and pretty much confirmed by independent sources, I am currently writing “at least 8 people” or “8 people reportedly killed” or whatever. I think it’s possible, but it’s hard to say either way. At the very least I think we can take the official figures as definitely true. It won’t be less, let’s put it like that.

]]> By: Paul http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3470 Paul Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:00:14 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3470 Yes, when you think about it- he occupied a square for 9 days and there was hardly a word of international news about it (much unlike the various Georgian uprisings over the past few years). Meanwhile, things turn violent and of course you're on the front page. That very well could have been the plan all along. Meanwhile I heard from a friend who just got into Armenia when the violence was unfolding that more than the reported 8 died but the media is being quiet about that. Think that is true? Yes, when you think about it- he occupied a square for 9 days and there was hardly a word of international news about it (much unlike the various Georgian uprisings over the past few years). Meanwhile, things turn violent and of course you’re on the front page. That very well could have been the plan all along.
Meanwhile I heard from a friend who just got into Armenia when the violence was unfolding that more than the reported 8 died but the media is being quiet about that. Think that is true?

]]> By: Onnik http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3468 Onnik Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:12:21 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3468 Interestingly, opinion so far expressed to me seems to be either somewhat muted or supportive of the government. Well, maybe that's not the case, but just to say, many people say they understood that Liberty Square needed to be cleared, that it was illegal and that protesters had ignored warnings, while also believing that Levon not only expected violent clashes but also counted on them. Of course, everyone is distressed by the loss of life, but the consensus of opinion so far is pretty much that both sides are to blame. One example of this is a conversation by an educated and somewhat young professional who is shocked by the carnage on Saturday night as well as the dispersal of people from Liberty Square on Saturday morning, but who blames Levon for lying to his supporters about military support as well as hoping for an uprising. He also blames the government for not clearing Liberty Square sooner and allowing the situation to intensify as a result. Most of the people in Liberty Square at night were "drunken bums," he said. Well, I disagree that most were. There were a few, but I didn't encounter more than a few drunks who were quite uncivilized in their behavior. Most of the protesters overnight seemed committed although we can argue if they were misguided or not. Indeed, many of them were the same people who were in the front lines of the 2003 opposition protests. Actually, nobody can win here. Although occupation of Trafalgar Square in London or nay other similar area in a European capital city wouldn't last a day, the West would have come down hard on Kocharian had they dispersed the protesters earlier. Instead, I suppose Kocharian and Sargsyan hoped it would end quickly. Regardless, the issue is not the dispersal of an illegal occupation of Liberty Square, but how the police did so. As for the evening's events, I also believe that Ter-Petrossian factored in the clashes although I don't think they worked out as he had hoped. On the other hand, he now has international media attention on his bid to return to power which he always wanted from day one. Interestingly, opinion so far expressed to me seems to be either somewhat muted or supportive of the government. Well, maybe that’s not the case, but just to say, many people say they understood that Liberty Square needed to be cleared, that it was illegal and that protesters had ignored warnings, while also believing that Levon not only expected violent clashes but also counted on them. Of course, everyone is distressed by the loss of life, but the consensus of opinion so far is pretty much that both sides are to blame.

One example of this is a conversation by an educated and somewhat young professional who is shocked by the carnage on Saturday night as well as the dispersal of people from Liberty Square on Saturday morning, but who blames Levon for lying to his supporters about military support as well as hoping for an uprising. He also blames the government for not clearing Liberty Square sooner and allowing the situation to intensify as a result. Most of the people in Liberty Square at night were “drunken bums,” he said.

Well, I disagree that most were. There were a few, but I didn’t encounter more than a few drunks who were quite uncivilized in their behavior. Most of the protesters overnight seemed committed although we can argue if they were misguided or not. Indeed, many of them were the same people who were in the front lines of the 2003 opposition protests.

Actually, nobody can win here. Although occupation of Trafalgar Square in London or nay other similar area in a European capital city wouldn’t last a day, the West would have come down hard on Kocharian had they dispersed the protesters earlier. Instead, I suppose Kocharian and Sargsyan hoped it would end quickly. Regardless, the issue is not the dispersal of an illegal occupation of Liberty Square, but how the police did so. As for the evening’s events, I also believe that Ter-Petrossian factored in the clashes although I don’t think they worked out as he had hoped.

On the other hand, he now has international media attention on his bid to return to power which he always wanted from day one.

]]> By: Onnik http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3467 Onnik Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:22:57 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3467 Jim, I think it's pretty much addressed in every media report. That is, the opposition reject the opinion of the observers. Jim, I think it’s pretty much addressed in every media report. That is, the opposition reject the opinion of the observers.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3461 Jim Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:43:49 +0000 http://blog.oneworld.am/2008/03/02/opposition-protests-state-of-emergency-declared/#comment-3461 Wonderful coverage. Thank you very much both for the words, and more over excellent photographs. I have a question I have not seen answered in the press. Has the government tried to relay the word of international election observers that the election was mostly democratic? If so, is this idea being rejected by the opposition? Wonderful coverage. Thank you very much both for the words, and more over excellent photographs.

I have a question I have not seen answered in the press. Has the government tried to relay the word of international election observers that the election was mostly democratic? If so, is this idea being rejected by the opposition?

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