Opposition Demonstration Dispersed
An early afternoon tip-off alerted me to the probable repeat of yesterday’s action to mark the lifting of the state of emergency. However, few people had gathered by Liberty Square — again occupied by riot police who refused entry — and I was later told that the protest would happen an hour and a half later at 6.30pm. As it was, even that didn’t happen although a number of those directly involved in Ter-Petrossian’s campaign did join less than a hundred protesters. Among them were the wives of Alexander Arzumanian and Nikol Pashinian as well as David Shahnazaryan.
Another tip conveyed to me through a Western journalist contact also informed me that if there was a repeat of yesterday’s action, riot police would use force to disperse it. As it was, the police gathered around the Opera to prevent protesters entering were rather offensive and apparently ignorant of the law. I was constantly informed that despite wearing journalist accreditation I could not take photographs. As usual, and despite effectively asking for trouble, I told them that they did not know the law. Actually, I raised my voice in protest and continued shooting along with a photographer from Photolure.
One day I’m sure this is going to get me into a lot of trouble as the commanders of the police in such instances now know me by sight very well. Even speaking English doesn’t help as at last year’s commemoration of the taking off of A1 Plus from the air, the commander of the police present came up and told me he knew I understood some Armenian after overhearing me speaking to A1 Plus’ Victoria Abrahamian. The same guy was overseeing today’s action and again told me not to take any photos.
I “had taken enough,” he said. Still, nobody bothered to instruct me after I basically refused. Nevertheless, when the shit hits the fan I have to wonder whether some kind of “revenge” will be taken. Journalists covering specific politicized events are usually seen as being partisan or not neutral — and usually by both sides.
Anyway, after about an hour and a half the police read out the riot act to those gathered on Yerevan’s new Northern Avenue and the riot police moved in. A few women refused to move and lectured the police. A few among the protesters started to whistle and jeer, chanting the name of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian before being quickly told to stop by others among them. Being forced to move down Northern Avenue, one elderly man sitting and holding a lit candle was physically moved from his seat by police.
The group then stopped and a few of the young girls among them started singing out aloud in an attempt of defiance against the riot police standing some 30 meters away. Half an hour later, the police moved in again and once more threatened to use force if people did not disperse. Again, unlike the beginning of the protest, there were no restrictions on journalists working covering the event. However, due to the nature of the demonstration, few journalists were actually present although Photolure, A1 Plus, Bloomberg, AP and the BBC were.
Indeed, the cameramen accompanying the police took an avid interest in filming us all. Myself and the BBC’s Matthew Collin were filmed too often for my liking. At one point when we were talking with each other, Matthew pointed that out, but concluded that what were they going to do with the video? Allege that journalists were actually carrying out their duties? Perish the thought…
Anyway, by the time we were gradually pushed towards Republic Square, the number of those attending had reached less than 50. A scruffy and less than professional police force had cut off access routes to key points, but nonetheless refrained from using force. On the other hand, one police commander threatened to smash my camera while seconds later a local high-flyer in a fancy car shouted at me that if I were a “spy” he’d “fuck my mother.”
A young protester came up to me and apologized, saying that he was sorry for the state the country was in. Still, at least there was no violence. In the case of police, the two warnings gave demonstrators 10 minutes to move on and they came after some period of waiting. Anyway, at about 8pm the demonstration dispersed in Republic Square. Another is planned at a different location tomorrow.
Photos: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008
- Published:
- 03.23.08 / 3am by Onnik
- Category:
- Armenia, Armenia Presidential Election 2008, Demonstrations, Police, Regions, Revolution
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