Rock Against Genocide

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1. Onnik 04.23.08 / 5pm

   Unfortunately, it appears that the event was designed to exploit April 24 for partisan political purposes. Well, I suppose as long as those attending the rally was less than 100 they had every right to conduct such a meeting without permission from the municipality, but one can hardly consider the action something that a journalist should be connected with.

   Gayane Arustamian is determined to hold the march. She will be carrying posters with the inscriptions, “April 24, 1915: Enver, Taliat, Jemal. March 1: Serzh Sarkissian, Robert Kocharian, Arthur Baghdasarian.”

   There is no difference between people murdering 1.5 million or 10 people.

   http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=59867
2. artmika 04.23.08 / 6pm

   Onnik, I updated today my original post:

   UPDATE! - 23 April 2008
   To be honest, I am disappointed. Advertised as “Rock Against Murderer” anti-Genocide action of ‘marginal culture’ (“Fans of marginal culture, Rock, libertarians, motorbikers”), it was in fact one-person’s (journalist Gayane Arustamyan who wrote that article) political campaign against the current regime in relation to March 1 events. Not that I am against individual’s initiative to protest and show civil initiative, quite the contrary, but I am against deceptions of public and using “alternative culture” and “genocide” as cover.
3. Onnik 04.24.08 / 1pm

   Well, whether we agree or disagree with the action, the police are going to have to learn sooner or later that they have no right to lecture demonstrators or take away their posters. Really, it’s about time the police were properly trained and taught what the law allows them to do and what it doesn’t.

   WILL YOU UPROOT MY TONGUE?

   A1 Plus, 23 April, 2008

   Today Armenian journalist Gayane Arustamian held a protest action near the Matenadaran. She was accompanied by RA citizen Lala Aslikian. The protesters voiced complaint against genocides and murders. Over ten policemen watched the women’s action at the head of Ruben Melkonian.

   The protesters were holding a poster with an English inscription, “How can you prevent genocide?” At first the policemen didn’t interfere with them as they didn’t understand the English sentence. Soon they got indignant seeing the second poster with an Armenian inscription, “What is the cost of the ten murdered people?” They finally flew into a rage after the protesters raised the third poster: “April 24, 1915: Taliat, Jemal, Enver. March 1, 2008: Robert, Serzh, Arthur.”

   “How dare you instill hatred? Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself, you are my daughter’s age,” said one of the policemen.

   The moment the protesters were answering journalists’ questions, the policemen grasped the posters and tore them off.

   “You can tear off the posters but you cannot uproot my tongue,” said Gayane Arustamian. She left the site in triumph.

   http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&id=59885
4. artmika 04.24.08 / 4pm

   I think my reaction and disappointment was based mainly on high anticipations re existence of “marginal culture” in Armenia. When I read the announcement that it will be a gathering of “marginal culture” representatives, I was thrilled to discover that “marginal culture” actually exists in Armenia (I hardly believed in its existence before). Therefore, when it turns out to be a different type of event under the “marginal”, “rock” and “genocide” disguise, I got disappointed. Other than that, surely I can only commend the initiative of individuals to peacefully protest under whatever slogans they prefer, regardless whether I agree with it or not. And police actions in this case were deplorable, of course.

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