YEREVAN (A.W.)—At a rally today on Freedom Square in Yerevan, opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian announced that he will end his hunger strike on Easter Sunday, and then focus on organizing the popular movement in anticipation of a huge gathering on April 9, the day when Serge Sarkisian is scheduled to be sworn in as President.
Hovannisian said that after Holy Badarak on Sunday, he will end his hunger strike “for faith, the fatherland, peace, and for the future,” and without taking time to recover, start preparing for April 9, together with all citizens of Armenia, Artsakh, and the diaspora.
A thoughtfull decision! if it was to show to public your determination,you´v done it.
Now then, please consider consulting with other incumbents, politicians and citizens w/rgd to a PLAN.Not just rallying…
If ,e.g. ARF(I hope they become Aef-Armenian evolutionaries Federation) agrees to unite with you plus a few others.but above all the NON POLITICO…then you may indeed gain more support and thus realize what is good for the NATION/STATE of Armenia.
Ask(my input9 to have 5 permanent delegates from each of our mian Armenian community areas, N& S.Americam EU,RF and the Middle Easst in the MINISTRY OF DASPORA.latter was created upon pleas by the Diaspora.Now time to let us COOPERATE WITH SAME,NOT JUST SPORADIC VISITS BY SOME FUNCTIONARIES AND OR THE MINISTRE…
WE need work to be done O N T H E S P O T.Otherwise from far away we cann0t keep track of what is going on in that area….
best for your quick recovery…
Some just opine and critisize. I S U G G E S T I D E A S …
Also Cadet military training for young Diasporan visiting RA!!!! a M U S T !
Hama Haigagani SIRO
RH says he’s ending his hunger strike to “focus on organizing the popular movement “.
I like that and I hope his focus is not confined to or ends on April 9th. A powerful, organised, LOYAL/patriotic and TRUE/REAL opposition, I believe, is what’s been missing in Armenian politics ever since independence.
I think it was Winston Churchill who once said famously: “If there were no such thing as a well organised loyal opposition then it would have to be invented”. He was talking about British politics of course but the principle is true in general and would certainly apply in Armenia in its current crisis when the authorities act without any proper checks and balances and without a proper opposition – both inside and ESPECIALLY outside the National Assembly, nationwide in the centre and the regions at every level – to hold them to account and to make sure that the Armenian people’s/national interest, rather than private oligarchic or foreign interests, comes first, last and always.
Seriously? The guy is just fooling people. This is the second time he is doing hunger strike during the Lent and it turns out he is just fasting. It’s a shame and I feel sick! And this person is talking on behalf of Armenian people? Give me a break.
I noticed the same thing. Especially when he rudely responded to President Sarkisian’s invitation to stop this nonsense and come to meet with him after a couple of days of rest. Raffi said he feels just fine but expects the President to come to his tent office.
I’m like wait a minute, I just spent seven days on water and salt as part of my lent and I wouldn’t be able to talk and think normal. He reminded me of that Indian guru who claimed he was sitting under the tree for several years not eating anything until they caught him on night video eating and drinking. Either way Raffi was lying – if he ate during his “hunger strike” or if he didn’t eat and claimed he’s fine.
He is like a spoiled three year old who throws himself on a department store floor and starts banging his head demanding a toy from his parents. “I want it! I want it! I want it!” And when they are embarrassed enough to yield some attention, he starts screaming and ordering them to turn around and come to him to follow his orders. Or he would bang his head harder…
I am not going to challenge the veracity of that rumor. Raffi’s process is a complete travesty. On the other hand fasting has some positive effects on eliminating toxins from his body. He needs it. He also needs to lose some unwanted extra pounds to be in a better shape, body and soul.
RH says he’s ending his hunger strike to “focus on organizing the popular movement “.
I like that and I hope his focus is not confined to or ends on April 9th. A powerful, organised, LOYAL/patriotic and TRUE/REAL opposition, I believe, is what’s been missing in Armenian politics ever since independence.
I think it was Winston Churchill who once said famously: “If there were no such thing as a well organised loyal opposition then it would have to be invented”. He was talking about British politics of course but the principle is true in general and would certainly apply in Armenia in its current crisis when the authorities act without any proper checks and balances and without a proper opposition – both inside and ESPECIALLY outside the National Assembly, nationwide in the centre and the regions at every level – to hold them to account and to make sure that the Armenian people’s/national interest, rather than private oligarchic or foreign interests, comes first, last and always.
another great “victory” for Mr. Hovannisian, after Republic of Armenia President Sargsyan capitulated and met all of Mr. Hovannisian’s “demands”.
Checkmate.
“The Diaspora” might not be familiar with the chess sport terminology…
How do you translate checkmate into baseball speak?
That would be “home run.” I will give you credit for the funny comment. As long as the Armenian sense of humor exists, the existence of our nation is guaranteed.
Mr. Hovannisian’s diet program is ending so that he can continue with his work of dividing a nation. He should be expelled from Armenia.
Perhaps he can campaign in Texas ….
Mr. Hovannisian is a Citizen of RoA.
He moved to Armenia, lived in Armenia the requisite 10 years required by the Constitution and became a Citizen of Republic of Armenia.
He has renounced his US Citizenship, even though both RoA and US allow dual citizenship.
If he has broken any RoA laws, he will be charged and if convicted will serve his time in Armenia: you cannot deport a citizen of RoA to a foreign country.
I don’t like what RH is doing, but I am not aware of him having broken any laws of the Republic of Armenia.
His actions are divisive, in my opinion, but as far as I know it is not against any RoA Law. Not liking something is not the same as being against the Law.
He has publicly admonished his followers not to resort to any violence or provocation, although people who represent him have not always followed his advice.
Let us ‘defeat’ Mr. Hovannisian with our arguments and intellect, not by resorting to thickneck tactics.
Armenia will be better for it.
To those who are mocking Hovanissian for starting a hunger stirke and ending it, I would suggest just stop seeing him as if he was their worst enemy. This is not a healthy attitude. After all, if the percentage of voters is an indication of the wishes and aspirations of the people, colse to 40% of the Armenian citizens (assuming official figures are correct) voted for him. You cannot regard 40% of the native population of Armenia as the enemy of their country. Hovanissian, or rather the voters who came out in his support and the sections of the society which they represent, are here to stay and are not going to fade away.
The old guard which Avery and the other compatriots in these pages so intensly defend has had its time. The fact that Mr. Sarkissian has fought the Karabakh war is not of much relevance at this juncture. People are fed up with the remainders of the Soviet style accidental leaders, though no one doubts about their patriotism viz-a-viz our aggressive neighbours.
It is a well known fact that in countries which have undergone war or revolution the generation of leaders who fought the war or led the revolution tend to perpetuate their rule by resorting to their past record. With the passage of time however they lose their relevance to the new needs and aspirations of their poeple. And because they have aleady buit up huge vested interests in all areas of the society they become instead an impediment to the much needed social change.
An extreme case is the communist regime in Cuba.
Whether we like Hovanissian or not, the time for repealing the monopolistic hold of the Republican party on people’s fate, i.e. the oligarchi regime, is nearing. Let’s hope that our leaders, both the incumbent and those of the the oppostion will have the maturity to carry out this great assignment peacefully for the sake of the future generations of Armenia.
I wonder how short sighted some of us are, not perceiving democracy in the making….
Even if raffi does not succeed in what he set forward to achieve,he should be commended that he -like paruryr Hairikian in his time- did realize.That of being bold enough(with cojones) to by and by prepare our brethren and sisters in Armenia to distinguish between being governed ¨a la arabesque¨ shall we say or ex soviet despotism.
It is easy to bend over and say, e.g. , corruption is everywhere in the world.etc.,
Another, to make an effort ,at least to try to curb same in a tiny republic that (looks like a spot) on a map..
Instead, I ´d earnestly ask all to ponder over how to bring to pass, by and by the rule of law ,mutual tolerance of all contending political parties and /or individuals ,amongst us Hyes-also in Diaspora- in order that we can make a small another Switzerland ion that conflcitive area of the Caucuses.
Armenians ,as a whole are assiduous, workaholkics,apt to forge ahead in any enterprise that take to,except …regretfully in Esperi de Corps (coopeation) and politics. We have the stamina and all that is needed to forge ahead.
Time to reflect, April 24 is fast drawing close and only 2 years ,then left to the 100th Anniversary of our Golgotha(Genocide).
best <Hasgcoghin