Student rebellion? Tert.am reports that this morning photos of allegedly corrupt university officials, lecturers etc. appeared at Yerevan bus stops, metro stations, universities, other busy spots. There is brief ‘bio’ of those pictured provided there. Captions of photos read “Bribe-taker”.
Police and university officials are now busy with the ‘cleaning up’.
«Կաշառակերների» նկարները փակցված են Երևանի փողոցներում
Tert.am
Այսօր առավոտյան Երևանի կանգառներում, բուհերի պատերին և այլ մարդաշատ վայրերում փակցված էին տասնյակից ավելի հայրենի մանկավարժների լուսանկարները «Կաշառակերներ» վերնագրով։
Բացի մանկավարժների դեմքերից, պաստառները կարճ ծանոթացնում էին «մատաղ սերնդի դաստիարակների» անցած ուղու հետ։
Ամենուր «կաշառակերների» մոտ մարդկանց բազմություն է կուտակվում։ Ոստիկանությունը, իր հերթին, հասկանալով, թե ինչ է կատարվում, շրջափակել է «Երիտասարդական» մետրոյի մոտակա կանգառը և ստորգետնյա անցումը և ակտիվորեն պայքարում է «կաշառակերության» դեմ՝ պոկելով պաստառները։
Իսկ Երևանի մանկավարժական համալսարանի ղեկավարությունը արդեն վաղ առավոտյան հասցրել է հանձնարարել լվանալ պատերը ուսանողների՝ մեծ հետաքրքրությունը վայելող դասախոսների նկարներից։ Բուհի պատերն այժմ «անվտանգ են»։ «Կաշառակերներից» միայն թաց տեղ է մնացել։
*photo and video - via Tert.am
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13 comments:
I think this is a good initiative whoever is behind it. Everyone should welcome this and help them rather than begin the usual stuff about pro-government or opposition. If our opposition-minded students are so brave let them carry out similar actions.
Few points here. I do agree that raising the issue of corruption in Armenian educational field is important and has to be supported regardless of affiliations.
However, re this particular action: as it was revealed to be carried out by a pro-government youth group, taking into account our ‘habitual’ practice, I now have concerns as to how they chose the allegedly corrupt university officials. Reportedly, this was based on a survey of students. Unless this is conducted by independent group, I would have doubts as to how it was conducted and analysed.
Regarding bravery of opposition-minded students. I think comparison here is unfair. As pro-government youth does risk nothing with their actions, had similar actions conducted by pro-opposition youth, they would probably risk being expelled from the universities, detained etc.
Most of the faces present are widely-known as extremely corrupt professors, no special survey is needed for that. I think these MIASIN guys risk a lot whatever their political affiliations. The strange thing here is that why MIAK party to whom, as far as I heard, MIASIN is the youth wing decided to deal with this kind of risky and unthankful enterprise. I mean what's the real purpose of this?
I wonder if actions like this by pro-government groups are meant to create a haze and just general confusion. When pro-government youths march, and put up pictures, it may be an attempt to dilute the effect of such actions on the population, and on external observers. It may have an additional effect on the latter group, giving the impression (for those who want to believe it) that see, there are freedoms, and everyone feels comfortable expressing them.
The infamous student councils and the "Hanrapetakan" youth wing are behind them.
Surprisingly enough, they mostly aim at YSU.
Agree with Tzitzernak that the actions of this group are meant to confound and misrepresent--perhaps they could change their name to "Miasma"(?) It's the same with the allowed protests against Georgia, etc.; to create the veneer of civil society, but only within preapproved limits.
Remember, this is the same government that released 16 prisoners in January of this year just before the PACE meetings, supposedly as a step towards freeing political prisoners. Only 2 of them were actually political prisoners. This is just another example of their strategy of misinformation, confusion and dilution.
Anonymous, the opposition student (mainly the Hunchak youth) had taken action to bring to light such corruption over 2 years ago, http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=328585&apc_state=henh and continue to do so. Do some research before saying idiotic things. I think this is a way that the pro government is trying to gain backing of the youth.
I personally dont care who is behind this, the action of bribes (taken or offered) must stop in Armenia, and not just in education. It's a sign of an unhealthy society/government.
Photojournalist beaten up
Photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan was beaten up at the entrance of Yerevan State Linguistic University on March 13. Presently, Gagik Shamshyan is undergoing medical examination at the Nairi Medical Centre. He is in the resuscitation department.
The photojournalist is said to have been beaten up by the University security men when taking a photograph of the building.
VIOLENCE TOWARDS PHOTO-REPORTER
On March 13, the guard of the Yerevan State Linguistic University after V.Bryusov beat cruelly the photo-reporter Gagik Shamshyan who tried to take pictures of the protest organized by the students. According to the information we got, the protest of the students of the University after Bryusov was their response to the action organized by Miasin movement who stuck pictures of corrupt professors near the universities of Yerevan. When the photo reporter tried to enter the university the guard of the university did not let him to, a quarrel occurred and the photo reporter was beaten severely afterwards. Now the latter has been hospitalized and now is in the reanimation department of a hospital.
“Expose the assailants!”
Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan has issued a statement in view of today’s assault on photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan.
Another case of violence against a journalist was reported on March 14. According to the Armenian press, photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan was beaten up severely near Yerevan State Linguistic University today morning. The inhumane treatment towards a journalist indicates to deeply-rooted intolerance in our society. The reason for it is the impunity of previous similar crimes.
Again and again I call on the law-enforcement bodies to take drastic measures to expose and punish the assailants.”
Update:
We don't know if the protest action is genuine. For example, at Brussov University yesterday, students protested against the actions of Miasin and rejected claims that the lecturers identified as corrupt there were taking money.
One civil society activist who lectures at Brussov also rejects Miasin's claims against those lecturers. Meanwhile, the foreign head of an international organization says that at least one of those lecturers identified at YSU actually has a "good reputation."
Both he and one diplomatic body in Yerevan also consider that the purpose of Miasin's action is unclear. One lecturer is reportedly taking legal action against the organization. Therefore, until proof of corruption is presented, it remains to be seen whether the claims are valid.
From what I'm hearing, nothing is clear apart from the political origins of the group. Anything else is merely speculation. Don't know. Let's see.
Update #2:
Another journalist yesterday told me there were some correct hits at Brussov so we're now going to have to see what happens next. Who is guilty and who is not, but still the motivation behind Miasin's actions are not convincing many people.
Indeed, most say the same thing. There were others they chose not to target. As I said, interesting action, but now it remains to be seen who is guilty and who is not.
I'd also add that if the police are not calling in Miasin guys for questioning, they shouldn't touch other youth groups who engage in actions as well.
In youtube I've seen the footage of the action
at Brusov, as well as the incident with Gagik Shamshyan, which shows that he himself provoked the incident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOK_UAI49gA
Ashot
This video does not show that Shamshyan provoked the incident.
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