Women's Month in Armenia - 2009

It is soon Women's Day in Armenia and this year women are asking for more than flowers and chocolate, they are asking for equal rights, equal opportunities and a life without violence.

The Women's Resource Center in cooperation with other NGOs is launching the activites for the Month dedicated to women's issues in Armenia.

For details - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Turkey: Statistics of The Day

A survey conducted by a Turkish parliamentary research commission has discovered that 6% of high school children carry a gun to class.

Among those asked, 15% said they carry a weapon of some sort, including knives or razor blades. Many of them said they carried weapons to make them feel safe.

The survey questioned 26,000 children across the country. The commission was set up after a spate of violent attacks in Turkish schools hit the headlines.

*source: BBC

Armenian Dram Memorial

Sharp rise in USD exchange rate in Armenia

*photo - by Artur Papyan

Armenian women burying the "Red Apple" on 8 March

Celebrating International Women's Day in Armenia

Start Time: 07 March 2009 at 3pm
End Time: 07 April 2009 at 5pm
Starting point: Women's Resource Center, 34 Zarubyan Street, Yerevan, Armenia

The Women's Resource Center of Armenia with the cooperation of Utopiana, WOW and other NGOs, intends to mark the 8th of March, by performing a funeral rite and burying the “Red Apple” (to verify women’s virginity for marriage) one of the cultural traditions still popular in most of Armenia which the Center considers demeaning for women and a violation of their human rights and dignity.

Here is what Lara Aharonian of the Women's Resource Center has to say to clarify misconceptions associated with this initiative:

"By burying the red apple, we are not telling anyone to not be a virgin, because we believe that everyone has the right to choose their personal life and sexuality, as a basic human right.

On the contrary we want to express that every woman has the right to choose for herself and not be forced in the name of tradition. [...]"

For more details - Unzipped: Gay Armenia

A1+ film devoted to 10 victims of 1 March 08

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3

Armenia: Opposition leader outlaws “revolution”

Thousands rally in Yerevan to mark the anniversary of 1 March 08

Reuters: At least 10 000 anti-government protesters in Armenia on Sunday demanded early elections. (photo - Nazik Armenakian / Reuters) Other estimates - 10 000 to 20 000, or more.

One year ago, these days… Brutal force crushed hopes of many in Armenia who wanted changes in their country. It was a movement comprised of people of varying political/social views/backgrounds who were sick of the current state of affairs in Armenia.

Regardless of my critical opinion of some in the movement, I did support it, as I believed this was the only right choice for me considering the circumstances and alternatives. One year on, I have no regrets for my choice. I could not have done otherwise. There were simply no other channels for people to exercise their rights and hopes for democracy and human rights to arrive in Armenia.

For me, the matter of ultimate responsibility for 1 March tragedy is apparent. I do not need court cases or commissions for that. It’s Armenian authorities who bear the ultimate responsibility for all good and bad happenings in the country. It’s them who issued the orders…

Today, remembering events of 1 March 08, I’d like to express my sincere condolences to families and friends of those killed.

Despite unprecedented tragic consequences, restrictions of civil liberties, political prisoners, the movement had resulted in some important positive developments. It was an awakening for the society in hibernation for more than a decade. Number of genuine, albeit small, civil groups and initiatives were developed, particularly among youth, aimed at democratisation of our society.

For me, one of the main positive outcomes of the movement was the fact that Armenian government, authorities, started paying more attention to public opinion. To the various degree, of course, but they can no longer completely ignore it. Like they used to do pre-movement…

Still, one of the ultimate aims of the movement – free elections, key feature of democracy, seems something of a dream than a reality any time soon. Initial signs of the upcoming Yerevan mayoral (municipality) elections do not look particularly promising.

It is not surprising, therefore, that key slogans of thousands protesters who defied the ban by the authorities to mark the 1st anniversary of 1 March 08 in Yerevan were: "Free Political Prisoners", "For Early Elections", “Punish 1 March Perpetrators”, and… “No To Tax Terror”.

Previously announced opposition hiatus was partly ‘justified’ by the Karabakh conflict. The point was that Karabakh deal is imminent, and 'we do not want damaging our country’s interests and make it even more vulnerable to external pressures'. The ‘hope’ was that the authorities would sign up to the unfavourable settlement plan which would stir popular anger and... All ‘hopes’ now on socioeconomic/financial crisis, as was evident from the opposition leader, Armenia’s first president Ter-Petrosyan speech, which was remarkable by a change in rhetoric, a kind of U-turn.

There is nothing wrong with the opposition using current problems to their advantage. It may not seem ethical, but it is within the rules of game. Any opposition party would do so, whether in Armenia or abroad.

However, there is a feeling among some opposition supporters (past or present) that its leaders are lacking a clear vision on ways forward.

One more remark. While (from the opposition side) there was no ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ divide in relation to those killed, police chief of Armenia was speaking the other day of “we also had 2 dead”, as if you could divide those who were killed on 1 March into ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’.

Remembering 1 March 08 - ArmeniaNow special edition

Remembering March 1 – An ArmeniaNow Special Edition

March 1 Remembered: Opposition stages peaceful rally under careful guard

Conscripted: Serviceman Tigran Abgaryan, 19

The “Accomplice”: Armen Farmanyan, 33

“Sacred”: Grigor Gevorgyan, 28

The Tenth: Samvel Harutyunyan, 29

“Golden Hands”: Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, 47

“He Left Forever”: Zackar Hovhannisyan, 31

“Happy Spring”: Tigran Khachatryan, 23

Serzh’s Proxy: Gor Kloyan, 28

Parted: David Petrosyan, 33

Duty Called: Police Captain Hamlet Tadevosyan, 31

Legacy of Discontent: Assessing the Impact of March 1st

Lessons from Chaos: How has a year changed the opposition?

Law Makers Turned Peace Seekers on March 1: Heritage MPs earned right to be angry

Umpire to Conflict: A year of lessons for Armenia’s Ombudsman

The Need for Justice: Fair hearings crucial for public trust, but so far lacking

Mascot: American wife of March 1 prisoner is the face of “the struggle”

Armenia: Skewed Prosecution Over 2008 Clashes

The Song

Arevik - Erazanq ("A Dream")

Armenia: Statistics of The Day

According to the opposition Armenian National Congress, as of today, there are still 58 political prisoners in Armenia. (source)

Remembering 1 March 08...

1 year on...

Abovyan street, Yerevan, Armenia

Khandjyan street, Yerevan, Armenia

... about 'Armenian - Karabakhtsi divide' re March 1 events

Quote of The Day
(in Armenian)

- Ինձ համար հասկանալի է դժգոհությունը այսօրվա կյանքից ու դրա հասցեագրումը իշխանությանը, քանի որ առաջին ու գլխավոր պատասխանատուն հենց նա է: Բայց ինձ համար, մեղմ ասած, հասկանալի չէ այդ դժգոհությունը իշխանավորների ծագումնաբանական տարածքի ու դրա բնակիչների դեմ ուղղելը: Մեղմ ասած՝ դա ազնիվ չէ: Ինչպես ասում են, ամեն ժողովուրդ արժանի է իր ղեկավարներին: Ժողովուրդ բառը ես կփոխեի հանրության ու կասեի, որ այսօր ես լուրջ հիմքեր չունեմ կարծելու, որ Արցախում եւ Հայաստանում հանրությունն ավելի լավն է, քան ղեկավարությունը: Սա դառը ու սարսափելի իրողություն է: Դժվար է հաշտվել այս մտքի հետ, բայց մեր ղեկավարությունը մեր իսկ բարքերի, հոգեբանության, ուժեղի ու թույլի, չարի ու բարու մեր պատկերացումների պրոդուկտն է: Սա ավելի դժվար ու դառն է ընկալելը: Ավելի հեշտ է ղարաբաղցիներին մեղադրելն ու նրանց քավության նոխազ դարձնելը, ավելի հեշտ է ուրիշի դեմ պայքարելը, քան ինքդ քո դեմ: Բայց այստեղ մի նրբերանգ կա՝ նրանք ո՞ր Ղարաբաղն են ատում: Նրանց իմացած Ղարաբաղը Հայաստանի ղարաբաղցի ղեկավարներն են: Նրանք այլ Ղարաբաղ չգիտեն: Ըստ էության, նրանք ընդհանրապես Ղարաբաղ չգիտեն: Ուրեմն՝ ինչո՞ւ զարմանալ, որ մարդիկ չեն ուզում ԼՂ-ի ճակատագիրը վստահել նրանց: Ես էլ եմ Ղարաբաղ, հայտնի տեսահոլովակի տրամաբանությամբ՝ ես եմ Ղարաբաղը եւ ուզում եմ հասկանալ, թե ինչու եմ արժանացել ատելության: Որ Ղարաբաղից «սպեցնա՞զ» է գալիս: Ե՞ս եմ ուղարկել: Ես շատ կուզենայի, ես աղոթում եմ, որպեսզի դա սուտ լինի, քանի որ հասկանում եմ, թե ինչպիսի սրբապղծություն է դա (թեեւ լսել եմ, որ եկողներ եղել են, բայց չեն մասնակցել ջարդին, այլ զբաղված են եղել պետական կարեւոր օբյեկտների պահպանությամբ): Իսկ ի՞նչ ենք արել, որպեսզի ԼՂ-ից ուրիշ բան գա՝ միտք, գաղափար, ազնվություն, աշխատասիրություն: Իսկ ի՞նչ ենք արել, որպեսզի ես կարողանամ ազդել ուղարկողի եւ ուղարկվելիքի վրա: ԼՂՀ ժողովրդավարացման բոլոր փորձերն էլ շնչահեղձ են եղել ՀՀ իշխանությունների որդեգրած քաղաքականության պատճառով, ընդ որում՝ դա այդպես է եղել ե՛ւ Տեր-Պետրոսյանի, ե՛ւ Քոչարյանի օրոք, քանի որ ՀՀ ղեկավարությունը միշտ էլ ձգտել է կառավարելի իշխանություն ունենալ ԼՂՀ-ում: Բարեփոխման մեր փորձերն արժանացել են ոչ միայն ՀՀ իշխանությունների հակազդեցությանը, այլև հայաստանյան հանրության քար անտարբերությանը: Ուստի, այսօր անարդար է մեզ մեղադրելը: Նորերս նշեցինք ԼՂՀ առաջին ղեկավար Արթուր Մկրտչյանի ծննդյան 50-ամյակը: Արթուրի կորուստը մեծ կորուստ էր հայության համար: Ոչ միայն Արթուրը չկա, այլեւ նրա դպրոցը՝ ազնվության, բարոյականության, հայրենասիրության դպրոցը: Մեռավ այս դպրոցը, սպանվեց: Եւ ինչպես ղարաբաղցիներն են ասում՝ մեր մեջքը կոտրվեց, մեր մեջքը մինչեւ հիմա ծկթում է:

*Gegham Baghdasaryan, an independent MP from Karabakh, interview with pro-opposition Haykakan Zhamanak daily

In memory of victims of 1 March bloodshed

1 year on... We have yet to hear from the Armenian authorities a simple "Sorry" and "My condolences" for all 10 people who died on 1 March 2008...

Below is info which I do not normally post on this blog, but considering above, and the stance of the Armenian church back then...

Requiem Service in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin
source
On March 1, 2009 following the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin, a solemn Repose of Souls service will be offered in memory of the victims who lost their lives on March 1, 2008 in Yerevan. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will preside during the service with the participation of the members of Brotherhood of Holy Echmiadzin.

"Auction of Souls": the first genocide movie ever made

(press release) “Ravished Armenia”, one of the first documentary memoirs of an eyewitness of Armenian Genocide was published in 1918, in New York. In this book Arshaluys (Aurora) Mardiganian, a girl from Chmshkatsag, Armenian populated town in the Ottoman Empire, gave a detailed account of the terrible experiences she endured during the deportations. At the age of fourteen Arshaluys was beaten and tortured in harems of Turkish officials and Kurdish tribesmen.

The book “Ravished Armenia” was completed when American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief offered to create a film based on the scenario of the book and all the profit, which later on reached $30 million, would be given to 60.000 Armenian orphans in the Near East for relief purposes. In 1918, at Metro Goldwin Mayer studio, director Oscar Apfel made “Auction of Souls” silent film, which actually became not only the first movie on the Armenian genocide, but also the first genocide movie ever made. More than 10.000 Armenian residents of Southern California, including 200 deported children, participated in the scenes.

The premiere of the “Auction of Souls” was held on February 16, 1919, in Plaza Hotel, New York under the auspices of Oliver Harriman and George Vanderbilt, members of American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief.

The film was shown in large cities of 23 U.S. states, in several countries of Latin America, including Mexico and Cuba. It was a success everywhere and was estimated as “epoch-making film”.

The “Auction of Souls” was taken to Great Britain in December, 1919, and censured. After long lasting negotiations the film was shown in Royal Albert Hall, by the permission of Scotland Yard and played for three weeks. At the beginning of 1920s Mardiganian’s “Ravished Armenia” was censured and taken off the British and American libraries.

For over eighty years film historians have been searching the world for the nine reels of Ravished Armenia but failed to find any trace. The remaining reels of the rare nitrate based film were lost. Some say the reels presumably sunk with a ship on their way to the port of Batoum, Georgia, or stolen by thieves. The full-length version of the film, which lasting 85 minutes, unfortunately, hasn’t been saved. With the efforts of Eduard Gozanlian, an Armenian from Argentina, a 20 minute segment of the reel was found in 1994. One copy of that segment is kept in the funds of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. The film included English, French and Armenian subtitles for every scene. The list of the original subtitles for Ravished Armenia is preserved in The Selig Collection at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They are also reproduced in Anthony Slide’s book "Ravished Armenia and the Story of Aurora Mardiganian". This book was published by Scarecrow Press in 1997. It tells the story of the making of the film and reveals the young girl's survival story.

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the “Ravished Armenia”, the AGMI has issued a memorial postcard and has created an on-line exhibition at www.genocide-museum.am

Armenian authorities accused of human rights abuses (US State Department 2008 Human Rights Report)

Following a damning Human Rights Watch report, the US Department of State has just released its annual Human Rights Report (2008). Agree with Blogian, this report stands out for its unprecedentedly harsh wording accusing the authorities in Armenia of human rights abuses:

The government's human rights record deteriorated significantly during the year, with authorities and their agents committing numerous human rights abuses, particularly in connection with the presidential elections and the government's suppression of demonstrations that followed. Authorities denied citizens the right to change their government freely and citizens were subject to arrest, detention, and imprisonment for their political activities. Authorities used force, at times lethal, to disperse political demonstrations. Authorities used harassment and intrusive application of bureaucratic measures to intimidate and retaliate against government opponents. Police beat pretrial detainees and failed to provide due process in some cases. The National Security Service (NSS) and the national police force acted with impunity for alleged human rights abuses. Authorities engaged in arbitrary arrest and detention.

Prison conditions remained cramped and unhealthy. Authorities imposed arbitrary restrictions on freedom of assembly and the press, particularly through harsh measures imposed during the state of emergency. Journalists continued to practice self-censorship. The government and laws restricted religious freedom. Violence against women and spousal abuse, trafficking in persons, and discrimination against persons with disabilities and homosexuals was also reported. More...

Armenia: "No excuses for excessive use of force on 1 March" (Human Rights Watch report)

Human Rights Watch urges Armenian government to investigate excessive use of force (including those who gave the orders) against demonstrators and all allegations of ill-treatment of detainees

(New York) - Armenia has yet to hold the police accountable for their excessive use of force a year after a day of clashes with protesters that led to at least 10 deaths, Human Rights Watch said in a comprehensive report today.

The 64-page report, "Democracy on Rocky Ground: Armenia's Disputed 2008 Presidential Election, Post-Election Violence, and the One-Sided Pursuit of Accountability", details the clashes between police and protesters in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, on March 1, 2008, in the wake of the disputed February 2008 presidential polls. It also documents the ill-treatment of individuals detained in connection with the violence, and lack of comprehensive investigation and accountability for excessive use of force on March 1 and in its aftermath. The report is based on more than 80 interviews carried out over three research missions in Armenia in 2008 and 2009.

"The full picture of what happened almost a year ago in Yerevan has yet to emerge," said Giorgi Gogia, researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "This much is clear: at various times on March 1, security forces used excessive force against demonstrators."

On March 1, 2008, police clashed with protesters in downtown Yerevan, demonstrating against disputed results of the presidential election. In several episodes in different parts of the city, police variously set upon protesters without warning or resistance, negotiated, withdrew, and returned to the offensive and finally fought a pitched battle with a small group of protesters. As a result, at least 10 people died - eight protesters and two police officers - and scores were injured.

While the Armenian authorities have investigated, prosecuted, and convicted dozens of opposition members, sometimes in flawed and politically motivated trials, in connection with the demonstration and violence, they have not prosecuted a single representative of the law enforcement agencies for excessive use of force.

Serj Sargsyan, the prime minister, was declared the winner of the February 19, 2008, presidential election over the opposition candidate, Levon Ter-Petrossian. A group of protesters contending that Sargsyan's victory was the result of fraud established a continuous protest on Yerevan's Freedom Square immediately after the election, with daily rallies; some camped out overnight in tents set up on the square.

Human Rights Watch research indicated that police used excessive force in a pre-dawn raid on the tents on March 1, justified as a search for weapons. This led to a much larger demonstration in front of the French Embassy in downtown Yerevan. By evening, with a major, violent confrontation unfolding on the streets of the capital, the outgoing president, Robert Kocharyan, declared a 20-day state of emergency during which public gatherings and strikes were banned and media freedoms were significantly curtailed.

"The authorities' response to the March 1 events has been one-sided," said Gogia. "The fact that police were themselves under attack at times by no means excuses them for incidents when they used excessive force."

The report also documents ill-treatment of detainees and other violations of due process rights following the March 1 events. Human Rights Watch spoke to people who had been beaten during arrest, and assaulted, verbally abused, and threatened while in police custody. Many detainees were denied the right to inform their families of their whereabouts, and were refused access to lawyers of their own choosing.

Human Rights Watch urged the government to investigate the use of police force in the March 1 clashes, emphasizing that each distinct police action during the day should be assessed separately. Where there was evidence that the use of force went outside the boundaries of legitimate policing, all the perpetrators (including those who gave the orders) should be prosecuted. Human Rights Watch also urged an investigation into all allegations of ill-treatment of people detained in connection with March 1 events, also leading to identification and prosecution of those responsible.

*/emphasis mine/

Narek Baveyan - Khelagar Ser (original version)

Apparently, this music video of Narek Baveyan's song Khelagar Ser ('Crazy Love') proved to be too 'explicit' for some Armenian TV stations. According to the director of the video, it has been "prohibited by most Armenian TV channels. But any way there is some TV version on broadcasting. This is the original version of the video."

Armenian-American Students & Activists United (new blog)

I’d like to introduce this new blog by University of California, Berkley based students of Armenian origin:

http://armenianamerica.wordpress.com/

“This group was originally formed in early October of 2007 in response to the immense Armenian-related political issues emerging within the United States and its various government institutions.”

They do not shy away from controversial and sensitive issues. Read their latest entry:

Azerbaijani Parliamentarians Visit UC Berkeley & Discuss the ‘Tragedy of Khojaly’

South Caucasus integration: alternative start

In May 2007, as an example of good news from the South Caucasus, I wrote about the joint initiative of Armenian and Azeri press clubs to launch common website Writers vs Conflicts. Sadly, this site no longer exists. Its aim was to provide a platform for a dialogue between sides using a literature to re-create bridges between nations. The site was intended to serve as a forum for discussions on various topics.

There is, however, similar initiative involving all South Caucasus countries, both recognised and unrecognised: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia.

http://southcaucasus.com/

My impression of the site is very positive. Honest and thought-provoking discussions, reports, interviews, publications. Recommend it.

Check out a very recent interview (in Russian) with the author of Artush and Zaur Alekper Aliyev. Must read.

TV ad for the Ukrainian army

"Daytime at work, and at night in the clubs!"

Via Gawker, this TV ad for the Ukrainian army :) Apparently, this was shown on TV to "recruit servicemen on contract basis".



Transcript:

Girl 1: would u take us for a ride on your BMW?
BMW-driver: even to the end of the world!
Soldier: hey, I'd like to drown some vodka, girls!
Girl 1: just a second!
Girl 2: where do you live?
Soldier: right here- daytime at work, and at night in the clubs!
Girl 1: which work???
Soldier: contract of course!
Blond girl: contract?? marriage contract or what?
Girl 3: army contract, stupid!
BMW driver: hey, don't you wanna ride on my car?
Girls: forget it, take yourself for a ride!
Narrator: it's about time for new heroes! with contract based service in Ukrainian armed forces!

Gay rights night at Oscars

Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black - Men of The Day

Sean Penn - Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of gay rights champion Harvey Milk, America’s first openly gay politician in San Francisco, in Gus Van Sant’s Milk:

"...I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone. [...]"

Dustin Lance Black - Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Milk:

"...to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. [...]"

For more details - Unzipped: Gay Armenia

*Photos - Getty Images/Kevin Winter (via AfterElton)