Who the protestors were...
Published: Saturday March 08, 2008
Yerevan - "In essence this is a classic, pure bourgeois-democratic revolution," Levon Ter-Petrossian, former president of Armenia and recent presidential candidate had said to his supporters a few days before the authorities decided to conduct a search of the rally that eventually led to riots on March 1.
Was it really a revolution? Thousands, even tens of thousands people participated in Mr. Ter-Petrossian's daily rallies. Every night hundreds if not thousands of people would spend the night in Freedom Square in tents or just milling around. The square also served as a makeshift headquarters for Mr. Ter-Petrossian and his supporters. Organizers even made sure that those who stayed overnight had enough food and beverages.
Throughout Freedom Square one could see smoking bonfires and stoves placed in several locations. While some of the women participating in the rally swept up the square and collected garbage, the men prepared coffee or tea on wood-burning stoves called "Bourgeoiga" made of tin. These stoves were very expensive during the years of Mr. Ter-Petrossian's presidency, especially during the "cold and dark" years of 1991-93. The experience of those times came in handy to the supporters of the former president.
The protestors were comprised of people who had come there with specific expectations. There was a Yeraz car - manufactured by Armenia during the Soviet era - which had been converted into a small apartment. They had even placed a small wooden stove in the car. To try and understand their motivation for being there, the Armenian Reporter spoke with many of the protestors before March 1.
"We are always here. My expectation is that Levon Ter-Petrossian will become the president of Armenia," said 57-year-old Samvel. According to him, he had participated in the defense of the homeland, but in return they have only given him "a stupid piece of paper." He was convinced that everything would be better if Mr. Ter-Petrossian became president."There is not going to be a hike in prices, making a bottle of oil inaccessible. At least prices will decrease. Health and education will become more accessible and people will be able to receive medical help so that they can stand on their feet and the generations will prosper."
The other dweller of the car who was from Gavar added: "Each of us knows that there is the culture of monopolies in Armenia. If one person imports wheat and if someone else tries to import it also will be killed. It is no secret that Lfik Samo [Member of Parliament, businessperson Samvel Alexanian] imports sugar. We expect that Levon Ter-Petrossian will get rid of this clans mentality because this is a result of a provincial mentality. Clansmanship needs to be removed."
Another man, far younger than the rest, chimed in: "I primarily expect that after Levon Ter-Petrossian becomes President the constitutional rights of ordinary citizens and all of us will be restored. This is the most important thing. Today the constitutional rights of people are being violated. If they crushed their rights that would not be a big deal, but the thing is that their rights are completely violated; they do not work. They do not let people move, they do not let them participate in these rallies, they block transportation routes, etc."
Hovik who had adapted the stove to place in the car, was upset about the international observation mission's report that stated the presidential elections were mainly in line with European and OSCE standards. "What Euro-observers are we talking about? The whole of Europe, the whole of the West had calculated that Armenia would lose the war, but that did not happen. This time it will not happen again. They will not have what they want; we will not have a weak state. We are not interested in the political decision they have made," he said.
Another protestor, who checked this correspondent's media credentials with exceptional punctiliousness, started asking which paper I worked for, where it was published, and in general acting like a district police officer. In the end he refused to be photographed and advised the rest not to be photographed also, and thought it necessary to add on to the conversation about the observers. "Let the observers forgive me, but they were ignored here. Some even mocked them behind their backs, saying ‘What can these cucumbers understand?' And this is the truth," he says.