Time For The Diaspora To Wake Up?
RFE/RL’s English language service has two very interesting articles today. Both deal with the lack of the rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights in Armenia and the apparent silence of the large and influential Diaspora on such matters. In the most interesting article, perhaps, Anna Saghabalyan writes that a prominent author from the Diaspora has urged other ethnic Armenians born and living outside of the republic to engage the government by pushing for genuine reform.
Perj Zeytuntsian, a respected Armenian novelist and playwright, urged on Tuesday Diaspora groups around the world to press Armenia’s leaders to protect human rights, respect laws and hold democratic elections.
Zeytuntsian, himself a former Diasporan, said international recognition of the 1915 genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and compensation demands addressed to modern-day Turkey should not be the only focus of their activities.
[…]
Leaders of the Armenian communities in Europe, the Middle East, the United States and elsewhere in the world rarely speak out on the difficult process of political reform in Armenia and usually avoid openly criticizing controversial actions of its rulers. Some of them have reacted negatively to international criticism of the Armenian authorities’ human rights record and handling of elections.
It’s an issue that I constantly raise on this blog and somewhat ironically, spoke about to two prominent French-Armenians today. They kind of agreed but said it was also up to society here to demand change. I agree but for sure, the Diaspora is perpetuating rather than evolving the present corrupt and undemocratic system in Armenia. In these areas, it is Europe and the United States doing more to implement sorely needed reform by also linking progress to economic assistance.
The second article deals with the ongoing saga of the Najarians being defrauded in Armenia. Even despite the obvious fact that the law is not working in this case, I’m told that requests from the Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to Kocharian and the General Prosecutor to make sure that it does have fallen upon deaf ears. Some analysts and legal experts in Armenia allege that the reason is that a relative of a senior official is behind what happened to the Najarians and the system, as usual, is protecting itself.
The attorneys for George Najarian and his wife Carolann accused Armenia’s Office of Prosecutor-General on Tuesday of artificially dragging out its criminal investigation into the alleged misappropriation of real property claimed by the two U.S. citizens. “They are taking all possible and impossible measures to drag out the investigation,” one of the two lawyers, Ashot Poghosian, told RFE/RL.
“In effect, they are not implementing the decision of the courts and requirements of the law,” said the other lawyer, Hrayr Ghukasian.
[…]
The prosecutors formally reopened the probe on May 18 but did not bring any charges against Igitian. Sources close to the inquiry say they instead questioned and even bullied witnesses whose earlier testimony substantiated the fraud claims. They allegedly threatened to imprison at least one of them.
[…]
Meanwhile, the Najarians, who hailed the April court ruling as a “great victory for the judicial system of Armenia,” appear increasingly frustrated with the latest turn of events. They have initiated a campaign of open letters to President Robert Kocharian and other senior government officials. A sample letter, already signed by some U.S. citizens of Armenian descent, demands an end to “the corrupt practices of the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office which have, in effect, led to the expropriation of their investments and are causing Armenia to lose face internationally.”
“Armenia’s top law enforcement officials cannot be involved in unethical and illegal practices if Armenia is to be considered a democracy,” reads the letter.
Time for the Diaspora to wake up, in my opinion. If this is how two prominent Armenians from the Diaspora get treated, can you imaging what happens to citizens on an almost daily basis?
Being a Diasporan myself, this is a touchy issue for me. Given the varying degree of particpation within the large global Diaspora, it is tough to paint it with one broad brush. And, one has to question how much power we really have since we are not on the ground there in large numbers. There are times when the blame placed on Diasporans for the failure of certain things in Armenia is not fair, in my opinion. And, I think that the good work/intentions of Diasporans get overlooked or taken for granted. At some point, I can go further into detail, however, as a rule I do not want to engage in Diaspora vs. Hayastansi comparison.
The one thing to keep in mind is that the people of Armenia participated in Glastnost and were part of bringing down communism while creating an independent republic in addition to fighting for self determination in NKR. Thus, using that as a model, I would think that there is equal responsibility for the local Armenians to create change. Working in tandem with each other is the real goal and I believe we are starting to see that slowly but surely. However, I’d like to see much more.
Having said that, I do agree with the gist of your blog in so much that many members of our Diasporan community in the U.S. ( I haven’t lived anywhere else to give a first hand account) have slipped into a “coma” with regards to 1. Where their Armenian energy and time goes, 2. Challenging corruption in Armenia, 3. And a lack of WANTING to get a sense of the “real Armenia” today in our communities. You see good examples of Diasporan help with the AGBU, ARS, and other organizations. However, I think they can do better and contribute more. Also, individuals who have large disposable incomes can do better with their money and invest in the education and wellfare of children in Armenia, instead of capping the gold dome of an Armenian church somewhere out here.
Looking at the Armenian Nation in two parts, the Homeland and the Diaspora, it has to work as one. It’s cliched, but true. If people on our end are not reasonably focused at trying to improve the situation in Armenia (in whatever areas they choose) in addition to maintaining and preserving identity in the future, then we have a problem. Building new churches, having bake sales to go toward ski trips in Colorado, and a reluctance by the older generation of Armenians to actually visit the homeland they have tried so hard to point us in the direction of all their lives really proved your point that time, energy, and resources are being wasted for things that really do not impact Armenia, but their own perception of being Armenian.
Thus, I encourage Diasporans to think long and hard about what their identity means to them, and take the first step and visit Armenia. Once there, enjoy it. And then, look around and find something to immerse yourself in. As Onnik points out many times in his exposes, there is hunger, homelessness, corruption issues to go around aplenty. People can help and directly impact the lives of Armenians there. If you don’t believe it, just look at Onnik’s photos and the next time you spend $1000 to invest in your church, think of how many mouths you can feed.
Comment by Raffi Meneshian — August 24, 2005 @ 1:29 pm