Comments on: Opposition Says No to Constitutional Ammendments http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/ Journalism and Photography from Armenia and the Surrounding Region Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:10:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Գագիկ http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-180 Tue, 06 Sep 2005 07:00:31 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-180 Russia is playing a dirty game as evident frrom series of articles in Nezavisimaya and their analysis by D.Petrosian (NT). Russia is playing a dirty game as evident frrom series of articles in Nezavisimaya and their analysis by D.Petrosian (NT).

]]> by: Administrator http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-177 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 07:37:51 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-177 Gagik, you're probably right and to be honest, if I were a citizen I'd be more inclined to vote for the ammendments than not. Ironically, however, it appears that most people I've spoken to at least won't vote either yes or no. They just won't take part. That's a damning refelction on people's trust in both the government and the opposition. Regardless, if that is the situation, the ammendments will fail because not enough people will take part. Think that was the sitution when they last tried to pass a different set of ammendments concurrently with the 2003 parliamentary elections. Gagik, you’re probably right and to be honest, if I were a citizen I’d be more inclined to vote for the ammendments than not. Ironically, however, it appears that most people I’ve spoken to at least won’t vote either yes or no. They just won’t take part. That’s a damning refelction on people’s trust in both the government and the opposition. Regardless, if that is the situation, the ammendments will fail because not enough people will take part. Think that was the sitution when they last tried to pass a different set of ammendments concurrently with the 2003 parliamentary elections.

]]> by: Գագիկ http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-176 Mon, 05 Sep 2005 07:08:53 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-176 I am not saying that opposition should work closely with government, I am just saying they could regard amendments as a step, positive one, imposed on RK and can keep preasure or increase it to make more changes (like for elected major of Yerevan) without refusing the present ones. That will be constructive. I am not saying that opposition should work closely with government, I am just saying they could regard amendments as a step, positive one, imposed on RK and can keep preasure or increase it to make more changes (like for elected major of Yerevan) without refusing the present ones. That will be constructive.

]]> by: Administrator http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-172 Sun, 04 Sep 2005 16:49:27 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-172 Gagik, I guess the problem is simply this. After the 2003 Presidential Elections, the opposition want to use the referendum to force new Parliamentary or Presidential Elections. I agree that this is not a desirable situation and as much as I think that the opposition have no ideas or represent anything different over Kocharian (who was just a continuation of LTP's regime in most regards anyway), the point is Armenia is at crisi point. Unless someone does something to ensure that democracy evolves in Armenia in time for the 2007 parliamentary elections and 2008 presidential elections, not much can be done anyway. Yes, I suppose the opposition could move closer to work with the government but as Demirchyan thinks those in power were responsible for the assassination of his father and Aram Sarkisyan believes the same about his brother, I don't see that they'll ever be able to work together. And that's not forgetting the human rights abuses of opposition supporters in 2003 and 2004. I mean, the whole country is polarized and on opposing sides. I can't see any solution out of that except for democratic elections and more political and media freedom. However, the authorities show no sign of doing anything in that regard. I don't know. Armenia will be the country it makes of itself and that's what you're seeing now. Incidentally, you could argue that the government could make more concessions if they want to avert a potential political and constitutional crsis. Gagik, I guess the problem is simply this. After the 2003 Presidential Elections, the opposition want to use the referendum to force new Parliamentary or Presidential Elections. I agree that this is not a desirable situation and as much as I think that the opposition have no ideas or represent anything different over Kocharian (who was just a continuation of LTP’s regime in most regards anyway), the point is Armenia is at crisi point.

Unless someone does something to ensure that democracy evolves in Armenia in time for the 2007 parliamentary elections and 2008 presidential elections, not much can be done anyway. Yes, I suppose the opposition could move closer to work with the government but as Demirchyan thinks those in power were responsible for the assassination of his father and Aram Sarkisyan believes the same about his brother, I don’t see that they’ll ever be able to work together.

And that’s not forgetting the human rights abuses of opposition supporters in 2003 and 2004. I mean, the whole country is polarized and on opposing sides. I can’t see any solution out of that except for democratic elections and more political and media freedom. However, the authorities show no sign of doing anything in that regard. I don’t know. Armenia will be the country it makes of itself and that’s what you’re seeing now.

Incidentally, you could argue that the government could make more concessions if they want to avert a potential political and constitutional crsis.

]]> by: Ben Paarmann http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-171 Sun, 04 Sep 2005 16:22:45 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-171 <strong>Carnival of Revolutions</strong> This week&#8217;s (relatively short, no chance competing with onefreekorea&#8217;s) Carnival reaches you from Sheki, a town afoot the mighty Caucasus in Azerbaijan. It is published on Sunday, since I&#8217;ll be on the road to Tblissi tomorrow. I have... Carnival of Revolutions

This week’s (relatively short, no chance competing with onefreekorea’s) Carnival reaches you from Sheki, a town afoot the mighty Caucasus in Azerbaijan. It is published on Sunday, since I’ll be on the road to Tblissi tomorrow. I have…

]]> by: Գագիկ http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-164 Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:10:54 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-164 I do not know what is the solution, I do not have a remedy. And this is a big personal issue that spills over Armenia as a country. I did not want to get involved in politics in Armenia becasue I did not see solutions. And by that I mean not absence of democracy or political culture, but also a damning role that external factors play in internal life of Armenia. Factors over which one has little control. But anyway, one simple thing that opposition could do is celebrate victory. Some of the amendments were forced on the authorities and they are a step forward. So for once opposition could accept the fact of positive change and urge voters to participate in democratic process and vote for changes. Meanwhile work for more and better changes. Opposition can be positive sometimes and assisting, it shoulldnt be all confrontation. They loose credibility with such actions and actually add fuel to the indifference in the population. I do not know what is the solution, I do not have a remedy. And this is a big personal issue that spills over Armenia as a country. I did not want to get involved in politics in Armenia becasue I did not see solutions. And by that I mean not absence of democracy or political culture, but also a damning role that external factors play in internal life of Armenia. Factors over which one has little control.
But anyway, one simple thing that opposition could do is celebrate victory. Some of the amendments were forced on the authorities and they are a step forward. So for once opposition could accept the fact of positive change and urge voters to participate in democratic process and vote for changes. Meanwhile work for more and better changes. Opposition can be positive sometimes and assisting, it shoulldnt be all confrontation. They loose credibility with such actions and actually add fuel to the indifference in the population.

]]> by: Administrator http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-157 Thu, 01 Sep 2005 08:05:28 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-157 If voters say "no" and the referendum is not falsified then democracy wins. Same if the voters say "yes." Problem is, the apathy in society means the necessary turnout for the referendum to be valid might not be obtainable. What then? The authorities falsify the vote -- ASSUMING they really do want the referendum passed. Maybe they don't. Who knows? However, I understand what you mean. The problem is that Armenia lost during the 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections and everything else stems from that. What's the solution? If voters say “no” and the referendum is not falsified then democracy wins. Same if the voters say “yes.”

Problem is, the apathy in society means the necessary turnout for the referendum to be valid might not be obtainable.

What then? The authorities falsify the vote — ASSUMING they really do want the referendum passed. Maybe they don’t. Who knows?

However, I understand what you mean. The problem is that Armenia lost during the 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections and everything else stems from that.

What’s the solution?

]]> by: Գագիկ http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-155 Wed, 31 Aug 2005 21:24:05 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/08/31/opposition-says-no-to-constitutional-ammendments/#comment-155 So if the voters say "NO" who wins? 1. the opposition may win a temporary moral victory, because it persuaded people to vote as they wanted. 2. the authorities will win in a long term, because they are less than anybody interested in amendments. In a short term they will look much better in the eyes of outside world as more "progressive" than the opposition. 3. the people of Armenia will be loosers in the long trem, because even small steps improving constitution are better than sticking with the old/bad version. But the fact that opposition stepped forward and discussing the amendments in the parlament in a civilized manner is promissing. So if the voters say “NO” who wins?
1. the opposition may win a temporary moral victory, because it persuaded people to vote as they wanted.
2. the authorities will win in a long term, because they are less than anybody interested in amendments. In a short term they will look much better in the eyes of outside world as more “progressive” than the opposition.
3. the people of Armenia will be loosers in the long trem, because even small steps improving constitution are better than sticking with the old/bad version.

But the fact that opposition stepped forward and discussing the amendments in the parlament in a civilized manner is promissing.

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