LTP Rally Tomorrow
Since posting this entry one commenter involved in preparations for the opposition meeting says that the meeting will last only two hours.
It’s always amazed me how Armenians can stand for hours listening to predictable speeches by politicians who only appear in front of them at times of elections, but this surprised even me. According to the Facebook Group promoting Levon Ter Petrosian’s rally tomorrow, it will last for five hours!
Event Info
Name: Meeting with Levon Ter-Petrosyan
Host: Yerevan
Type: Causes - ProtestTime and Place
Date: Friday, November 16, 2007
Time: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Opera
City/Town: Yerevan
Sorry to say, but as two hours at a political rally is tiring and monotonous, I’m glad that as it will pretty much be dark an hour after it starts tomorrow at 5pm, there will be no point sticking around as photo opportunities would have been exhausted. I’m wondering how many more media outlets will feel the same.
Five hours for a rock festival, I can understand. Five hours for an event with activities, variety and actual seats as well. Five hours for speeches standing in Liberty Square in the cold on a Friday night and I’m wondering how many will last the duration. Due to the lack of light for photographs, I won’t be one of them.
I will definitely run away within the first hour or so. As to this rally - it is a really important one - because it will likely show us the dynamics - if the number and attendance grows, that could be grounds to conclude, that LTP is gaining momentum, otherwise, we can abandon him for good. Interestingly, Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan have done all in their power to make good PR for LTP - addressing him and related issues on almost every newsworthy event of the past two-three weeks.
Comment by Observer — November 15, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Even so, five hours… I mean, it was meant to be just about Levon. Let him speak for an hour and a half with 30 minutes voices of support from other political parties, but five hours? I’m doubting that many in the audience will be able to stomach such a political marathon to be honest, but let’s see. Well, I’ll go at the beginning and pop back for the end, but I won’t be there for most of it.
Two hours at any political rally is enough for more normal people. In fact, few can stomach more than an hour, I think. Well, it will be interesting to see how many do, I suppose. No mean feat if they can keep 10-15,000 or more people in Liberty Square for that long. Especially an achievement if none fall asleep, and that’s not a dig at Ter Petrosian, that goes for any political rally in Armenia. At least Prosperous Armenia and Republican parties split their up with music, and Raffi Hovannisian with pantomime acts.
But to keep an audience attentive for five hours? I wonder if would get into the Guinness Book of World Records?
Comment by Onnik — November 15, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Onnik, any news about Narek Galstian of the Hnchakyan Party who was beaten up by Kocharian’s goons today?
Comment by nazarian — November 15, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Yeah, all over the opposition press and now I finally have managed to get my election blog up and running again after it was down from last night through to this morning and I’ve now finished earning a living for the day, I’ll try to write something when I come back from a reception if it’s not too late.
Anyway, I’m sure your question is a rhetorical one so I’m surprised you haven’t posted either. Personally speaking, I don’t take it a good sign when the radical opposition hand out derogatory leaflets instead of focusing on campaign issues or even just advertising tomorrow’s rally, and when thugs react to it.
I think we are now running the risk of both sides being uninterested in “democratic elections.” Regardless, until a post, this is what A1 Plus reported:
Now I have to run. Looks like I’m already going to be late for the reception.
Comment by Onnik — November 15, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Onnik, you call «Սարգսյան Սերժին հայը կմերժի» a “derogative leaflet”?! Why?
Comment by mazd — November 16, 2007 @ 9:19 am
In my opinion, the combination of “over-reaction” by the authorities, with their rather crude efforts to divert attempts at dissent by running interference with any rival actvities (opposition or not), and the idiotic five-hour marathon approach of the former president to politics reveals that no political figure in Armenia understands or even cares about the core concepts of public service or accountability. Armenian politics today is clearly about an “arrogance of power,” with a political system now dominated by “srongmen” over “statesmen.”
truly sad and, perhaps worse, the diaspora once again seems to tolerate this reality
Richard Giragosian
Comment by Richard Giragosian — November 16, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Dear Onnik and all the readers of this excellent blog: the rally will last approximately 2, and not 5 hours. This is checked and confirmed.
Thanks.
Comment by mazd — November 16, 2007 @ 11:00 am
oh! that’s good to know, Mazd! I was already thinking of food to bring and something to sit on
))
Comment by Observer — November 16, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Richard, I have to agree and also with your conclusion that this makes the situation really quite regrettable and depressing.
Aramazd, what do you want me to call it?
An example of why the radical opposition offers no alternative to Serzh and is unable to approach the electorate with real issues and programs — only the ability to make this a nasty personal battle between Ter Petrosian and one of his former ministers? Both sides are guilty.
The translation printed by A1 Plus, ““An Armenian will deny Serge Sargsyan” just sounds to me to be implying that the prime minister is “un-Armenian.” Given the fact that some will vote against Sarkisian because they dislike the “Karabakh clan” this only reinforces my fears about what was the intent of that message.
It wasn’t “someone who cares about their future will vote for Levon Ter Petrosian” or something similar, for example, which is what you would consider to be normal in a democratic election, it was the same type of simplistic and less than sophisticated tactic used by the radical opposition to cause division and conflict within society.
In May, Pashinian and Aram Sarkisian did not campaign with talk of real concrete issues. Instead they tried to sow the seeds for revolution — something which they failed to do. However, I think they have no right to talk of overthrowing the system if elections are falsified until they first engage in a proper campaign themselves.
I was expecting Ter Petrosian’s team to be more sophisticated than the simplistic manner in which Pashinian and Aram Sarkisian work, but obviously I was wrong. This might also backfire on them too, especially as without Heritage and Orinats Yerkir backing, Ter Petrosian does not have enough support to win in an election if it were held now, for example.
Divisions within society and clashes might also turn many Armenians towards supporting what would be seen as stability, continuity and the status quo. That is, Serzh Sarkisian.
Comment by Onnik — November 16, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Aramazd, great to hear. Really. Also, try and control who’s posting what information about the meetings because I tell you, I almost nearly decided not to come at all. Sorry, two hours is over my limit for a political meeting. Five hours just sounds like intellectual suicide.
Comment by Onnik — November 16, 2007 @ 11:15 am
Onnik - valid points indeed. In fact, I’ve been getting tired of talking to journalists about the need to stop using phrases like the “Karabakh clan”. This is not only not acceptable - it is plainly racist! And you got it right - the leaflet, in Armenian indeed projects those types of ideas - meaning - Serzh is not Armenian type of stuff, and I find it not-appropriate!
Comment by Observer — November 16, 2007 @ 11:22 am
An excerpt from LTP’s October 26 speech:
“Anticipating potential accusations, I wish to underscore this right away: their [Kocharyan’s and Serzh’s] Karabakh origin has absolutely no bearing on my position. Had they deserved it, they would be welcome to rule Armenia not just for ten more years, but for 100 years, as their ancestors, the Hetumians of Artsakh, ruled the Kingdom of Cilicia for 150 years. I consider unacceptable attempts to drive a wedge between the people of Karabakh and Armenia through malicious talk and provocation; they are unjust and dangerous. I will therefore do everything within my power to prevent the spread and reach of such attitudes, especially since 99% of the support base of the disgraceful system established by Kocharyan and Sargsyan consists of natives of Armenia proper. ”
Comment by Drongo — November 16, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
““An American will deny George W Bush” - does this imply that GWB is not American? Or it simply means that Americans do not want him as a President.
Comment by GT — November 16, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Let’s NOT forget if god forbid we lose Artzhakh, Armenia will crash and please do not discredit karabakh and it’s peaple as history has proven their courage and bravery
Comment by al — March 4, 2008 @ 6:13 am