OPPOSITION BLOC URGES ‘NO’ VOTE IN CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
By Shakeh Avoyan and Astghik Bedevian
Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 12 2005
Armenia’s largest opposition group ascertained on Wednesday its
strategy in the run-up to next month’s constitutional referendum,
urging supporters to vote against President Robert Kocharian’s
Western-backed package of amendments.
But at least one of nine parties making up the Artarutyun alliance
insisted that a popular boycott is a more effective means of scuttling
the passage of the proposed changes. As a consequence, Artarutyun’s
only implicitly called on Armenians to take part in the referendum
slated for November 27.
“By saying no to the so-called constitutional changes you will say
no to the regime which is responsible for the political terror of
October 27 [1999], which rigged the 1998 and 2003 presidential and
parliamentary elections, and which perpetrated barbaric acts against
peaceful protesters on April 13, 2004,” the bloc said in a statement
issued after a meeting of its ruling board.
Most members of the board were clearly in favor of a “no” vote, but
said they have no problem with their colleagues urging a boycott. “My
personal view is that we should go to the polls and say no so that
the peoples’ votes are not stolen,” said Grigor Harutiunian of the
People’s Party, the biggest Artarutyun force.
The boycott option is preferred by Vazgen Manukian’s National
Democratic Union (AZhM). “Our position is known and will not undergo
any changes,” Manukian said after the meeting.
“Boycott will be expedient only if it is accompanied by active mass
protest actions,” said another member of the Artarutyun board, Albert
Bazeyan. “I support both an active boycott and a ‘no’ vote.”
Manukian and some other prominent oppositionists believe that a low
voter turnout would make it easier for the opposition to expose and
thwart government attempts to rig the referendum. To pass, Kocharian’s
amendments need the backing of at least one third of Armenia’s 2.4
million eligible voters. Opinion polls and anecdotal evidence suggest
that most Armenians remain apathetic about constitutional reform.
A “no” vote is supported not only by the Artarutyun majority but also
the National Unity Party (AMK), the second opposition force represented
in the Armenian parliament. According to Victor Dallakian, a senior
Artarutyun lawmaker, the bloc and the AMK will express their common
position in a statement later this week. The two opposition groups
plan to hold rallies across the country in the coming weeks
The Artarutyun leadership formed an ad hoc body that will coordinate
its pre-referendum campaign and the work of election commission
officials and proxies affiliated with the bloc. The “coordinating
council” will be headed by Dallakian.
Preparations for the referendum were also discussed late on Tuesday
by Armenia’s three governing parties spearheading the “yes” campaign.
Leaders of the Republican Party (HHK), the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and the Orinats Yerkir Party again failed
to agree on who should manage their joint campaign. The Republicans
insists on its collective leadership, while Dashnaktsutyun is pushing
for a single campaign manager.
Levon Mkrtchian, a Dashnaktsutyun leader, told RFE/RL that the three
parties represented in Kocharian’s government hope to reach agreement
on Thursday. He said they have already agreed on joint financing
of the “yes” campaign. “We will set up a fund to which every party
saying ‘yes’ [to the amendments] will make a contribution,” he said
without elaborating.
Galust Sahakian, the HHK’s parliamentary leader, revealed that the
cash-strapped Armenian government will donate a princely 1.5 billion
drams ($3.4 million) to the campaign. He said much of the money will
be spent on production of TV ads and posters.