RA NA PASSES AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON RALLIES, MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2008 11:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 17, the Armenian parliament adopted
amendments to the law on rallies, marches and demonstrations with
90 votes in favor and 6 against (five members of Heritage opposition
faction and independent MP Victor Dallakyan).
In his remarks, NA speaker Tigran Torosian said that the law might be
not ideal but it aims to prevent repetition of March 1-2 events. "A
human life is dearer than hundreds of rallies," he said, adding
that the law will be translated and submitted for consideration of
international experts.
For his part, ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction member Vahan Hovhannisian
said the law is a situational solution to the problem. "We follow the
path of repressive solutions. We do not admit our mistakes but impose
limitations. Passing amendments, the authorities antagonize the people
instead of preparing them for reforms," he said. "An outside factor
should not be forgotten either. Seeds grow on a fertilized soil but
it doesn’t mean that Soros in the only to blame."
When commenting on the measure, independent MP Victor Dallakyan
underscored that those who remain in power today can be in opposition
tomorrow. "The limitations are repressive. We should bear in mind
that those who backed Levon Ter-Petrosyan voted against the incumbent
authorities, as a matter of fact. Ter-Petrosyan appeared as a generator
of popular discontent," Dallakyan said.
Heritage faction members called to vote down the draft.
In the first reading the MPs initiated an amendment which bars the
organizer of last disorders from holding actions.
The measure was adopted at the second reading, IA Regnum reports.