RURAL RESIDENTS ARE BANNED ENTRY TO YEREVAN

A1+
[04:10 pm] 20 June, 2008

Residents of Kotayk Marz couldn’t get to Yerevan today as all the roads
were blocked by policemen. They are checking every bus, minibus and
car. Yesterday, drivers of minibuses were strictly ordered to stay
indoors. The bus-stops of Abovian town have been overcrowded since
early morning.

People voiced complaint as they had been waiting for hours to get to
the capital. Some hurried to work others to studies.

"This is really ridiculous, real nonsense. I shall not be paid
if I am late for work. Who is to compensate for the losses," said
architect Misak.

Gayane was hurrying to an exam. "I am not interested either in the
authorities or in the opposition. I haven’t slept for a week studying
day and night for the exam. Today I came to the bus-stop and found
no means of transport there. Who is to pass my exam?"

People were thinking of a way to get to the destination. Some
emptied their pockets and called a taxi, others became discouraged
and went home. "The authorities say they care for our security. But
I doubt their words. I think they are rather concerned about today’s
large-scale rally than about our security. The rally is due at 6:00
p.m. while they have blocked streets since 7:0 a.m."

"The authorities seem to be at a loss as they have been taking
preventive measures eight hours ahead of the rally. I wonder how
scared they are!" said 49-year-old Vardan.

"They cannot hold power by force. Let them grant people freedom as only
in that way they will gain public respect and confidence," said Seda.

A1+ tried to find out from a local dispatcher the reasons for the
mess. "Don’t you know the reasons?

Everything is quite obvious. The main reason is today’s rally. People
chained me with their questions.

I was hardly able run away. Our country will never better. They force
people to run to extremes, said dispatcher Sirak."

"The order was given from the higher echelons. We cannot take even
two passengers to Yerevan no matter how sick they are. But there are
people really need medical treatment. I feel pity for them but I cannot
help them as I have definite orders," a driver of an Abovian-Yerevan
minibus said to A1+,

The same is true with other settlements of the marz – Byureghavan,
Nor Hachen, Zovuni, etc. Resident of Nor Hachen, 23-year-old David,
got to Yerevan by taxi. He left home at 8 in the morning and reached
Yerevan at 12.30.

"We were stopped on the way to Yerevan and sent back.

We wanted to change the route and come to Yerevan via Ashtarak but
they again stopped us. Finally, I got to Yerevan via Eghvard. There
were about 300 people standing at bus-stops in Nor Hachen," he said.

Ro remind, the Popular Movement holds a rally near the Matenadaran
at 6.00 on June 20.