A LETTER TO A FRIEND – WHY THE SILENCE AND INACTIVITY?
By Dikran Abrahamian
10 November 2008
>From the moment that the present rulers came to power in Armenia,
there were reservations and critical appraisals. Initially that
involved the fraudulent presidential election, then the brutal way of
silencing the opposition. The most serious matter was yet to come –
a course of diplomacy that is at high gears to implement what some
call a sell out, including but not limited to lethally compromising
decades’ long struggle of the Diaspora for recognition of the Genocide
of the Armenians and the security of Artsakh.
Recently, during a private visit to California, the above topics were
the subject of discussions with many that I met, including editors,
writers, activists, party officials and ordinary folks of various
affiliations and persuasions. Some had praiseworthy remarks about
our community. Indeed a very well respected individual made the
following observation, "we have seen the Canadian Armenian community
being more active in the past couple of years." On the other hand,
I heard some veiled critical remarks too, primarily related to the
apparent silence of the community about the usurped power, ongoing
violations of human and civil rights, the predicament of the political
prisoners, and inactivity of the community regarding recent diplomatic
initiatives of Armenia.
While thanking for the positive remarks, I’ll try to address the issues
of silence and inactivity pointed out by many. To avoid hurting the
sensitivities of people involved in the affairs of our community in
Canada, I’ll describe the situation in as mundane and neutral terms
as possible.
That may not be always possible; for the sake of keeping good
relations, covering realities is not an option – particularly at this
juncture when so much is at stake.
I’ll start with AWA, The Armenian World Alliance in Toronto, comprising
Henchag, Ramgavar and ideologically opinionated but non-party member
individuals. Up to recently ADL, the Armenian Democratic Liberal
Party was a constituent of the formation. It’s no longer the case,
because the ADL leadership in Toronto opted out. Subsequently, to the
chagrin of several sympathizers of AWA, it joined CCA – the Congress
of Armenian Canadians based in Montreal.
CCA, despite being cognizant of the fact that the presidential
election was anything but fair, did not hesitate to congratulate
the new president, and simply made lukewarm remarks about the March
First tragedy. ADL did the same along with AGBU and others, such as
the Armenian Assembly in USA. It’s worth noting that the Armenian
Diocese of Canada is part of CCA, and the Primate ex-officio has
to follow instructions from the Catholicosate in Etchmiadzin. It’s
common knowledge that the Catholicos of All Armenians himself blessed
the new president and urged people to co-operate with the "elected"
authorities.
Of late some members of CCA privately were questioned why the silence
about what has happened and what is evolving. The answers have been
less than satisfactory. It seems that CCA concerns itself only with
matters of the Genocide of the Armenians and recognition of the
Genocide – a very convenient non-answer. Others have just shaken
their heads without providing a straight-forward reply.
With respect to ANCC, the Armenian National Committee of Canada,
to their credit they deplored and condemned the use of Violence
in Tibet. However, it seems that their binoculars were set to see
the higher elevations of the Roof of the World bypassing regions
around Ararat. Flip-flopping between opposition and coalition, the
ARF in Armenia set the tone for the rest of the chapters scattered
all over the world including Canada. Of course, once the agenda of
his Excellency the President of Armenia became more obvious, it felt
uneasy to say the least. How to handle the inconsistencies between
goals that are held dear and reality? There have been news items
circulating in the ARF or affiliated media elsewhere, but nothing
substantial in Canada.
As in other Armenian communities, independent individuals,
intellectuals who for one reason or another have apathy towards
recognized organizations, tried to break the silence. They wrote
open letters, participated in various petitions, initiated public
and on-line discussions, and posted articles in websites. The number
of people involved in such activities is impressive; but due to the
lack of coordination between individuals it did not materialize into
a unified voice asserting itself in Canada, let alone be adequately
heard in the motherland.
Is it time for action? Probably yes; but given the realities that
a primate effectively sets the trend of what’s to be done in one of
the organizations and dichotomy characterizing a coalition partner in
Armenia, it’s hard to expect anything substantive yet. Independents
are silenced, and sometimes – deliberately or inadvertently – their
initiatives are undermined.
Will the Canadian Armenian community be more active and be heard? It’s
argued that such an action is tantamount to interference in the
affairs of Armenia. Nevertheless, equally valid is the argument that
highest officials of Armenia have already hampered the efforts of the
Diaspora. For starters, they have made it all the more difficult to
expand the circle of jurisdictions that have recognized the Genocide –
that horrible traumatic communal experience that kept and keeps the
Diaspora together – a pathological phenomenon, yet very real.
Expecting the organizations to take the lead is to witness more of the
same, for as long as individuals and coalitions in the organizations
are worried about their own interests – personal or otherwise. The
moment that their prerogatives get seriously curtailed they’ll
raise their voice – an event that was observed during the first
administration in Armenia.
Meanwhile it’s up to the people who profess to be independents,
up to the intellectuals and professionals who are concerned about
the hazardous course that Armenia has taken, to coalesce and get the
Canadian Armenian community into the national discourse that began
with a rough ride.