OPPOSITION LEADERS LAUNCH ‘PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT’
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Nov 27 2006
Two prominent opposition leaders launched over the weekend what
they described as a broad-based civic movement that will strive to
transform Armenia into a democratic and rule-of-law state.
Vazgen Manukian, a veteran oppositionist who headed the country’s first
post-Communist government in 1990-91, and former Foreign Minister Raffi
Hovannisian held the founding conference of the movement attended by
hundreds of supporters and representatives of other opposition groups.
Both men again insisted that the anti-government initiative is not a
prelude to the establishment of an electoral alliance. They said they
are only trying to end widespread popular apathy which the Armenian
opposition says facilitates erosion of civil liberties and a repeat
of fraudulent elections.
"We want to build a rule-of-law state where the citizen is the king,
where the citizen is free and proud," Hovannisian said in his speech
at the gathering.
"Our aim is to rally the entire society around a number of simple
principles," Manukian told reporters. "First of all, I believe that
there is no constitution in Armenia. We live under a constitution
which has been twice rigged, and disdain for laws stems from that."
The initiative was welcomed by several prominent public figures and
other opposition leaders that attended the conference. "Even in the
most remote village, nobody feels protected by the state," said Larisa
Alaverdian, Armenia’s former human rights ombudswoman. "Human rights
are violated everywhere, on a daily basis and in all spheres."
It remained unclear, however, what concrete actions the movement’s
leaders will take in the run-up to next spring’s parliamentary
elections. Manukian and Hovannisian said only that they plan to hold
rallies and meetings across the country in the coming months. They also
urged other major opposition parties and non-governmental organizations
to join the initiative. "Either we will fight together or will have
no achievements," said Hovannisian.