Statement 18.03.2008.eng

STATEMENT

The ruling regime in Armenia, three days prior to the completion of the unlawfully imposed State of Emergency, urgently introduced amendments into the RA Law on Carrying out Meetings, Assemblies, Demonstrations and Processions and passed it in speedy enactment.

These amendments violate the foundations of the law in force approved by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, thereby enabling the authorities to arbitrarily ban any public gathering. Thus, the principle norms of the human rights and freedoms, as well as the fundamental right of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution, and respective international conventions are blatantly violated.

The undisguised cynicism of the authorities while forging this unconstitutional law is far beyond morality. A regime which attacked peaceful demonstrators and whose illegal actions left many people dead is using its own crime as a pretext to restrict the rights of the same demonstrators to hold peaceful rallies.

The regime is terrified, since, despite its illicit actions։ the forcible dispersal of the sit-in demonstration in the early morning of March 1st, systematic crackdown upon the demonstrators, committed murders, political arrests and detentions, it failed to destroy the Movement, furthermore, it multiplied the potential of the Movement and stirred up people's abhorrence.

However, the regime comprehends, that it could function only under the rule of state of emergency therefore, by enacting this law, it seeks panic-stricken to everlastingly perpetuate the state of emergency.

We have no doubt, that the international community and its respective institutions will give tantamount assessment to the attempt not only to oppress the will of its own people, but also to outrage the universally recognized human values.

No people in the world would accept this insult and containment. Nor, the people of Armenia, which in the course of the past six months achieved to regain their dignity and longing for freedom at the cost of its national struggle. In these circumstances, it is the legitimate right of the people to ignore the illegal ban and reaffirm their freedom to hold rallies which is guaranteed by the constitution and international law.

March 18, 1008

CENTER FOR NATIONAL MOVEMENT

07 June 2009