Both
sides of the Square of Freedom The joint action of the unified
opposition initiated by the leader of "Heritage" party Raffy Hovhannisian
started in front of Aram Kahachatrian concert hall round the composer’s monument.
It was called the meeting of civil public. At the same the authorities were preparing
for the authority concert in the Square of Freedom. About thousand people were
present in the civil meeting. The meeting began with the performance of artists
from pantomime in the barbed wire cage where it was written ‘golden cage’. The
artists performed nowadays reality in "comedia de l’art" style which
wasn’t so understandable for the participants; the actors in striped uniform of
concentration camp tried to produce luster and poverty of despotism / in photo/.There
were some dozens of policemen in both sides of the Opera House. The deputy chief
of The RA Police Hovhannes Varian was present in the demonstration of the opposition
with his brilliance; surrounded by uniforms, black eye glasses and assistants.The
chief of Yerevan Police Nerses Nazarian and other policemen were also present.Many
participants of the civil meeting sang with Hasmik Haroutiunian the State hymn
of Armenia; it was sounded in American style. Then Raffy Hovhannisian had a speech,
which he stressed specially; "We have gathered today for give the authority
back because the authority lives only at the people. Nobody has come to take the
authority and give it to anyone else but to give the right of that election to
you, for you to choose, to control and to account the really elected representative
of the people." Raffy Hovhannisian declared that the meeting would be continued
several days and said, "our civil revolt can be considered started".
At the same time Tata’s voice was hearable from the other side; "Yerevan
qo tsavy tanem, sirem kez" And the representatives of the civil revolt were
crying "F-r-e-e-d-o-m" from the other side of the Opera House.The
academician Rafael Ghazanchian declared; ‘I saw you again standing and not kn?eling."
Stepan Demirchian declared that they should collaborate in favor justice and favor
our nation. White carnations were dispensed during the leader of "New Times"
party Aram Karapetian who declared to the whole authorities; "Nobody of you
is afraid". He added; "We are real men, don’t hide behind anyone and
will go up to the end". The participants of the civil meeting were periodically
being informed that the transports were being stopped from the regions and other
districts of the capital and people were being forbidden to get to the center.
The leader of Free Progressive Party of Armenia Hovhannes Hovhannisian said on
this occasion in his speech that he became sad from that news. The organizers
of the meeting were trying to raise an ordinary table to the stage where the secretariat
had to work which was sending leaflets and informing people but the policemen
didn’t allow them. Eventually they succeeded and the winners marked that event
as the first victory.Tigran Ulikhanian with students joined to the participants
at 17 o’clock. The participants of civil meeting directed to the Square of Freedom
led by Raffy Hovhannisian. There is no prevention from the Police. The participants
wait for the end of authority concert after which they are going to set up camps
and sitting meeting out of date. The leaders of all opposition have promised to
sit and spend the night with the people. "We’ll stay till the victory,"-
Aram Sargsian declared. And Raffy Hovhannisian declared; "Freedom and democracy
starts from today".Margaret Yesayan